Showing posts with label dundee. Show all posts

Vegan Menu at Las Iguanas

My vegan Bahia Moqueca

Back in 2013, I paid my first ever visit to Las Iguanas in Aberdeen. For some reason I believed this to be an independent restaurant. I'm not really sure why as it was big and also in the middle of a shopping centre. Buuutttt, I had a beautiful meal and sat by myself and gobbled down three courses myself (it was that good - I usually only order one meal when I dine alone).

This however was back when I was vegetarian. Since then I have went vegan and Las Iguanas became one of the increasing number of UK chains to develop a vegan (and gluten free) menu. This weekend all the bloggers were through in Glasgow for the #ScotBlogMeet, and afterwards I popped out for dinner with Hayley and Mimmie and decided it would be the perfect excuse to try the updated menu at Las Iguanas.

We popped in to the West Nile Street branch and was greeted with exactly the same decor as Aberdeen (does anyone else love when chains are consistent?). Upon asking for a table they immediately asked if we needed the vegan or gluten free menu (which always makes me feel less awkward) and were shown to our table.

Strawberry Red cocktail

Firstly, we obviously had to get our cocktails in (from the extensive menu may I add!). I can't remember what Hayley or Mimmie chose but the drink I chose was one of the best cocktails I've ever had - the Strawberry Red.

Second up we had the choice of picking out the food. Everything on the vegetarian and vegan menu is vegetarian and has the vegan dishes marked out (and has a separate symbol to indicate if something be easily adapted to vegan). I was drawn to the Mango and Pecan Salad, but as I began seeing the food come out the kitchen to the other tables I got hungrier at the site of it and went for the slightly chunkier Bahia Moqueca (pictured first).

Mimmie's vegetarian Chilli Con Verduras

The Bahia Moqueca is a South American coconut curry consisting of squash, palm hearts, spinach, peppers, garlic& fresh tomatoes, with spring onion and garlic rice. It was on the mild side but was still delicious (but large - I really hate leaving leftovers!). Go try it!

Mimmie (who is also a vegetarian) went for the Chili Corn Veduras, which I was assured was lovely. Whilst I also managed to try a bit of the totopos Hayley ordered as her side which I should pit on my list to order next time.

Have you ever tried the vegan menu at Las Iguanas?

mòrag

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Smoothies at Heart Space Wholefoods, Dundee

A fortnight ago, I brought you the news about the best box of noodles I had ever had (they're in Dr Noodles, Dundee). For this Wednesday's food post I'm heading back in the Dundee direction to review....a smoothie.

(Someone take me to an actual restaurant).

This smoothie is actually from Heart Space Whole Foods, a health store which opened up in Dundee a year ago. I did ooh and ahh about reviewing the shop at the time but decided against it because there's only so much you can say about a small health food shop (but I did add it to my map!). I did review the long-standing Health Food Store two years ago but I was truthfully going through a blogging dry-spell where the ideas were just not coming to me.

But back to Heart Space. It's located on Exchange Street, which is the small street off the bottom of Commercial Street and is lined with independent shops and cafés (it's worth a wonder). Heart Space originally started off as yoga classes (which still exist!) before the owners decided to branch out into retail. And they've created a lovely wee store. If you've ever been in a health food store, you'll know they have a habit of being a bit...lack-lustre. Heart Space brought in the branding experts, the visual merchandisers, the friendly well-trained staff, which just gives it a more polished and welcoming image. Product wise, it doesn't contain anything that you're average health shop doesn't stock...there's vegan options, gluten-free options and support for local independent companies. But it's prettier.

And they've put in a smoothie bar! Unfortunately, as much as I want to love this smoothie like I love the rest of the shop, it was too thick and resembled chocolate mouse more than anything else (and my apologies, I cannot remember what was in in - I recall almond butter, avocado and cocoa powder). When I'd finished, it I felt like I'd eaten a small meal and had less room for my dinner (which was this stir-fry recipe!). I really really really wanted to like this smoothie and wish I had positive words but...I don't.

So Heart Space: good health store for buying some vegan cheese, not so good for smoothie purchasing.

Have you ever been to Heart Space in Dundee? Does your local health store have any little extras?

P.S. The two health food stores are so close to each other in Dundee, if you don't find what you want one, you can nip along to the other.

P.S.S If you live in Dundee other businesses I've reviewed and recommend include Maggie's Farm and Jushi the sushi bar.

mòrag

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dundee food

Dr Noodles, Dundee

You know sometimes you really want to blog about something, but are a concerned it might be a bit boring? I'm having that feeling right now. Because today kids I'm away to review a box of noodles. Yeah. But these are mighty fine noodles. So if you like noodles (and boxes) then you can keep reading.

A bit of background here: Dr Noodles in Dundee is a place I frequented back when I was a student. I mean it serves nooldes in a box for under a fiver so obviously students eat there. But on my trip back last weekend I decided to pop in for old times sake. And was happy to see that it was exactly the same as when I left.

Dr Noodles is the kind of place where you 'build your own'. You choose your size of box, your sauce and what kind of meat (or tofu) you want in noodles. On Saturday I went for tofu mixed with soy sauce but my favourite back in the day was coconut. The first time I ever went in I ordered the spicy coconut but underestimated how spicy it was going to be and I couldn't finish the box! On Saturday I was with my spice loving pal who ordered the chilli sauce - I had one bite of it and ended up fanning my face and downing my Sprite. If you can't handle really spicy foods then you might want to stay clear but if you're allllll about testing your spice tolerance then Dr Noodles is a place to pop by.

Dr Noodles have franchises in Dundee, St Andrews and Aberdeen. On the website they confirm that the noodles are wheat noodles. However they don't mention tofu on the website but I can assure you there was tofu at the Dundee branch. You can read the menu here anyway. I'm also sorry about my questionable photography, but boxed noodles are quite a so-so thing to get a good photo of....

So that was the story of how I managed to write four paragraphs about a box of noodles. But noodles from Dr Noodles come highly recommended. If you like noodles I'd go. If you want a quick foodie fix in Dundee for under a fiver, I'd go. If you're a student, I'd go. If you like to burn your tongue on spicy stuff, I'd go. Dr Nooldes appeals to many a target market.

mòrag

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dundee food

Build your own pizza at Project Pie, Dundee

It's not that often that Dundee gets the title of having the first of a chain store in Europe, but the creator of Project Pie studied at Abertay and decided it would be a fitting setting (I agree). When I was through for Dee-Con I stopped by for my own pizza before my bus back to Glasgow on the Sunday.

It does surprise some people, but pizza base is - by and large - a vegan product. However it usually comes dripping in mozzarella and pizza is something that I have missed oh so dearly since going vegan. Project Pie is however a pizza place where you build your own pizza....so basically I missed out the cheese and meat and headed straight for the vegetables.

And Project Pie do have a large vegetable selection to choose from. If my memory serves me well I believe I picked a sweetcorn, artichoke, tomatoes and mushroom medley with 'just a little' of the chillies (still ended up burning my mouth up resulting in me giving my final slice to my pal). They also have unlimited drink refills which helped when my mouth started firing up!

There was an angry comment left on the Facebook page by a vegan who, when they turned up at Project Pie with their own vegan cheese weren't allowed to add it on. The page admin left an e-mail asking them to contact them regarding the reasons for this, to which I hijacked and e-mail them too. The reason was to do with food quality and knowing where their food comes from but they let me know that they were looking into getting a vegan cheese added to the selection at some point. So yay! Whilst a lot of their competitors do allow vegans to bring their own cheese it's good to know Project Pie are considering bringing in a vegan option available anyway (and to the rude customers, I'm a vegan but also a former waitress - ask ahead if it's okay to use your own cheese!).

Project Pie are also another restaurant who are big into social media and you can even snap chat from a booth in the store. And they encourage folk like me to come in and take photos of food!

If one opens near you or you live in Dundee, give it a wee visit. It's a lovely place.

mòrag