Some sarnie business.

I really feel like there's a market for vegan sandwiches. A bigger market than many would think. We had a lovely small bizz in St Leonards, Plant the Seed, for a while doing pop-ups which then settled into a tiny shop space by the station, where they existed fairly happily, until the owner of the building abruptly terminated their lease and kicked them out, in favour of a coffee shop that's now stealing business from the one on the station platform. Sigh. Fuck landlords. 

I've taken it on as my personal mission to get Judges Bakery in Hastings Old Town to stock more varied - and, well, generally MORE - vegan sarnies. They do one, it's a yellow-stained onion bhaji doodad, that usually sits on its lonesome in the fridge beside the £2.30 mini vegan sausage rolls packed with herb and relish. I don't know if it's the last one going, or if it was the only one made. Either way, something needs to change. I started offering it as a sneaky business tip, exaggerating leaning over the bar and putting a hand over my mouth to say 'y'know, I'll tell you this for free...' because I was aware how ridiculous it seemed, when in reality it was a simple request that could make them more money and bring in more loyal customers. Nobody and nowhere else in the Old Town does vegan sandwiches. Be the change, you half-baked cowards. 

Photo by Lachlan  Ross.

Anyway. Let's go to Brighton, aka the UK vegan capital. Infinity Foods in the North Lanes, on a corner where North Road meets Gardner Street, is one of the UK's largest cooperatives specialising in organic and natural vegetarian and vegan foods. It was established in 1971, and to this day is managed by its members. The team and space is committed to environmental sustainability and community engagement, supporting local charities and initiatives that promote organic living and sustainable practices. Refillable packaging, cosmetics you can compost, the most ethical options for everyday living. They have every vegan protein bar, chocolate pot and plastic wrapped flapjack you could ever wish for. Their bakery has a whole vegan section, not just a shelf. The kefir and kombucha variety is obscene, in a good way. Their fridges are rammed with salads, wraps, dips - and sandwiches. This is how I discovered Lucky Cat, on a trip for work, when I had half an hour between trains and ventured into the lanes for a more creative lunch than just the same old No Duck hoisin wrap from Sparks. 

Lucky Cat has blown my mind. Pulled barbecue tofu with crunchy slaw. Seitan BLT with basil aioli. Teriyaki tofu, pickled carrot and edamame hummus. Actually exciting and experimental options! Not just garlic hummus, spinach and falafel. I'm almost scared to recommend them too publicly in case the dormant vegans of the South East hear me and buy them all up for themselves... but I've chosen to be kind, and trust that there will be enough left over for me. 

Okay, where else can I recommend... I'll keep it simple for now and just throw another brand/place into the mix, and you mysterious creatures who keep returning and reading and ticking the stats over behind the scenes (eyeballs emoji, happy crying emoji, hiding in the mist emoji) can let me know if you want any more. I appreciate this is all a bit niche. 

I found Bibi's in Soho recently. This isn't a sandwich place as such, to give full disclosure, nor is it a place I'm particularly excited to return to, but I'm pretty sure that's because of the slick-haired and suited clientele rather than the hopefully wholesome business brains behind it - and maybe also the mildly unfriendly/trendy young people working on the tills. The food, though!! The food is so good. Get past the social aspects of it, and the slightly pretentious energy of the space, and zoom in on the salads. It was a really nice lunch. 

My tip - get it to go, and immediately consume in your office canteen/on a bench or even the grass in Soho Square, if you can afford the time - I accidentally took my salad box on a 'quick trip' to Oxford Street after buying, and it wept in protest. 

Back to the sarnie vibe. I have a soft spot for the B Bagel on the corner near my office, as do most of Soho it would seem. Sometimes I have a day when I'm walking into work and just know in my gut that nothing is going to hit right that day except the thick whipped vegan cream cheese + avo combo on a soft sesame- (or poppy-, if you're that predictable) seeded bagel. Or maybe a rich Aubergine Heaven on the textured 'everything' base will do the trick. The challenge is deciding whether it's worth queueing for 15-20 minutes as cyclists, tourists and long beige coats go by. They know what they're doing though, those mischievous genius bagel makers, and they've installed heating lamps under their awning! 

Yes, I'm procrastinating from writing my novel. Why do you ask?

I hope these recommendations bring you joyful solutions to your plant-based predicaments. 

Thanks for reading,

G. x