VeganMoFO Post #9: All things Bright"on" Beautiful

What was this big yellow ball in the sky? I seem to remember seeing something like it a long time ago!

Brighton in the sun is amazing - official - so up and off to Iydea for breakfast - it didn't disappoint. ( www.iydea.co.uk )

Completely different atmosphere than at lunchtime, a calm, purposefulness of feeding people breakfast whilst getting on with the main task, preparing for lunchtime. Interesting to experience these two facets of the place.

I had been intrigued by a stir fry item of Avocado  mushroom and tomato (avocado feature a lot on the breakfast menu) so I went for a Vegan option small full breakfast  - you have to pace yourself! - I chose double stir fry instead of eggs  (why would anyone not?!) with another "Beet this" drink because I had like it so much the day before. My first impression was that everything, the beans, sausage, hash brown, stir fry was home made - wow!

Full Vegan Breakfast "Iydea" style

Kate was very bold and chose the Vegan Brunch Muffin consisting of  "Avocado, sausage, balsamic roasted tomato, hummus, spring onion & our own special fruity sauce in a toasted muffin". I think the fact that it arrived in a burger wrapper sealed the deal for our Kate!

Just look at that wrapper!

and within the wrapper ...

With us both feeling replete it was time to walk off some of those calories whilst shopping (we girls know how to multi task!). Kate needed to update her wardrobe and there was so much choice of where to shop, she ended up getting outfits for all her Christmas dinners/parties and the work wardrobe found quite a few new occupants!

We were both still in pursuit of Vegetarian shoes and a trip to a shop of the same name (Vegetarian shoes) plus a return visit to Irregular Choice saw us both happy with quite a number of purchases! - I will post a picture of them all when we get home (well, maybe all of them!).

Lunch was Infinity cafe which is connected to the Infinity shop (obvious really). I have used the internet to buy a number of things from the shop in the past, they have a number of speciality flours and other goods you can struggle for elsewhere. I needed Coconut flour as that is the only ingredient I need ready to try a Parmesan style cheese I've been wanting to make (maybe from "Artisan Vegan cheeses"?) when I get home.  ( www.infinityfoodscafe.co.uk www.infinityfoods.co.uk )

Back to lunch, to be honest neither of us were starving - hungry even - but we had set a task to eat here so in we went, good decision. All the food is freshly made, I had the Houmus, spinach, carrot, beetroot & alfalfa sandwich which had home made wedges and Vegan Mayo as an option (it would have been rude to refuse!), Kate went for the meze. Let's just say that there wasn't very much left at the end!

so what's "optional" about wedges and mayo?

A Meze (stopped short of a pun!)

Full stomachs, full shopping bags it's back to the hotel for a rest and a snooze before dinner

.

It all had to end somewhere, these fantastic meals couldn't go on, surely. They didn't, dinner was a disaster.

We picked Bombay Aloo because it was on a list of Veggie restaurants we had picked up in the shoe shop and wanting to give our business to Veggie establishments we chose this over any other Indian restaurant. They offer an all you can eat buffet for £4.95, for starters there were onion bhajees which were inedible, Pakoras which actualy were nice and poppadums with all the usual garnishes. For main it was boiled rice and a number of pots of curries which we found, without exception to be watery, bland and tasteless. Luckily neither of us were very hungry so we ate a little and felt that at least we hadn't wasted a lot of money.

Walking back to the hotel we "bumped into" my son's really good friend who has just started at Brighton Uni, what are the chances? (please, Kevin, don't work it out!)

What did we think of Brighton? - well, before we left we booked our hotel ready for VegFest in March - nuff said!

Tomorrow we head for Bath.

Vegan MoFO Post #8 "Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside, even when its raining ..."

.... an "Oh, how it rained", typical England c.2012, but it didn't dampen our spirits.

we had both been amused at the information folder in our room telling us, in no uncertain terms, to have breakfast for our "own good" and they were offering a "full" vegan breakfast in the room so we went ahead and ordered it. We were pleasantly surprised and it was a treat to sit looking out over the sea as we tucked in.

Breakfast for 2 overlooking the sea

If I give the impression that these days are organised purely around food that's because they are and lunch was beckoning, in every list I had looked at there was one cafe, Iydea, that was recommended, this was one @efcliz had mentioned too so I definitely wanted to try it. Imagine my disappointment when we left Kambi the night before to see Iydea, with the windows covered, people working inside and a notice saying it would be open by the new year. The cafe, Kate and I were all gutted. We had already had a set back when Terre a Terre had had to close until December because of a kitchen fire, laundry had combusted at night when, thankfully, no one was there. We were now, it appeared, two down so I was delighted on checking the internet to see that this was an additional branch of Iydea being developed and the original was well and truly in tact.

Phew, lunch was saved and how grateful we were, it was delicious. The cafe is in a bustling area of Brighton called North Laines and the bustle continues into the shop, its only small and the queue became long whilst we were there with many people getting take aways. You choose your main dish, 2 salads or veg and 2 sides.

Kate liking the "Iydea" (sorry) of lunch.

I had a Cauliflower and Red Lentil Rasam with roasted cumin carrots, green beans, shredded beetroot and toasted seeds whilst Kate went for a tofu spanakopita pie with the same accompaniments as me, the flavours were so clear and "exquisite" (Kate's word). They make fresh juices so I went for "Beet this" because I juice a lot at home but rarely use beetroot because of the washing up! this had apple carrot and ginger too, very refreshing, Kate tried the homemade Raspberry Lemonade which earned another "exquisite".

They use very small plates and you are served which keeps their portions controlled but, having said that, your plate is piled high and there is plenty to eat but it loses a little on the aesthetics (minor quibble). We obviously loved it as we decided to return tomorrow for breakfast.

We then went shopping for Vegetarian shoes, this is an area we both fall down on with buying Vegan goods and we looked to resolve it so we enterd the crazy, zany world of Irregular choice. Fabulous shoes, not all Vegan but they were happy to point out which were. The Manager gave me short shift when I answered her question with the fact that I was too old for such shoes - Evidently you are NEVER too old - I bought some shoes and how pleased I am.

You are never too old for Irregular Choice shoes!

Quick rest at the hotel and back out, this time to Food for Friends. Proudly boasting being the oldest Vegetarian restaurant in Brighton you can see why it has survived and thrived, beautifully fitted out, attentive staff and food that is cooked to perfection. Too good to be true? If you are Vegetarian, probably yes, but for Vegans the choice was very limited with Tofu repeating more often than we would have liked.

Having said the above our meals were superb,Red lentil, peanut and tomato soup, with bread followed by Spicy Asian tofu salad with rice noodles, crispy mirin marinated tofu, shredded Asian vegetables and a spicy kimchi dressing. Kate had Crispy tofu with sweet chilli dressing followed by Sweet Potato, Aubergine, Tomato and Spinach Curry with papadum, aromatic basmati, spiced yoghurt and cauliflower pakora.

Couldn't fault it.

There's no waiting until after the photo to get started!

Best dish of the day.

Vegan Rose Prosecco too.

A wonderful day, looking forward to tomorrow.