The Braes

Wednesday, 22 August 2018


We were so excited to see a new vegan section on The Braes menu and couldn’t wait to try it out for ourselves.  It’s full of comfort food dishes which is exactly what we needed on a drizzly day. This was our first time out in more than a year without a baby so we could really sit back and enjoy a girly chat over delicious food.
Choice:★★★★★Staff Knowledge:★★★★★
Value for Money:★★★★☆Overall:★★★★☆
We decided to order two dishes and share them; we went for the Butternut-squash Mac and Cheese and the chilli cheese fries.  We both enjoyed an iced lemonade while we waited for our food to arrive, it was quite quiet so we managed to get a comfy seat by the window.  The Mac and Cheese arrived first so we dug in, it was super tasty and filling, it came with a side salad but we both agreed that it would be served better with their skinny fries.   The Chilli Cheese Fries were massive and super tasty, with big lumps of sweet potato which were delicious and LOADS of cheese.

Although it was quite a big lunch we decided to try the Vegan Chocolate Orange Torte after the staff recommended it.  It did not disappoint. We were expecting a cold dessert but it was hot and gooey and super delicious. It was quite a big slice so we’re glad we had just gone for one to share.

The Braes is a fantastic place to grab some comfort food and a drink, there are high chairs too, so you can bring the whole family for a pub lunch. However, at almost £9 for the Mac and Cheese it would be great to see a bigger portion and maybe a more filling side.  It’s great to see so many vegan options and we can’t wait to try even more of them.

14/18 Perth Road, Dundee, DD1 4LN
Mon-Thurs 10am-12am | Fri-Satu  10am-1am | Sun 11am-12am


Menu Key:
Vegan section on main menu
Suitable for Little Vegans:
Yes
Dog Friendly:
Yes
Accessibility:                        
Ground floor access with disabled toilet but downstairs not accessible
Top Tip:
Get a loyalty card for 10% in points to spend next time

Charleton Fruit Farm

Wednesday, 1 August 2018

On a sunny drive from Aberdeen home to Dundee we decided to take a detour to visit Charleton Fruit Farm for some lunch and strawberry picking. It was absolutely roasting so we asked for a table in the shade in the huge outdoor seating area which was filled with families enjoying the school holidays. As well as the coffee shop and fruit picking, Charleton have lots for children in their play zone with trampolines, a sand pit, go-karts and more!
Choice:★★★★★Staff Knowledge:★★★★★
Value for Money:★★★★★Overall:★★★★★
I'd seen the vegan menu online so knew to ask for it, there are plenty of choices for a summery feast. I chose the tapas and my sister went for the vegan cheese, pesto and sunblaze tomato open sandwich but in the end we shared both as there was lots of yummy food to try! I love how colourful everything was and all the tasty little salads, the portions were certainly generous. We couldn't resist an ice cream sundae too since it's not often you find those on the vegan menu. The berry sauce was so good! Afterwards, we headed over to the fruit picking and although ominous dark clouds appeared the sun continued to beat down and we'd forgotten suncream so didn't stay too long. We went for a big basket for strawberries and a wee punnet for raspberries but they also had gooseberries, tayberries and blackcurrants. If you don't want to pick your own they have some ready picked in the shop along with other fresh produce and lovely flowers. Of course, this changes depending on the season but you can find out more on their website if you're planning a visit.
Charleton Fruit Farm, Montrose, DD10 9EW
Mon-Sun 10am-4pm

www.charleton-farm.co.uk
Menu Key:
Separate vegan menu (ask staff)
Suitable for Little Vegans:
Yes
Dog Friendly:
Yes (not in play zone) 
Accessibility:
All ground level but some uneven paths
Top Tip:
Make time for some berry picking!


Sol y Sombra

Wednesday, 25 July 2018

We'd heard lots of good things about the vegan food at Sol Y Sombra Tapas Bar in Broughty Ferry and had tried to go a few times but left it too late to get a table booked. Finally, we were organised and managed to get a 9pm table on a Saturday night!
Choice:★★★★★Staff Knowledge:★★★★☆
Value for Money:★★★★☆Overall:★★★★☆
When we arrived there was some confusion about our booking where we were told to go upstairs then downstairs and our table was in the bar rather than the restaurant area which was fine although a little crowded with people standing and having drinks at that time. Our waitress asked about dietary requirements at the start (there isn't a menu) and was also able to tell us which wines were vegan friendly. Then the tapas began! The first course was delicious with lots of bright and colourful dishes, my favourites were the bean pâté, a very yummy aioli, and a lovely little tomato salad. Things got a little confusing with the next round of dishes as we were dining with non-vegans and our waitress changed, it wasn't completely clear which dishes were for who or what they were. Some were meant for us all to share but were put at our end of the table and a non-vegan dish was placed right next to me which I asked about and had to be double checked with the kitchen. There was a tomato and chickpea dish, paella, patatas bravas, asparagus, mushroom stuffed courgettes and vegetable skewers. The evening tapas is £25 per person, not including drinks and dessert, The vegan options did seem better value than the non-vegan from what was on our table but there wasn't quite as much food as we'd expected from other reviews. We decided to share a dessert and went for the raw chocolate hazelnut tart, the other vegan option being orange or lemon sorbet, and I'm glad we did as it was so rich and chocolatey but not too filling. Yum!
27 Gray Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, DD5 2BH
Mon-Sun 12-2.30pm | 5-9pm

Menu Key:
No menu - waiting staff ask for dietary requirements but it's recommended to mention at time of booking 
Suitable for Little Vegans:
Not suitable for under 5s
Dog Friendly:
Small outside seating area
Accessibility:
Steps to upstairs restaurant but can eat down in bar
Top Tip:
Book far in advance 

Glasgow Vegan Festival

Saturday, 21 July 2018

some of our festival food haul 
Add caption
Tyne Chease
Gin & Mix
The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit
Considerit
Considerit
The Green Room
The Green Room Vfish & Chips
Cool Jerk Pies
Brownins Food
Missy's Vegan Cupcakes
Missy's Vegan Cupcakes
The Vegan Kind
Mimi's Bakehouse
Last weekend we were excited to attend the Scotland Vegan Festival in Glasgow at Hampden Park. We arrived early and there were already queues but it did get increasingly busy very quickly once we were in. There was a large selection of stalls including vegan information and charities, beauty, merchandise and jewellery then lots and lots of food - cakes, cheese, pies and more. The huge number of people made it tricky to take photos and see everything so we focussed on buying our favourite foods fast in case anything sold out as it was a bit chaotic! Here are a few of our highlights...

1. Tyne Chease - I was really excited to try this and it didn't disappoint! We restricted ourselves to one tasty artisan cheese and went for the smoked but I can't wait to order more online, especially for a Christmas treat.
2. Gin & Mix - these premixed cocktails were so fresh and fruity, a lovely summer drink for picnics and barbecues.
3. The Big Vegan Cheese Making Kit - these kits look like a lot of fun and would make a great gift. They contain ingredients for making 6 varieties of 'cheese' including halloumi, feta and ricotta!
4. Considerit - I had some delicious chocolate ice cream from here and we got an Oreo doughnut to take away. Sadly I didn't get to try it as my husband wolfed it down before I could but that must mean it was good!
5. The Green Room - this was one of the most popular stands and we couldn't resist trying a (brunch time) Vfish and chips, it was very realistic with lovely batter too. Yum!
6. Cool Jerk Pies - we first tried these fab pies at the Dundee Vegan Festival in 2016 so made sure to stop by and pick up one of each. The macaroni is still my favourite!
7. Brownins Food - another stall with lots of queues, we tried a delicious Caribbean Jerk soy wrap which was so good!
8. Missy's Vegan Cupcakes - this stall looked amazing! So many tempting treats, it was difficult to know what to choose. In the end, we opted for slices of the baked lemon and oreo cheesecakes and I'm so glad we did as the lemon one was probably one of my favourite vegan desserts ever.
9. The Vegan Kind - I'm sure most vegans know of the wonderful Vegan Kind as they have a humongous range of products stocked on their online supermarket as well as the fab subscription boxes they offer.
10. Mimi's Bakehouse - I love Mimi's when visiting Edinburgh so it was lovely to see their stall here with so many yummy cakes including red velvet cupcakes and Oreo brownies. Mmm...

A few of the stalls were the same as Aberdeen's Vegan Festival which you can read about here if you haven't already. We didn't stay for the talks as we had other plans but it was a great morning of trying yummy vegan food and we had plenty of treats for later. To find out about other upcoming Scottish vegan events, check out our post here.
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