This month, The Vegan View is dominated by the take-over. Almost everywhere you look, you’re likely to find a stack of stories telling you how to go vegan, whether you’re visiting a BBQ steakhouse, or a donut festival or a food truck park. The vegan options are seriously calling the shots. Let’s dive into the latest!
Need a Hack to Eat Vegan at your Non-Vegan Local?
I love The Beet because they bring the best in plant-based news with splashes of vegan tips on the regular. This month, their editors joined forces to bring the best vegan hacks for eating vegan anywhere. This is a feat in itself, given that it’s sometimes hard to distinguish what’s vegan and what’s not. These editors even tell you how to speak to waiting staff about your vegan requirements.
One of my favourite tips is to go to sides menu. I’ve done this so many times in my own travels and you’d be surprised how you can create a complete meal this way. Like that time I went to The Independent in Gembrook.
Everyone’s Embracing Jackfruit…Finally!
Whether it’s a vegan food truck or a fine-dining establishment, chefs around the world are embracing the meat-like power of jackfruit. India and the many parts of Southeast Asia have known about jackfruit for years, and have used it as a meat substitute in curries. Now, other regions are catching on because it’s the perfect ingredient to make a vegan pulled ‘pork’. Or, it’s a great ingredient for desserts or as a condiment to a main dish.
While it’s time-consuming to prepare, you can go to a restaurant and have someone else create a magical jackfruit dish for you. Here in Melbourne, Bay City Burrito in St Kilda makes a tasty pulled jackfruit burrito.
Melbourne Events are Being Taken Over by Vegan Options
If you’re in Melbourne next weekend, you can head to the Donut Festival at Queen Vic Market. Alongside non-vegan donuts, vegan donuts will feature. Eight donut vendors will be there, which many will no doubt be selling their best vegan options. If you can’t make it, then you can find more vegan donuts around town anytime.
To add to the vegan events, Simon Toohey and Renee Buckingham are taking over the menu at The V Spot at Grazeland, Melbourne’s latest food truck park. Simon hosts Australia’s first 100% vegan cooking TV show and Renee is the founder of Melbourne Vegan Guide. Together they’re hosting Plants On Fire for two weeks only on July 2, 3, 4, 9, 10 and 11. The menu looks drool-worthy indeed. Plus, there’ll be gluten-free options!
Finally, we need to talk about charging extra for soy lattes…
Back when I first turned vegan in 2012, it was common practice for cafés to charge extra if I wanted soy in my latte. That was so yesterday. Now we’re in 2021, more and more plant milks are making their way onto menus. Plant milks are also becoming more and more easily accessible to businesses and costs will no doubt be coming down.
So, this was a great article from The Brag about whether businesses should still keep charging extra. I say no. Businesses should be embracing vegan milks and reward their customers by charging them the same as non-vegan customers. You can read more about my opinion on this subject in one of my previous posts. Surcharges, be gone! It’s time.
