To add to the American-in-UK theme developing here, I just thought I'd drop by and say hi: I just moved to London from New York. (though I'm not American: grew up in India, lived in Oxford for 6 years, then in New York and am now in London). Does anyone know of a good vegetarian (preferably vegan) restaurant in UK? I know of tons of Indian places, but I miss something like Angelica's Kitchen in Manhattan: for those who haven't been lucky enough to eat there, it serves lots of tofu and gluten "down-home" style cooking, and I really miss it.

And isojewish, I do hope you get to go to Oxford: its a really great place, if not the most veggie friendly - the one vegetarian restaurant in Oxford decided to go omni a couple of years back, and college food is big on cheese when it comes to cooking vegetarian. On the other hand, most colleges also provide a pretty well stocked kitchen and I learnt to cook!

Surya, I recommend Mildred's (http://www.mildreds.co.uk/) in Soho.

You might find that Oxford is better for vegetarians now - the Gardener's Arms is a veggie pub, and there is a Chinese restaurant with a vegan menu.

Surya, we just went to this place awhile ago: http://www.manna-veg.com/ and it was fantastic!

www.veggieheaven.com has a pretty extensive listing of veg. restaurants. Just click on the London section. :)

Hey Surya, welcome (back) to England!

I can't quite remember it's name I think it's chi or tai, something short like that. But it's a vegetarian buffet, and lots of tofu. It's £5/6 eat in as much as you like or you can get take out. It's on St Martins Lane near Covent Garden, and meat eaters are always impressed by the variety.

There's quite a few of those Tai places - about 6 I think.

I'm wondering if I can ask another "new to the UK" question? What kind of shampoo/conditioner do you all use? I'm got some Orignal Source stuff that is vegan, but it leaves my hair pretty weighed down. I've seen several brands at the local HFS, and grocer, and at Holland & Barrett, but I'd love some recommendations.

As well as Original Source i use VO5 (the Deep Nourishing conditioner is really good, and also the Silky Smooth), and Tresemme. I'm not entirely sure if these are considered vegan now, as i haven't looked into it for a while. If you're willing to spend more, there's Aveda and Molton Brown products, which you can get from Fenwicks, John Lewis, and other large department stores.

How you finding England? :)

There's quite a few of those Tai places - about 6 I think.

There's a lot more than six now. I've lost count as to how many of those vegan chinese places there are now. And there seems to be new ones open all the time. Heck, there's 2 of them side by side by Angel, at least 3 in soho, one up in noho, two over by Leather Lane and still more out in the suburbs. We're being overrun by vegan restaurants!

Yeah, I did see another one off Oxford Street, I tried asking the woman if it was a chain and she couldn't understand me. One week I ate out at 3 different veggie places without trying. Is there a list of veggie places in London as there seems to be loads these days?

Yeah, I did see another one off Oxford Street, I tried asking the woman if it was a chain and she couldn't understand me. One week I ate out at 3 different veggie places without trying. Is there a list of veggie places in London as there seems to be loads these days?

http://www.happycow.net has the most accurate list nowadays but there seem to be more veggie places popping up! If you find new ones, add them to the list.

I completely forgot about the Gardeners Arms in Oxford in Jericho! Sorry for rubbishing Oxfords (lack of) vegetarian offerings!!

Somewhere in my household effects (currently on a ship somewhere, hopefully on its way to London), there is a veggie guide to London, which was v. useful when we used to come down to London from Oxford before. I shall post the title once (if!) my stuff finally arrrives, but thanks for the suggestions meanwhile: I'm looking forward to a veggie foodie tour of London! One of the things I'm considering as a birthday gift for a foodie husband is this gastrotour of London by a vegetarian cookery writer: http://www.celiabrooksbrown.com/gastrotours.php
It sounds like some some of the shops on the tour are distinctly meaty, but I'm hoping that since she herself is a vegetarian, the meals and tasting themselves atleast will be veggie friendly. Has anybody by any chance gone on one of her tours?

I'm not sure why someone would pay someone else to guide them around a market. Portobello market, borough market are just gatherings of shops selling different foods that you can see for yourself just by visiting. Borough market has stands with dead rabbits hung up on wires and fantastic fresh vegetable stands and more. I'm not sure what a guide would do that you couldn't do yourself just by visiting.

I would recommend the latest version of this book: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1845372913/026-0490436-0873248?v=glance&n=266239&s=gateway&v=glance one of the best things about london is the amazing array of food shops and delis representing every cuisine in the world. The book will help you get out to all of these shops to explore yourself.

Thanks Mr Falafel: as a newcomer to London I thought it might be useful to have someone in-the-know show us around, but you're right, its much more fun discovering things for yourself. Will check out the book.

Hi! I lived in Louisiana for 33 years but moved to the UK 2.5 years ago with my husband. We live in Hitchin in Hertfordshire about 35 minutes train ride north of London. We are loving it here. It is soooo much easier to be veg*n here than in Louisiana. I love the UK.

I am Jen: My husband uses Original Source tea tree and mint and loves it (but he has oily hair and dandruff) it is way to harsh for me. I am currently using Tresseme--I like how it feels on my hair but their ethical policies are questionable so i am trying to find a HFS brand. there is a thread about comparing j/a/s/o/n and Avalon Organics shampoo in I think the product review section. i am trying to decide which to try)

Surya: our favourite restaurant is 222VeggieVegan in West Kensington. here is a link to their websire--there are gourmet/all vegan and YUM. And fairly priced for what you get. http://www.222veggievegan.com/

Isowish: Loved the haiku--I teach in a school and have loads of pronunciation/vocabulary hicups. The worst was when i called a BUM BAG a FANNYPACK. I had no idea what fanny meant over here--I just called it by the American name.

found it ,
hello everyone , I am in Yorkshire, have lots of vegan and vegetarian friends here and always wanting to meet up with more for meals,drinks or just to chill out with.
Anyone else from around Yorkshire?

Spidergrrl/*Star*Lass*: Thanks for the ideas. I might try the OS mint next, as it's cheap and I can get it right at Waitrose.

and SL: It's quite wonderful here (although it's been soooo hot these past few days :sweat: )

Co-Op (good general food superstore with healthy labels for nutrition as shown on the news not long ago, and good for SOLEIL soya milk in particular 65/69p, plain/sweetened) Waitrose (best all round supermarket for quality and organics) and Holland & Barretts (not too bad, you know already) Also, you may not have one of these in your area, but better than that totally average store, is the slightly better standard Rosemary's <<-best health food shop near me (one in Worcester, one in Wolverhampton ...possibly elsewhere but I think only in the midlands is Rosemary's but if you visit one they are good for having a permanent offer which is buy 2 of anything and get 15% off). And lastly you can maybe pick up a sparse few items that are vegan at GNC (general nutrition centre stores/ (nationwide)

Spidergrrl/*Star*Lass*: Thanks for the ideas. I might try the OS mint next, as it's cheap and I can get it right at Waitrose.

and SL: It's quite wonderful here (although it's been soooo hot these past few days :sweat: )

Have you been using the OS showergel on your hair, or specifically shampoo? I know you can use it on your hair, but i've never tried it.

Oh, and make the most of the heat! It doesn't last for long here!

I completely forgot about the Gardeners Arms in Oxford in Jericho! Sorry for rubbishing Oxfords (lack of) vegetarian offerings!!
And Magic Cafe (http://the.earth.li/~kake/cgi-bin/openguides/vegan-oxford.cgi?Magic_Cafe) in Magdalen Road! :)

It is sooooo bloody hot. I should be used to this as Louisiana feels like this for half the year but I am so ill equipted to live without air conditioning. Sad really. But at least it doesn't last too long here.

Does anybody like Wagamama? I hope to go there on the weekend. Yum!

I must admit. I have never actually seen a waitrose supermarket.

It is sooooo bloody hot. I should be used to this as Louisiana feels like this for half the year but I am so ill equipted to live without air conditioning. Sad really. But at least it doesn't last too long here.

Does anybody like Wagamama? I hope to go there on the weekend. Yum!

I got to Wagamama all the time. Very good for veggies. Watch out, some of their noodles have egg in them but they can subsitute if you ask. The veggie gyoza are very good.

I must admit. I have never actually seen a waitrose supermarket.
me neither.
Like VA said, the co-op is really good for labelling. But all the ones round here are really tiny, I don't think I could do a proper weekly shop in one.
Their soymilk is cheap, but I don't like it.

I love Wagamama, I wish we had one closer, the nearest to me is in Milton Keynes.

Their soymilk is cheap, but I don't like it.

The one i get from there isn't? It's not the Soleil one, it's in a brown/blue stripey carton. I only get it occassionally if i run out, as the Coop is closest place to go, but it is a really nice soya milk, and great in hot drinks (turns them really milky). Soleil though is the same price as the Morrisons one i buy regularly (65p?).