FIRST VEGAN NIGERIAN POP-UP RESTAURANT [VIDEO]

The last few weeks have been a roller-coaster, for want of a better metaphor. I first decided that I wanted to go ahead with this pop-up restaurant over a month ago, giving me the time and breathing space to slowly work up to it. No pressure.

Once the event went live, it was jaw-dropping to witness the tickets sell out so fast. At the very least, I knew that I could count on my family and close friends to be there, but I imagined that I'd have to do a great deal of advertising to get the word out and convince other people to come along. The power of social media, sharing and word-of-mouth came into play and thankfully silenced that misconception.

So, in the long lead up to the event, there were days when I was in full planning mode - trying to work out the logistics and practicalities, down to the smallest detail. How to transport ingredients to the venue? What drinks to serve with the meals? How much prep time would be required? etc. On other days, I was able to go about my business without a thought to the event, often leading me to wonder whether I was doing enough to prepare. Time would tell...

Life has a funny way of playing out and it so happened that the week just before the pop-up was to take place was week I had planned (months in advance) to attend Spring Harvest (a Christian holiday/retreat in Somerset) with a friend. Cue a week of complete relaxation and much-needed peace of mind. And when it was over, time seemed to hurtle mercilessly forward to Wednesday. Now or never...

I'm as calm as calm gets, believe me, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't experience little pangs of nervous energy throughout the day. With the help of family and friends, however, who gave their time so generously and selflessly, I was able to make it through the day in one piece. There was so much love and support on their part - and even on the part of the guests I met for the very first time - that I am convinced that that was the key to the event being as successful as it was. Thank God for wonderful people :)

The video I've put together (special thanks to my brother for capturing most of the footage while I was plating behind the scenes) should give you a good idea of the overall night - the atmosphere, the food, the good vibes... No need for me to break it down excessively ;)

Once again, a massive thank you to everyone who played a part in bringing this event to life. You are all appreciated. I'm also going to go ahead and give myself a good pat on the back for following through with this, because why not! Haha. Enjoy the video, share, like, and see you soon at the next pop-up :)

Tomi x

BAKED VEGETABLE CHIPS [VIDEO]

Another week, another YouTube video. These chips are great for snacking on and are a healthy alternative to the deep-fried chips/crisps you get in supermarkets. Hope you give it a try. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel for video updates.
Wishing you all a wonderful Easter!

'CHEESY' VEGAN GARLIC BREAD (GOOD CARMA REVIEW + VIDEO)

I first tried nutritional yeast approximately one year ago after hearing a lot about its wonderfully cheesy flavour. It is this special ingredient that gives body to Good Carma's range of vegan parmesan-style 'cheeses'. 

Founded in 2013 by passionate foodie, Charlotte Bates, Good Carma's aim is to provide a healthy and nutritious alternative to dairy cheese. The Flavour Fusion range is made up of three main 'parmesan' flavours - Garlic, Chilli, and Original (with basil) - allowing you to flavour your food according to your mood :)

I was excited to receive all three to review and over the last few weeks, I have been able to carefully test each one in different ways. Both the chilli and original flavours were delicious sprinkled on pasta dishes (for pasta inspiration, browse through my recipe page), as well as on a hearty tomato soup I had for dinner one evening. They also work incredibly well sprinkled on home-made vegetable chips (video coming soon!). The garlic flavour gave the right amount of intensity to a 'cheesy' garlic bread recipe (see tutorial video below). Overall, I was pleased with each one - the original flavour being my absolute favourite of the 3! - although I would have liked the chilli flavour to carry more heat. A lot more heat!

As well as being dairy-free, there are several other reasons to give these 'cheesy' flavour fusions a try, including the fact that they contain NO artificial colours, flavours & preservatives; they are made using whole foods (nutritional yeast, ground almonds, himalayan pink salt...); they are a good source of B12, and they are wheat/gluten free for those who suffer from intolerances. There is nothing worse than over-processed food, and so I have to say that I really appreciate the company's effort to make these 'cheeses' as clean and natural as possible!

If, like me, you're a vegan who sometimes misses the taste and sensation of having grated cheese over certain foods, then this is definitely for you. Good news is that the Flavour Fusion range is now available online and in 47 Waitrose stores across the UK. In addition to that, you can get 10% off if you're signed up (for free) with the Vegan Lifestyle Association!

Hope you enjoy this quick & easy 'cheesy' vegan garlic bread recipe, featuring Good Carma's Garlic Flavour Fusion. It was a lot of fun to make, and a lot of fun to eat ;)

Note: This review has been organised by the VEGAN lifestyle ASSOCIATION. It has not been paid for and the products were sent free of charge. This is my genuine and unbiased review of the product.

Good Carma Foods are listed with the VLA and you can see their listing here.

STARTING A POP-UP RESTAURANT [VIDEO]

I'm a big believer in taking small, tangible steps towards achieving major life goals. So here's me taking the plunge and launching my first ever pop-up restaurant!

If you're in London and up for trying some of my food, then I'd love to see you there! The first event will be on Wednesday 6th April at 19:00 pm, at La Suite West Hotel.

As the first event is somewhat of a test-run, I've limited the numbers to 20 available spaces. You can secure your ticket(s) and check out the set menu by visiting the event page here.

Thanks! :)

BRIGHTON VEGFEST 2016 [VIDEO]

I had a great day out at the Brighton VegFest this year, where I volunteered with the lovely peeps at the Vegan Lifestyle Association stall, discovered a ton of products and ate a lot of yummy vegan food. Check out my vlog below and don't forget to subscribe! :)

THE SECRET TO PERFECT VEGAN AFTERNOON TEA

I work as a chef at a vegan restaurant in London and if there is one thing they are well known for, it's the painfully stylish vegan afternoon tea served every day from 12 pm. After nine months of being here, I have easily made and plated hundreds (yes, hundreds) of these gorgeous spreads. I'm talking trays of scones, buckets of coconut cream, and enough sweet desserts to make your dentist shudder.

Figuring that it would be fun to cross elements of my work with this blog, I have decided to break down the components required to create the perfect vegan afternoon tea. An insider's perspective, if you will. I use the word 'perfect' very loosely here of course because perfection simply doesn't exist. But I'd like to think that we come pretty close. 

I won't be giving away any specific recipes, although in some places I might link you to some of my previous recipes for inspiration (especially the dessert part of the course!) and I shall happily feed your senses with a few stunning photographs. 

Okay, let's get on with exploring the anatomy of perfect vegan afternoon tea ;)

1. Sandwiches
We kick things off on a savoury note with a selection of finger sandwiches. What makes these sandwiches particularly irresistible is that they are packed with unique and flavourful VEGAN fillings - from mushroom paté to scrambled tofu with mustard cress, to avocado chilli mousse with rocket. The sandwiches look effortlessly chic when you cut the crusts off and divide into three parts (one part per portion). Using a mix of brown and white bread provides contrast on the plate, and then to top the whole thing off, the sandwiches are garnished with delicate edible greens. Try not to eat the screen...

2. Scones and Coconut Cream
The heart of afternoon tea has got to be the scones and cream - coconut cream, to be exact! Fresh strawberries and a generous dusting of icing sugar seal the deal. Here's a cool vegan hack: in order to achieve wonderfully creamy coconut cream, refrigerate a tin of coconut milk overnight and then scoop out the solid cream from the top. It's really as easy as that. Sweeten it with some sugar or syrup to make it extra irresistible. 

3. Desserts
Now comes the fun part. In the pics below, I show you perhaps the most popular combination of desserts we currently serve. From left to right: raw carrot cake with lemon frosting, chilli chocolate fudge cake with a chocolate-caramel sauce, and a moist lemon sponge with lemon curd. We serve raw banoffee pie occasionally too - one of my favourites. On other days, you might also get a lemon tart, sticky toffee pudding or a mini apple pie. If you're feeling inspired and want to have a go at making your own desserts at home, you can start with this vanilla sponge recipe or chocolate fudge cake. 

4. Tea
For obvious reasons, you can't have an afternoon tea without actual tea! Coffee and hot chocolate are also acceptable, but the point is to sip copious amounts of a hot beverage as you eat your way through the course. If your beverage requires milk then you're spoilt for choice - there's almond milk, soya milk, coconut milk, hemp milk, rice milk, oat milk... Don't settle for regular black tea either. Why not try: Earl Grey, Darjeeling, Jasmine, and my personal favourite: Hibiscus!

Photo credit: Tomi Makanjuola, 2016

3 YEARS OF BLOGGING + GIVEAWAY!

My blog turned 3 on the 15th February. Below is a video with some of my favourite highlights from the last few years. At the end, I announce a giveaway! Give it a watch for a chance to enter! ;)

Thank youuu and catch you soon!

WHAT I EAT IN A DAY [VIDEO]

Step into my world for a day and peep the sort of food I eat as a vegan.
Anyone who thinks that vegan food is a synonym for deprivation needs a reality check! ;)

Hope you enjoy the video. Don't forget to subscribe to my channel for more content! :)