Dining Out in London - Cookies and Scream

Cookie Dough Balls Shake - Cookies and Scream

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Cookies and Scream, because it's just that good! I had this spot on my list for must-visit vegan spots in London and it was reconfirmed when my London-based friend said how delicious it was. I went to the Camden Lock Market after my slight disappointment at Borough Market for the lack of vegan options. Camden was a lot more crowded and dirtier than I expected. It's got a sort of punk rock vibe going on and the streets are overrun with souvenir shops and wandering tourists. I shuffled around in the food tent area for a while searching for Cookies and Scream until I finally had to ask for help. Turns out it's actually tucked away inside, with a permanent stake in a small building called the Dingwalls gallery area. This dessert bar is not only vegan, but also gluten-free! When I discovered them I realized I wasn't alone in my excitement. The other customers were equally overwhelmed by the looks of the freshly baked, heavenly treats for sale. The staff works in a tiny kitchen area right behind the counter and I commend them for working wonders in such small quarters.

Tiny Kitchen Space at Cookies and Scream

I ordered a Chico Cookie, which was a large peanut butter cookie with chocolate chips. It was super moist, gooey, and rich. I greedily also ordered a liquid dessert, the Cookie Dough Balls Shake thanks to a tip from Fat Gay Vegan and got a Gosh! Brownie to-go, which of course lasted a total of four hours post-visit. As I was drinking my shake all I could think was how unhealthy it must be because of how incredibly sweet and creamy it was, and I got a kick out of the "low-fat" label on the menu board. The huge chunks of cookie dough made it a more exciting and indulgent treat. Excluding my minor stomachache from all the (unrefined) sugar, my only complaint was that the baked goods were a little too moist and fell apart pretty easily. 

It was worth it, whatever damage Cookies and Scream did to my diet. Thank you for the delightful desserts, I will miss you back in the states!

Low-Fat Shakes?! Don't mind if I do...

  

Cookies and Scream

The Market Hall

Camden Lock Place

London, UK NW1 8AF

Cookies and Scream Website

Dining Out in London - Ms. Cupcake

Jaffa Cupcake - Ms. Cupcake

I had this on my list of places to try thanks again to Chef Chloe Coscarelli. She did a cookbook tour in Europe and actually hosted a book signing at this bakery, the first vegan bakery in London! It was far from my hotel but I went along my route home from Paris. They recently started selling their products in Whole Foods so I'm sure many more vegan-curious folks will discover them soon. The baked goods were so fun and colorful! It was hard to pick what to bring home.

I had been indulging a lot already so I opted not to get a box of cupcakes, knowing I had very little self control! I picked up a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie for my friend (who excitedly reported back it was very delicious!) and for myself I got a Jaffa Cupcake, something I had never heard of before. It was a chocolate cupcake coated in an orange marmalade and then topped with vanilla-orange and chocolate frosting swirl, with a candied orange piece on top. The cupcake was moist, not overly sweet, frosting was plentiful and I enjoyed the sweet, tangy orange jam that gave it a more unique flavor than the average chocolate cupcake. Two thumbs up. I also saw on their website one of the more popular flavors is the Ferraro Rocher inspired cupcake, called The Ambassador, I was never a fan of those hazelnut chocolate balls so I decided not to grab the last one on the tray. Instead I ordered the Double Chocolate Cookie Sandwich, based on looks alone. My gut instinct was right, this was my favorite pick! I really liked the large, chewy cookies and the buttery, sweet frosting. I should know now that whatever I buy from a vegan bakery will get devoured in one day, just as these did. It's both a good thing, for my wallet (these were pricy) and waistline, and a bad thing, for my taste buds, that this place was outside of my central London location.

In the storefront they are stocked with loads of vegan products, from cheeses, meats, ice cream, snack bars, candies, milkshakes, to baking ingredients and decorations. The baked goods case included many cupcake flavors, brownies, cookies, scones, and muffins. The prices of the baked goods were a little steep, when converted to USD so I didn't stock up. I got a good sense of their product though, and agree this was a great pick! Not too many vegan bakeries exist here, so they take the cake :)

I LOVED Raisinets as a kid,
these made me so happy!

Vegan Cheeses for Sale in the Cooler

Ms. Cupcake

408 Coldharbour Lane

Brixton (in South West London)

London, United Kingdom SW9 8LF

Ms. Cupcake Website

Dining Out in New York City - V-Note

Zucchini Pappardelle - V-Note Organic Wine Bar & Vegan Bistro

I made a last minute reservation at V-Note for dinner to make use of a Groupon voucher I had bought a few weeks earlier. It's not a spot that was on the top of my must-visit list, but I'm always excited to try a new vegan restaurant. It is run by the owners of Blossom and Café Blossom, two other well known vegan restaurants in NYC. I dined at this Upper East Side establishment with my non-vegan boyfriend on a Friday night. It's fairly small so I recommend making a reservation. 

Cape Cod Cakes - V-Note

Our waiter provided us with menu recommendations and great service overall. My boyfriend picked an appetizer for us to share. We had the Cape Cod Cakes that were a blend of hiziki seaweed, tofu, and herbs served with a side of greens and tartar sauce. They are similar to a crab cake in terms of flavor and looks, served as a small lightly fried ball. I was skeptical about them at first because I think it's more of a challenge to successfully veganize seafood, but they were super delicious! I would go back just for these or order them as takeout, definitely the highlight of the meal. 

For an entree I ordered the raw Zucchini Pappardelle with thinly sliced raw zucchini, avocado, cherry tomatoes, olives, red peppers, marinated onions, oyster mushroom, almond butter, and cashew cream. My boyfriend opted for the most "safe" and traditional dish on the menu, the lasagna, served with sauteed eggplant, broccoli rabe, and a red sauce. After having a warm appetizer that was outstanding it was hard to go to a healthier raw dish, but I still enjoyed mine. As most raw food is, it was very filling and tested fresh. My boyfriend was starving and wolfed down his lasagna. I got a taste and it was okay, but nothing special. 

Raw Zucchini Pappardelle - V-Note

Lasagna - V-Note

Butterfinger Shake - V-Note

I had my eye on dessert and was making a tough decision between the beloved Chocolate Ganache Cake with a peanut butter center or a Butterfinger Shake. The weather was unseasonably warm so I opted for the shake. I've had the Butterfinger Shake at Terri and in comparison I preferred this one at V-Note. Terri's shake was a little too sweet. This did have a slightly chalky taste and texture, but it's not too surprising with non-dairy milks. 

I would go back to try more of the appetizers, particularly the Yelpers' favorite Black Eyed Pea Cake. The ambiance is intimate and romantic, a good date night spot.

V-Note Organic Wine Bar & Vegan Bistro

1522 First Avenue 

(between 79th & 80th Streets)

New York, NY 10075

V-Note Website

Dining Out in Maine - Silly's

Tofu in a Dinghy - Silly's Restaurant

I'm so glad I got the chance to try Silly's! My boyfriend and I stopped in on our drive back from a great weekend in Vinalhaven. It was another instance of me quickly researching on my phone for nearby vegan-friendly places and stumbling upon a gem. It reminded me of Friendly Toast, with it's quirky, retro decor, including old school lunch boxes for menu holders, and friendly staff. The diner-style menu is large with numerous options for vegans that all sounded delicious - it was tough to pick! They note that there are separate gluten-free and vegan friers to prep the food. I love how open and honest this place is - check out their website for info on how they source their food - almost everything is homemade and local! 

We arrived there right before the end of Sunday brunch, which included some amazing vegan dishes, but I opted for lunch instead. I was in the mood for some junk food and threw caution to the wind by ordering their famous Fried Pickles for an appetizer and Tofu in a Dinghy for my entree. I was determined to get a milkshake when I saw the long list of vegan-friendly options, but sadly I stuffed myself and couldn't do it. 

Milkshake Menu

The Fried Pickles are normally vegetarian, not vegan, because they are coated with buttermilk, but the waitstaff immediately offered us the option of making them vegan and it sounded like that was a common request. The dill pickle slices were coated in spicy breading and served with a homemade, creamy spice dip. I loved that I could enjoy a dip like this, since usually any kind of dip, sauce, or dressing that even looks creamy is off-limits. Yum! It was my first time trying fried pickles and despite a minor stomachache from all the excess oil I give it a thumbs up! I guess they could have been a little crispier, but the flavor was there.

Vegan Fried Pickles - Silly's Restaurant

My waiter had suggested Peace, Love, and Veggies for an entree, which sounded delicious and likely the healthiest dish on the menu, but again I was not holding back for this meal, so Tofu in a Dinghy was my choice. It was essentially an order of Pad Thai with Tofu rolled up in a tortilla and then fried - yeah, once again, I did not hold back for this meal! Here's the real description: Thai ginger peanut sauce, rice noodles, fried tofu, vegan mozzarella cheese, mushrooms, scallions in a flour tortilla deep fried in a chimi style, served with mandarin oranges and fresh baby spinach on the side (which sadly got ignored). I killed the whole tortilla, after already diving into the Fried Pickles, turned down the milkshake at the end, and then rolled myself out of there, happy and full! Thanks, Silly's.

I can't wait to go back! There are so many more things I want to try here :)

Silly's Restaurant

40 Washington Avenue

Portland, ME 04101

Silly's Website

Silly's Menu - PDF