Are you a meat denier? Does the siren song of a bacon sandwich fall on deaf ears round your way? Does the thought of a hipster burger make you feel a bit sick? Well you don’t have to be a vegetarian for the last one.
Veggie or not, some time without meat is good for the soul and even better for the colon and meat free week is a good time to make the effort.
Here’s a few ideas for you, lettuce hope they take your fancy
Maple & Fitz: The newly-launched healthy cafe and cold-pressed juice bar in Fitzrovia is the perfect place to pick up substantial salads or guilt-free sweet treats. Starting from a vegan, grain-dense and nourishing base, guests may then choose to stay vegan and add additional protein of tofu in an almond butter dressing, go vegetarian with grilled halloumi or bend the rules and make a pescaterian meal of it with added salmon…
Proving that healthy doesn’t have to mean boring, delicious dishes include:
* Samurai Slaw – cabbage, soba noodles, shredded carrots, mint, coriander, sesame, spring onion, a hint of red chili, miso sesame soy dressing
* Lady Pom – barley, pomegranate, toasted walnuts, tarragon, shredded cucumber and granny smith apple, diced celery, tangy tahini pomegranate dressing
* Cauli in Mumbai – quinoa, roasted spiced cauliflower, shredded carrot, peppery rocket, white shallot vinaigrette
* Gluten-free salted caramel brownies
36a Berner’s Street (entrance on Mortimer Street), London W1T 3LY
Rivea London: Chic, convivial and relaxed, Alain Ducasse’s Rivea at Bulgari Hotel & Residences, London is a glamorous spot to people-watch. A taste of the Riviera in Knightsbridge on, this is the perfect place to bring carnivorous guests, whilst leaving plenty of choice for vegetarians (temporary or otherwise!) too. Highlights include:
* Delicate chestnut veloute served with ricotta ravioli
* Seaonal vegetables cooked en cocotte, served with black truffle
* Baked spelt served with spiny artichoke and black truffle
* Potato, sage and parmesan gnocchi
Rivea London, Bulgari Hotel & Residences, 171 Knightsbridge, London SW7 1DW
The Good Life Eatery: The Good Life Eatery is the much-loved urban cafe that brings a quick, deliciously healthy and convenient bite to London. With superfood salads, vegan abaked treats, power breakfasts, vegetable juices and desserts made from veg, its ever-growing fan base will attest to the veggie offerings:
* Zucchini Fettuccini – Raw Courgette Noodles, Almond Pesto, Edamame, Tenderstem Broccoli, Fresh herbs, Sundried Tomatoes, Goats Cheese and Pea Sprouts
* Goodness Bowl – Lentil Salad, Spelt Salad, Caramelized Onion Hummus, Avocado, Zuchinni Fettuccini, Sweet Potato Falafel
* Roasted Ratatouille with Sweet Potato Falafel served with Quinoa or Spelt
* ChocoAvo Mousse / Kale Lime Pie fridge desserts
59 Sloane Avenue, London SW3 3DH
Little H: The new cafe, juice bar and deli in Parsons Green – is a vegetarian’s paradise, serving up homemade, daily eats and nourishing vegan salads inspired by California and Cape Town. Available to eat-in and take-away, Little H provides happy and healthy in equal measure with sample dishes including:
* Vegan bircher breakfast pots
* Roasted sweet potato, feta, pine nuts, baby spinach, caramelised red onion salad with maple & balsamic dressing
* Roasted courgette, aubergine, red pepper, homemade hummus & baby spinach on an olive & sundried tomato flagette with garlic & thyme (vegan)
* Blackened kale&broccoli, asparagus, roasted courgette&fennel – basil pesto dressing
276 New King’s Road, London SW6 4RB
aqua shard: On Level 31 of The Shard, contemporary British restaurant aqua shard places particular emphasis on its vegetable side dishes, alongside some of the best views of London. The ‘market garden’ section of the menu serves souped-up vegetables such as:
* grilled sweetcorn with a spicy lime butter and Bermondsey Hard mousse
* steamed greens with blond raisins, almonds and sherry gastrique
* roasted butternut squash served with poached hen’s egg and saffron mayonnaise – a real showstopper
For a hearty meat free meal, enjoy alongside a delicious veggie main such as:
* lentil gnocchi with Jerusalem artichoke velouté, served with crisped trompette mushrooms and mascarpone and truffle cream
Level 31 The Shard, 31 St. Thomas Street, London SE1 9RY
The Green Room at The National Theatre is a new relaxed restaurant, bar and garden developed by local social enterprise Coin Street Community Builders in collaboration with the National Theatre, the venues first off-site restaurant. The casual all-day menu, developed by the NT’s Executive Chef, Simon Flint, showcases a number of delicious vegan and gluten-free dishes, including:
* Spicy vegan sloppy Joe, cremini mushrooms, black beans, jalapenos, chipotle, onions and green peppers served with wilted spinach in a bun
* Roasted pumpkin risotto with chestnut mushrooms and stilton
National Theatre, London SE1 9PX
House at The National Theatre is a new destination dining restaurant and bar that forms the culinary centrepiece of the National Theatre’s expansive redevelopment. House offers an all-day brasserie menu, showcasing refined classics and more contemporary modern European dishes in an elegant and understated manner. Vegetarian dishes from the menu include:
* Pizzoccheri – buckwheat pasta, cabbage, potato, wild mushrooms and Casera cheese
National Theatre, London SE1 9PX