I tried a vegan cafe in East Yorkshire and it made me reconsider my next coffee order
Like it or not, veganism is on the up in the UK.
Research carried out by Finder estimates that from 2023 to the start of 2024, more than 1.1 million people are opting to have an animal-free lifestyle. This has seen the rise in meat substitutes all over the country, as well as the amount of strictly vegan shops.
One of the original trailblazers of the vegan food offering was Blondes Cruelty free eatery in Cottingham. Since opening over 20 years ago, they helped pave the way for more like-minded venues in the county. I went to the pioneering café to see how it has stood the test of time.
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Though it is pretty snug inside, there was a queue for takeaway treats and brews while people were sat tucking in. I managed to get a spare seat to myself and had a look at the menu.
Now in its 21st year, Blondes has become a bit of a legendary spot for vegans. As I walked in, I overheard a couple on a long weekend away from South Wales say that they 'just had to come here' after discovering it on Instagram. The cheerful staff had the time to talk to these visitors asking what they're up to for the rest of the weekend.
With plenty of sandwiches, pastries and breakfasts to choose from, the Breakfast Bagel appealed to me the most. The last time I tried meat substitutes was a few years ago when I was dragged to a vegan café in another city, which left a lot to be desired and I haven't been tempted to try another one until recently.
The bagel is a tower of hash browns, beans, bacon, sausage, cheese, mushrooms and egg - all vegan, obviously. The bagel was stacked and it arrived in good time.
I remember my only previous endeavour into meat substitutes wasn't a positive one, but this time the sausage really did mimic the real deal - As did the bacon. You could still tell that they weren't 'real' meats from the texture, but it was actually remarkably close.
However, I have to say that the sinful eggs just weren't for me. Though they did look one-to-one like a 'real' fried egg, the change in texture just wasn't quite what I'm used to, but not to the point where it spoilt the rest of the bagel. I imagine for people who are vegan, this will still rate highly from them.
With an iced latte to go, the bill came to £16.45 - £14.95 for the food, the rest for an iced latte to go. The milk used was almond, and, like the rest of the meal, was something that I don't often opt for, but it made me reconsider my next coffee order.