Vegans Eat Out with Happy Cow

 

When vegans eat outside the comfort zone of their home, many are used to packing lunches and preparing for the ‘what if there is nothing for me to eat’ syndrome. Travel, work and socializing can be a daunting prospect when it comes to vegan food (and food allergies). Being vegan or veggie prior to the internet resulted in restrictions on navigating suitable places to eat. Luckily we now have the facility to find vegan food much more easily, (although depending where one is in the world this can still be very difficult). Vegan friends, who often travel for work report their desperation and findings when searching for something vegan to eat. In the last few years I have encountered catering services, hotels and restaurants, which make the mistake of thinking ‘gluten free’ means ‘suitable for vegans’ or simply do not understand vegetarian is not vegan.

 

Thankfully there is the existence of Happy Cow! Frankly, I do not know what I would do without the Happy Cow website and app. Before travelling anywhere I look up where I can find vegan food on Happy Cow. If I find a town with limited results I search more. Some towns have vegan food in abundance, where as others do not. When one arrives in a town without known vegan options, establishing what the vegan options are becomes a priority. I am still amazed by limited vegan options in grocery stores and restaurants, and of course hospitals, schools, universities, trains, etc. Salads can be amazing, but offerings of vegan plates containing tired lettuce, a slice of cucumber and half a tomato are unwelcome; we need more nutrition than that!

 

 

Three cities I am orientated with are London, New York and Berlin. I prefer eating in places which are purely vegan. When food is plant-based it is more relaxing knowing culinary mistakes are not likely to happen. Some of my favourite vegan places to eat out in London include, the long established Manna (on special occasions), Vantra, and Inspiral Lounge (their food is vegan, cow’s milk is in a jug for drinks). I also like the vegan food at Mildred’s, Rani, Sagar, Beatroot  and Maoz (London has a new Maoz on Greville Street). If you are in central London and want a quick desert Gelupo has up to 10 flavours of vegan sorbet. In New York my vegan favourites include the long established Angelica Kitchen, and Caravan of Dreams, along side new favourites Champs, and the incredible Dun-Well Doughnuts. In Berlin I love vegan Viasko,  Vego Foodworld, Café Vux  and vegetarian Café Morgenrot (they mark their vegan brunch items). Some non-vegan restaurants when asked in advance will produce a vegan menu. When establishments claim they can provide vegan food, but in reality they cannot it is disappointing! Places to eat that are non-vegan, but have separate vegan menus are vegan thoughtful.

 

If you find places suitable for vegans that are not on Happy Cow I recommend sharing your knowledge, (vegans will thank you). Restaurants and cafés being able to afford rents in increasingly expensive real estate markets can be problematic, so sometimes places sadly disappear. More affordable and stable rents would help this situation… and supporting eateries when one can.

 

What are your favorite places to eat when traveling?

 

 

Images courtesy of Angelica Kitchen.