vegan Archives - Wander-Lust

11 Feb 2019

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Mr. & Mrs. Watson will open a Vegan Cheese Factory in Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On February 11, 2019 With No Comments

Founders Aleid Koopal & Kirsi Rautiainen started their vegan restaurant Mr. & Mrs. Watson back in 2017 and became a household name when it came to their innovating vegan dishes. Their vegan cheese became the talk of vegan Amsterdam and we’re happy to announce that they are planning to open their own vegan cheese factory!

Cheesy Business
If you have never tasted vegan cheese, you should. Sometimes you cannot tell the difference! Who ever thinks vegan cheese is easy to prepare, has it wrong. It’s a long process and each cheese has a different flavour. The vegan cheeses you can find on the menu at Mr. & Mrs. Watson are roquefort, Italian herbs with pistachio, smoked almond cream cheese, goat cheese made with cashew nuts, pepper jack cream cheese and vegan cheese fondue.

Cheese Factory
“Right now we prepare all our cheese in the kitchen downstairs which takes up a lot of space because of the time the cheese has to age or cure” This is why Aleid & Kirsi are looking into a small cheese factory near Duivendrecht. This why they can upscale their cheese production and even sell it to stores outside the restaurant. The location has been picked but it will take a little bit to set everything up. We’re exited and the more cheese alternatives there are, the better for the environment!

Mr. & Mrs. Watson
Linnaeuskade, Amsterdam East
www.watson.bar

More vegan? Check out the top 10 best vegan restaurants in Paris!

06 Feb 2019

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Vegabond will open their second Vegan Deli this March!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On February 6, 2019 With 1 Comment

On the first of March, Vegabond will be opening its second location in the beautiful Amsterdam Oud-West. It will be their first Deli with the new concept.

The first Vegan Deli
The first Vegabond location at Leliegracht is known as a magnet for vegan and non-vegan tourists. When they first opened their lunchroom and grocery store back in 2014, they were the first vegan deli in the Netherlands! Things has changed over the years and veganism has really taken a leap forward, especially in Amsterdam.The Vegabond team wanted to create a concept that doesn’t just multiply what is there already but one that adds to the brand. The new Vegabond location will focus more on residential needs with a deli counter and a wide array of stunning plant-based dishes to eat in, take away or order from home.

Guilty free breakfast

Vegabond hired Dominique from Cropbox to develop a food concept that is unseen in vegan Amsterdam and captures the essence of many of Vegabond’s favorite cuisines. Having worked in all sorts of global kitchens, Dominique spent the bulk of her career harnessing her passion and energy into making plant-based food desirable for everyone through showcasing the rainbow of ingredients that exist outside of animal products.

Say vegan cheese!

What to expect at the new location
Guest can fill their plate or take-away box with their selected “small” dishes and ingredients. The menu will keep changing throughout the year but some examples of what to expect are; Korean BBQ-burgers, ‘cole-slaw’ with roasted pineapple, pumpkin with Thai herbs and tahini-drizzled sweet potatoes. Do you want something sweet? You can feast on home-made vegan brownies, cinnamon rolls, vegan cheesecakes, freshly baked cookies and their famous ‘raw cakes’ and vegan cheese selection.

Tahini-drizzled sweet potatoes

The new menu at Vegabond looks incredible

Guilty Free Shopping
The whole store contains products that are 100% plant based. Customers that are conscious about animal welfare or sustainability can therefore shop efficient at Vegabond. The Vegabond kitchen has done everything to create beautiful and nutritious dishes, suitable for everyone. Many of these dishes has been tried & tested at the Leliegracht location, with success!

We’re exited and can’t wait to taste!

Vegabond (West)
De Clerqstraat 48, AmsterdamOpening
Monday – Saturday: 8am – 8pm Sunday: 10am – 6pm
Website

Love,

Elke

05 Feb 2019

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Le Potager de Charlotte opens their second Vegan restaurant!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On February 5, 2019 With No Comments

You’ve probably heard me rave about Le Potager de Charlotte in my previous article on Top 10 Vegan Restaurants in Paris, but I am about to tell you everything you need to know about their new restaurant in the fancy 17th arrondissement.

I was so happy to be back at Le Potager de Charlotte but at a completely new location, opened only two days ago. The first restaurant in the 9th district is modest and bright, but this one is definitely the more elegant and stylish of the two.

Their goal is to restore the image of plant-based cuisine

Brand new Vegan menu
While preserving their most popular dishes from the first restaurant, diners can enjoy several exclusive new dishes, including a new dish for each course. I have never seen or tasted a more appealing Romane lettuce before this. The paring of the wild rice and red kuri squash cream is unparalleled, the tougher texture of the wild rice is balanced out by the smoothness of the sauce. For this season, they have created the most refreshing mango dessert, paired with cashew vanilla cream and speculos, which I’d highly recommend.

The right produce at the right time with the right taste and price

Humans of the restaurant
Did you know that the owner of Le Potager de Charlotte, David Valentin, is also a chef at the restaurant? You are sure to be amazed by his magic of turning even the most common Romane lettuce into a deliciously beautiful starter. The two brothers, David and Adrien, are also super attentive, making sure that their customers are having the best dining experience. To take the pressure of having to choose from all the amazing food on the menu, feel free to ask them or any of the waiters for recommendations. In my experience, they’ve been pretty spot on.

Décor and sustainability
This brand-new restaurant is the definition of interior design goals. Since it is a vegan gourmet restaurant, it is only appropriate to have the entire place covered in green – wall, seats and cushions; and the rest, with minimalistic wooden details. The entire place is transformed into an oasis, completing the whole dining experience. Finally, I want to applause the restaurant for serving their delicious cocktails with glass straws, committing to their ethos of promoting sustainable lifestyle.

At Le Potager de Charlotte, the menu is changed and updated every three months, depending on what is in season. We have always received the warmest welcome visiting the restaurant, so be sure to drop by regularly for their newest and most exciting creations!

Le Potager de Charlotte
12 rue de la Tour d’Auvergne
21 rue Rennequin 75017
Website /Instagram

Love,

Chantelle

28 Jan 2019

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Top 10 Vegan Restaurants and Cafes in Paris

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On January 28, 2019 With No Comments

Happy new year! The post-holiday season is a perfect time to detox and perhaps take part in the annual Veganuary – encouraging people to go vegan for the first month of the year for the benefits of our health, the environment and animal rights. For some, this may not be easy, especially in a city like Paris, where meat and dairy play such significant roles in the diet! Fear not, we’ve sourced out the best vegan restaurants and cafes in Paris for you, without compromising the variety and flavours!

Breakfast
When the buttery croissants and creamy yoghurt bowls basically rule the Parisian breakfast menu, you’d think you wouldn’t even get through your first meal of the day. Don’t worry, BOL offers a selection of healthy porridges, including several vegan options, to start you off warmed up and energized. Still craving that classic Parisian pastry? VG Patisserie has you covered, from just €3,20 you can indulge in a traditional pastry and coffee combo.

Whether you want to snack or go all out on a big meal, these vegan restaurants and cafes in Paris have it!

Lunch & Dinner
Who says a vegan diet is restrictive and dull? Grab a veggie-dog to go from HOTVOG. You would not have guessed it’s meatless! Burger Theory Vegan Fast-Food and Hank Burger and Hank Pizza also make vegan-friendly fast food.

Vegan burgers at Burger Theory (source)

If you want a sit-down meal with a nice ambience, definitely visit my favourite restaurant in Paris, Le Potager de Charlotte. This vegan gourmet restaurant is opened and run by two attentive and passionate brothers, with a mission to showcase how wonderful vegan cuisine actually is. They source out the freshest local ingredients for all their dishes, combining only the best flavours around the world to create a unique experience for the palette.

Salad at Le Potager de Charlotte

Be sure to order the sweet potato purée – hands down the most delicious dish of all time

Even the juices are made with home-grown apples! The atmosphere of the restaurant is by far the nicest I’ve ever been to and the food itself is unreal! Be sure to order the sweet potato purée – hands down the most delicious dish of all time – and the “hard-boiled egg style” avocado, which tastes exactly like eggs! Also, leave enough stomach space for their refreshing and indulgent desserts! I cannot praise this restaurant enough, and lucky for us, they’re about to open their second restaurant in Paris (30/1), which will have an almost entirely new menu, so make sure you go check it out!

Vegan dessert at Le Potager de Charlotte

Cafes & Desserts
You can find an entire menu of veggie goodness in Café Pinson. If you visit them for lunch during the week, ask for their Dish of the Day! Got a sweet tooth? Les Petites Patisseries has a huge selection of cakes and tarts, all raw and vegan; all rich in colour and flavour! Vegan Folie’s specialises in vegan cupcakes and gluten-free cheesecakes. La REcyclerie is more than just a café. It aims to raise public awareness of eco-responsible values by hosting a range of events, from workshops to disco almost every day of the year. Not only do they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, they also have an extensive drink menu and late-night snacks to go with it. The atmosphere there is electric and certainly belongs to the list of top vegan restaurants and cafes in Paris!

Vegan sweetness at Les Petites Patisseries. Photo by Violaine Bergoin

Hope this list inspires you to eat more healthily and more consciously, even just for a month! Let us know if you have visited any of these vegan restaurants and cafes before and what you think about them.

Love,

Chantelle

*Chantelle is one of our guest editor from Hong Kong. She has lived in three different countries and have travelled across many continents. Having been in England for the past nine years and graduated with a Law degree, she is now taking a break in Paris for the year as she figures out her next step in life. Always passport ready, she is an expert at traveling light and on a budget, although she still enjoys the occasional indulgence in a luxurious holiday. You can follow her on Instagram.

14 Nov 2018

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Deer Mama Vegan Mylk & Burger Bar

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On November 14, 2018 With No Comments

The vegan hotspots are currently poppin’ out of the ground like mushrooms, and we don’t mind at all! With the focus on animal welfare and climate change, people are more open than ever to try something vegan. Good news for those who love this “green” trend, because this Friday, Deer Mama Vegan Mylk & Burger Bar will open up in Amsterdam.

Not Just Burgers
The people behind vegan hotspot Dophert, wanted to create a fresh concept, that would be approachable for everyone, vegan or not. During the day you can order all day breakfast, lunch and cakes. When the evening comes, it will turn into a funky burger bar with vegan mylkshakes and local draft beers. A good juicy vegan burger is not always easy to find, so we can’t wait to taste the Deer Mama burgers that are offered on their menu. But besides the burgers at Deer Mama, you can also order miso glazed cinnamon buns, peanut butter brownies, donuts, sweet potato meringue pies, brownie bottom banana cheesecake, cookie dough cookies, mama’s spiced pineapple cake, YOU NAME IT.

Vegan Mylkshakes

Guilty Free Eating
Eating something that is better for the planet, your body and animal welfare, is earning you personal karma points. Years ago, vegan food may have been a bit plain and tasteless, but nowadays the flavours are incredible and most of the time, all natural. At Deer Mama they work with natural ingredients

Feast your “vegan” eyes!

The Interior
We are pretty confident that you are going to love this. It will be full of happy pastel colours such as pink, mint and blue. There will be plants everywhere, and there will be a American diner style bar where you can order beers and vegan ice-cream. Very Instagrammable!

Dear Mama opens this Friday at 4pm, so get ready to stand in line!

Deer Mama Vegan Mylk & Burger Bar
Ceintuurbaan 71, Amsterdam
Website / Facebook

Love,

Elke

Curious to some more lesser known vegan spots in Amsterdam? Click below!
https://www.wander-lust.nl/5-vegan-spots-in-amsterdam-you-probably-havent-heard-of/

12 Nov 2018

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Vondelpark3 Amsterdam launched their new Keto Menu!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On November 12, 2018 With No Comments

Vondelpark, one of the most beautiful (green) gems of Amsterdam. A perfect place for a lazy Sunday walk, a giant playground for dogs, or for a really surprising lunch or dinner at Kitchen & Bar Vondelpark3. Even as a local resident, I’ve never eaten here before, so this had to change. Let’s zoom in on the so-called ‘living room of the vondelpark’ that has just launched a new “interesting” menu.

Vondelpark3, home away from home
With expectations on mode zero and totally soaked, my boyfriend and I walked in for a date night. Immediately, my eyes were caught by a couple of cognac colour Chesterfields, absolutely loved it. Furthermore, the wooden interior with a touch of pastels was on fleek. And what about the ambiance? From entry it really felt like home away from home. Let’s say ‘laidback’, ‘cosy’ and ‘warm.’ They had set the tone with their unique identity!

In short, Keto is a low-carb, high-fat diet that offers lots of health benefits.

Menu based on the Keto diet
The brand new menu is inspired by the Ketogenic diet. Keto what?! To be honest, I had never heard of the Keto diet. Searching on the web gave me an overload of scientific data, I was even stumbled on a diet buzzword. In short, Keto is a low-carb, high-fat diet that offers lots of health benefits. The reduction in carbs puts your body into a metabolic state which stimulates to use fat as a primary fuel source instead of the carbs. Heya fat burner! A couple of months ago the sympathetic chef Dave was inspired by one of Belgians most cutting-edge vegan and Keto chefs. With his wealth of experience – from brown café till Michelin-starred restaurant – he was motivated to do something quite different ánd healthy. Et voilà, a menu based on the Keto diet was the outcome.

It’s up to you whether you pick a real Keto dish or a healthy dish with just a little bit more fat or carbs.

Healthy food without compromises
Curious what’s on the ‘wholesome pleasures’ menu? What do you think of Cauliflower Power, Wealthy Wagyu, Tempting Tempura or Shocking Choco. Whatever you choose, colourful veggies are in the lead. Carbs don’t take centre stage. It’s up to you whether you pick a real Keto dish (marked with a ‘K’) or a healthy dish with maybe just a little bit more fat or carbs. So, something for everyone. By checking out the rich menu your eyes will caught by the nutritional values. They’ve nothing to hide. And why would they if all their food is high in vitamins. The Keto menu is a dinner concept. But I’ve been told that also their breakfast and lunch contain healthy and even vegan options.

This spot really deserves the claim ‘one size fits all.’ From a runner who needs a coffee with apple pie break till a relaxed business dinner. Looking sharp or comfy, come as you’re. Thanks for having me Vondelpark3, it was a great pleasure!

P.S. Mark the 15th of November in your agenda, because they’ll organize their first wakey-wakey event: Prework. Early birds expect live beats, hearty and healthy breakfast and a talk from an inspiring TEDx speaker. Stop hitting the snooze button, kick-start your workday.

Cheers,

Sharmaine

Bar & Kitchen Vondelpark3
Vondelpark 3, Amsterdam
Website

Opening hours: Mondays till Tuesdays 10:00 – 18:00
Wednesdays and Saturdays: 10:00 – 0:00
Sundays: 10:00 – 20:00

More tasty hotspots?

09 Nov 2018

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The Health Food Wall in Amsterdam

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On November 9, 2018 With No Comments

The typical Dutch snack wall concept, has been re-invented into a healthy option; Health Food Wall. And you can find it in Amsterdam West.

If you’re not Dutch, this needs a small introduction. The Dutch like to snack. Deep fried croquettes, hot cheesesoufflé, burgers, you name it. If you’re hungry, and crave for a quick snack, you walk over to your nearest snackbar, and you may just find yourself a wall full of small glass doors that you can open with 1 or 2 euro. Behind the glass is a warm (mostly deep fried) snack. It’s a thing that has been around for decades and the “food from the wall” has become part of the Dutch culture.

The Health Food Wall
Anouk Snelders took this popular concept, and turned it into something healthy, for everyone! She founded the world’s first Health Food Wall and opened on the 1st of September 2018. In her first flagship store, located on the kinkerstraat in Amsterdam, you can not only enjoy our vegetarian and vegan meals from the infamous wall automat, but you can also great coffee, tea, juice, smoothies, breakfast bowls and vegan sweets.

The Health Food Wall works digitally, and you can find the menu on the wall and on a screen, where you can select. The menu consist organic, and local ingredients to make sure that it’s tasty and nutritious. All meals are prepared in the kitchen located on the first floor, where you can also lounge on the pink sofa or chairs.

Select, pay and eat

The veggie and vegan menu keeps changing per season, and as of the 1st of November you can choose between homemade beet burger with feta spread, or black rice noodles with tempeh. Feeling lazy to

Health Food Wall
Kinkerstraat 66a, Amsterdam
Website / Instagram

Love,

Elke

08 Jun 2018

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SNCKBR IV Utrecht, The largest vegan restaurant of Europe

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On June 8, 2018 With No Comments

Vegan food is hot hot hot! Everywhere you look, a new vegan restaurant pops up in Holland. We already wrote about the Vegan Junk Food Bar, and some secret vegan spots in Amsterdam. But there’s now also a new vegan restaurant in Utrecht, which is the biggest plant based restaurant in Europe: SNCKBR IV.

SNCKBR
SNCKBR already has three other restaurants in the Netherlands, two in Amsterdam and one in Eindhoven. But the one in Utrecht is very special, mainly because it is 100% vegan ánd has 110 seats which makes it the biggest vegan restaurant in the whole of Europe. So it’s 100% VGN and 0% BULLSHIT, to use their own words. The place is a perfect hotspot for people who like both guilty pleasures as well as healthy and cruelty free food and snacks. The name might suggest a snackbar kind of place, but that’s not the case at all. They serve all kinds of international classics like Chinese bao buns, Indian curry, but also Dutch kapsalon and various pizza’s. Everything is cruelty free, so you don’t have to feel guilty. Even the interior is 100% vegan and the clothes of the staff are fair-trade.

100% VGN, 0% BLLSHT

Delicious vegan bites and dishes
I have to admit: I think I have never eaten vegan before. Shame on me, I know…Every time I’ve eaten a vegetarian dinner, it was topped with cheese, cream or eggs. I am curious about vegan food, but never cooked something for myself nor did I try it in a restaurant before. You can imagine my excitement when I got invited to the press dinner in the new SNCKBR. I really had no idea what to expect.

Avo special on toast anyone?

The restaurant arranged a six course menu for us so we would be able to taste a variety of nice dishes. We started off with Gyozas, made with spiced tofu, shiitake, leek and peanuts. Then we got the Peking Luck which were thin pancakes we could fill with soy protein, spring onion, cucumber and plum sauce. The protein really tasted like duck, which was very surprising. My favorite dish was the third one, the Bao Bun with eggplant, panko zucchini, mayo and cucumber. It was very crunchy and tasteful. And it didn’t stop there!

We also had the delicious Mushroom Wellington, which tasted much like beef Wellington, but without the meat. And we had two small burgers, one made of chickpeas, miso and chestnut mushrooms and one which was filled with mushrooms, seaweed, beetroot and soy protein. We finished with a tasteful Chocolate Ganesha made of chocolate, dates, mixed nuts and custard together with a scoop of rice ice cream.

Wow, who knew vegan food tasted so good! I really liked it and I am definitely going to check them out another time to try something else from their big menu. SNCKBR’s menu changes every few weeks so make sure you check them out regularly. They have many delicious recipes coming up!

Love,

Merel

SNCKBR IV Utrecht
Vredenburg 28, Utrecht
Website

*Merel is one of our guest editors from Utrecht and describes herself as a daydreaming student who has wanderlust ever since she traveled sround Jamaica for 3 months. She can’t wait to travel the whole wide world after she finishes her bachelor. Follow her on Instagram!

23 Apr 2018

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The Vegan Junk Food Bar Amsterdam Eastside

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On April 23, 2018

Blink once with your eyes and there pops up another new ‘lets-drop-the-animal-cruelty-stuff-and-go-for-plant-based’ vegan spot. This time we say hi to the next big vegan thing which is born and raised in Amsterdam: Vegan Junk Food Bar Eastside which is located near the Dappermarkt.

Shake it baby during official opening

Spice it up with these vegan bitter balls

Friday the 13th of April was a lucky day for VJFB. They opened without too much fanfare and fuss. As a neighbour I can tell you from sec one it’s day after day packed. Doesn’t surprise me at all, East was waiting for it. The story: they believe in using plant-based alternatives can have a huge benefit on our health, animals and above all our planet. Besides I’m not a diehard vegan – more a ‘wegan’, try to be a vegan on weekdays – I find the concept of ‘junk food’ really appealing. Healthy and mouthwatering in one food package, perfect match. Looking forward to try the loaded kapsalon, the black daddy mc chik’n (hallelujah for these names) and the red velvet cake. But I can tell you the vegan bitter balls and GT were appetising during their launch party the 19th!

VJFB organic, honest T-shirts VJFB x Goat Organic Apparel

Oh yaaas! These do-gooders launched their own organic t-shirts for those who have balls. Can’t wait to shine with quotes like ‘suck my bitter balls’ or ‘fuck me, I’m vegan’? Go to the VJFB shop or Goat Organic Apparels’ store.

Vegan lover or not, for me it’s worth trying. ‘When you know better, you do better!’

Love,

Sharmaine

Vegan Junk Food Bar Eastside
Eerste van Swindenstraat 389, BP Amsterdam
Monday till Sunday 12:00 till 22:00 No reservations
Website

07 Nov 2017

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Our favourite Veggie Pita spot in Amsterdam is now open daily!

Sticky Post By Wander-lust On November 7, 2017 With No Comments

If you’ve been to a Dutch food festival or the Sunday Market, you must have heard of Vleesch noch Visch. This famous veggie stand is one of those places you keep coming back for. They started off with a tiny stand on food markets and expanded over the years where they opened a kiosk in Amsterdam West, near the Westerpark. Good news for those who can’t wait for the weekend, they are now open daily from 12 till 9pm!

The famous Greek veggie pita

Vleesch noch Visch became famous because of their Greek veggie pita that has people queuing up for. At the kiosk they also offer other meals such as a Mi Gado pita, fries, soups and salads. Vegans don’t worry, most meals are easily turned into vegan. There are tables and benches to enjoy your favourite meal at, and you will find that people from all over the city come here for a bite. I have been a fan since the beginning but now that more people starting to embrace vegetarian and vegan meals, this place is set to be even more popular than ever.

Happy eating!

Elke

Vleesch noch Visch
Schaepmansstraat 2, Amsterdam
Website

*Header photo source: Vleesch noch Visch