Veggie/Vegan shopping tips

[kyoto49]

I'm trying so hard to remove dairy from my diet, but am not finding it easy. Can anyone suggest genuinely tasty alternatives to cheese, we're fans of seriously strong cheddar in the main. Also, is there an alternative to cows milk for tea and coffee that doesn't separate or taste terrible? Cheers

 

[Frontal]

Heard a lot of good buzz from friends about Tyne Chease, though they are on the pricey end for my taste

 

[kyoto49]

Heard a lot of good buzz from friends about Tyne Chease, though they are on the pricey end for my taste

Looks good, but £10 for 200g (8oz) is sadly out of my price range given we eat about 1 KG (2lb) of cheese a week!!

 

[Frontal]

Oh yeah, that's why I haven't had a nibble. I know the vegan cheese they used to have at tesco was horrible, I haven't seen it on their shelves for a while now but that is probably a mercy

 

[citricsquid]

I've been vegetarian for just over a year and recently started eating fake meat products, unfortunately the last 2 meals involving Quorn did not end well (apparently myself and others have some form of allergic reaction to Quorn which induces very unpleasant side effects) so I've had to abandon Quorn. Thankfully based on a recommendation of a friend (and the post from That-Crazy-Rat-Lady in this thread (thank you!)) I decided to try the Linda McCartney products and they're fantastic. The quarter pounder burgers are really good, I don't remember what meat tastes like any more but I served one of them to a meat loving friend and she really enjoyed it, and says that she will definitely have them again, she said the same about their sausage rolls too. I've noticed that quite a few of the Linda McCartney products are vegan too!

There's a place in Birmingham called Ed's Diner (American styled diner) and they have a Cajun Vegetable Burger, it's really nice. I haven't had problems with meat sneaking into meals in England but when travelling it can be a huge pain. I ordered a four cheese sandwich in Milan that somehow managed to contain ham... and I'm off to Japan tomorrow, a notoriously difficult country for vegetarians, they barely understand the concept, so that's going to be a challenge...

Does anyone know of any chip shops in Stafford that serve chips cooked separately from fish? I sorta feign ignorance and still eat chips every now and again even though there's a possibility they may not be true vegetarian food... it would be nice to know if I'm able to get vegetarian chips locally.

 

[kyoto49]

I've been vegetarian for just over a year and recently started eating fake meat products, unfortunately the last 2 meals involving Quorn did not end well (apparently myself and others have some form of allergic reaction to Quorn which induces very unpleasant side effects) so I've had to abandon Quorn. Thankfully based on a recommendation of a friend (and the post from That-Crazy-Rat-Lady in this thread (thank you!)) I decided to try the Linda McCartney products and they're fantastic. The quarter pounder burgers are really good, I don't remember what meat tastes like any more but I served one of them to a meat loving friend and she really enjoyed it, and says that she will definitely have them again, she said the same about their sausage rolls too. I've noticed that quite a few of the Linda McCartney products are vegan too!

There's a place in Birmingham called Ed's Diner (American styled diner) and they have a Cajun Vegetable Burger, it's really nice. I haven't had problems with meat sneaking into meals in England but when travelling it can be a huge pain. I ordered a four cheese sandwich in Milan that somehow managed to contain ham... and I'm off to Japan tomorrow, a notoriously difficult country for vegetarians, they barely understand the concept, so that's going to be a challenge...

Does anyone know of any chip shops in Stafford that serve chips cooked separately from fish? I sorta feign ignorance and still eat chips every now and again even though there's a possibility they may not be true vegetarian food... it would be nice to know if I'm able to get vegetarian chips locally.

That's just not true, Japan is a Buddhist country and many buddhists are vegetarian. I visited Japan for 3 weeks and had no trouble at all finding good quality and varied veggie food. You need to go to the very japanese places though. Check out the Happy Cow website and you'll be sorted

 

[citricsquid]

That's just not true, Japan is a Buddhist country and many buddhists are vegetarian. I visited Japan for 3 weeks and had no trouble at all finding good quality and varied veggie food. You need to go to the very japanese places though. Check out the Happy Cow website and you'll be sorted

You're the first person to say that, and every website I've looked at takes a dim view on the viability of vegetarianism in Japan... but if you've been there and had no problem, that's great! I'm less worried now, thank you

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

I'm trying so hard to remove dairy from my diet, but am not finding it easy. Can anyone suggest genuinely tasty alternatives to cheese, we're fans of seriously strong cheddar in the main. Also, is there an alternative to cows milk for tea and coffee that doesn't separate or taste terrible? Cheers

Just about any plant milk... I've never had that problem. Koko coconut milk and rice milk are probably the closest to dairy milk in taste. I don't have a lot of milk in my tea so it doesn't make much difference to me.
As for cheese, this site has most of them I think: http://www.vegancheese.co.uk/
I like Violife Slices (apart from them all sticking together - they also do blocks), especially the Cheddar one. Sheese is supposed to be good, but I don't think I've tried it.
There's loads out there so it's just a case of trying different things until you find something to your taste. I've heard good things about No Moo (Vegusto) too.

 

[Goldilox]

Quick Vegie tip.... or just if you generally want some amazing food in Birmingham near to the Bull Ring and don't want the rubbish fast food chains:

The Warehouse Cafe

I'm a meat eater but took the wife and I can happily say I loved it and didn't miss not having meat at all.

Has anyone tried the Birmingham branch of 1847? We've had a couple of excellent experiences at the Manchester one.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Has anyone tried the Birmingham branch of 1847? We've had a couple of excellent experiences at the Manchester one.

There's not usually a great deal of choice for vegans, I've found (never been to the Manchester one).

 

[Goldilox]

Depends what you mean by 'choice' I suppose. 3 vegan options out of 6 possible main courses seems pretty reasonable to me. Certainly my lactose-intolerant sister had no complaints when we took her.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Depends what you mean by 'choice' I suppose. 3 vegan options out of 6 possible main courses seems pretty reasonable to me. Certainly my lactose-intolerant sister had no complaints when we took her.

I remember going there and having trouble deciding what to have because I didn't particularly want any of them...

 

[Gramaisc]

Does anyone know of any chip shops in Stafford that serve chips cooked separately from fish? I sorta feign ignorance and still eat chips every now and again even though there's a possibility they may not be true vegetarian food... it would be nice to know if I'm able to get vegetarian chips locally.

This was aspect discussed a few years ago, but I can't find it now, some of those involved may remember enough to be able to search more effectively for it, though the information could well be out-of-date now, of course.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

This was aspect discussed a few years ago, but I can't find it now, some of those involved may remember enough to be able to search more effectively for it, though the information could well be out-of-date now, of course.

As long as they're cooked in vegetable oil and taste alright I don't care, personally.

 

[Maryland]

Think someone may have mentioned these already and if so, apologies for repeating, but the Linda McCartney mozzarella and something burgers (found in the veggie freezer section in sainsburys and doubtless everywhere else but that's where I discovered them recently) are rather moreish. Doubtless hugely calorific (but who's counting those when it's summer week in Britain?), and I'm not usually a fan of meatalike products, but these things really do remind you strongly of a nice juicy burger. And without the gnawing dread of mechanically recovered meat that keeps me well away from that sort of thing usually. Though having said that, I did have a funny turn in Bristol the other week and had a Byron. Very nice.

 

[John Marwood]

Having A Byron

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies

 

[citricsquid]

Long time no post. Spent some time thinking more about the animal welfare aspect of vegetarianism, concluded that vegetarianism is a good step but it's a pretty small step in the grand scheme of things, now vegan as of last year. More difficult of a transition than vegetarianism but much easier than I expected overall.

Anyway on topic, the changes to the Linda McCartney range have been great, more of their products are vegan and the new recipe sausages are even tastier. Quorn are now introducing Vegan products, the new "meat pieces" are vegan and they have a vegan burger out too, and apparently they'll be expanding the range in future.

Does anyone know where I can buy the different types of Violife in Stafford? I've been buying (in bulk) Violife Original from Tesco but they don't seem to stock any of the other types, like Pizza. There's a health foods store in Rugeley that does but that's a bit further out than I'd like to go...

 

[Frontal]

On a veganism note - Quorn's vegan range has actually already been so successful, they announced they are converting all their products to be vegan an phasing out the non-vegan range.

 

[Lunar Scorpion]

Does anyone know where I can buy the different types of Violife in Stafford? I've been buying (in bulk) Violife Original from Tesco but they don't seem to stock any of the other types, like Pizza. There's a health foods store in Rugeley that does but that's a bit further out than I'd like to go...

Holland & Barrett might, I don't go in there often but I have seen the cheddar style one in there before. You could ask if they can order it in for you.

Alternatively, you can get it online. I have used both of these and they deliver quickly (like a couple of days or so):
http://www.vegancheese.co.uk/
http://www.veggiestuff.com/

 

[Gramaisc]

The Ocado Vegan Range - https://www.ocado.com/webshop/getCategories.do?tags=|20000|20011 - has popped up in my adverts, presumably as a result of this thread.