Shelley, legendary poet, concocted a vegetarian banquet, in verse. “Piled on high, an overflowing store, Of pomegranates, and citrons, fairest fruit, Melons, and dates, and figs, and many a root”. Poetry on a plate.
Words: Jean Hill
The Royal Albert Dock
We began the new year at Maray on the Royal Albert Dock. Happily vegetarian dishes from the main menu are half price through January. It was a feast for all the senses and good news for the bank balance. The aubergine with tahini, pickled chillies and date syrup was semi-sweet, and desirably squishy with plenty of attitude. The disco cauliflower is a signature dish, and boasts tahini, harissa, yoghurt, pomegranate and almonds. The halloumi, with a slightly soft centre, and the onion and pomegranate chutney make you feel ridiculously grateful to be alive.
Smugglers Cove is offering 40% off deals and 2 for 1 cocktails. It is a fun place to be, especially with such enticements.
Gusto Italian are offering 50% off the à la carte menu throughout January. The venue is beautiful and the food is authentically fine Italian. There are house rules (regarding deals) and you need to book through the promotional site on-line: www.gustorestaurants.uk.com/january-sale
More Liverpool venues
Belzan is a relaxed bistro and bar in Liverpool serving simple and seasonal food. They are offering 50% off on dishes from our regular and vegan menus, Sunday – Thursday in January
Titanic Hotel: Stanley Dock is known for its stunning views, gorgeous interiors and five star menu. The vegan offerings at Stanley’s Bar & Grill boasts starters such as fresh homemade hummus with tear and share flat bread or warming tomato soup. Diners Main include: three bean and butternut squash curry with braised basmati rice. For dessert, guests can finish with the sticky toffee pudding with Hazelnut crumb or the sumptuous Apple and cinnamon turnover with vanilla ice cream. Sounds perfect.
Graffiti Spirits Group is starting 2020 with Veganuary at Slim’s and Duke Street Market.
Slim’s, Bold Street is inspired by New York style diners with a menu packed with vegan options. From vegan pancakes, Vegan Texas Breakfast and VFC (Vegan Fried Chicken) and Waffle, on the breakfast menu, the restaurant is committed to providing a menu that is inclusive.
From lunch through to dinner, there’s also plenty of options. In the small plates section, guests can opt for BBQ corn ribs, onion petals, vegan fried chicken and buffalo cauliflower.
Vegans or those participating in Veganuary can also tuck into the tasty vegan Korean dog; A spicy vegan hot dog sausage served in a vegan bun topped with kimchi style pickle, vegan mustard mayonnaise and sriracha ketchup or Slim’s Vegan Burger. The corn ribs are exceptional; scorched and succulent and totally recommended.
Duke Street Food and Drink Market will have healthy specials from its six kitchens; Cinder, Bone and Block, Ginger, Cucina Di Vincenzo, Finca and plant-based Indigo Greens which has menu dedicated to vegan dishes including its buddha bowl, vegan roast and full breakfast.
Pilgrim serves up turnip, black radish, hazelnuts and cured onions which is like a little bit of summer right in the middle of winter. They also offer slow-roasted squash, oyster mushroom, and rainbow chard which is a tender treat. Pilgrim opens for lunch Wednesday – Sunday from 12pm and dinner Wednesday – Saturday 5.30-10pm..
Mowgli Water Street has tiffin and rice deals. The Indian street food restaurant, Mowgli has two venues in the city: Bold Street and a larger venue on Water Street by Liverpool’s Town Hall. They offer a vegan menu featuring some of the restaurant’s classic street food. The Holy Chow and Mowgli Chip Butty are a must for any visiting vegan.
Green Fork: where celebrity chef to the stars and vegan specialist chef, Sean Paul Redding, has a residency at Green Fork at The Bistro, Mossley Hill three nights a week. The Tex-Mex mac ’n’ cheese was one of my favourite vegetarian dishes of the year. It was an explosion of flavour on the plate. To encourage people to try vegan food this Veganuary, there is a 3 for 2 offer on small plates. This offer is per person and all you have to do is to mention the offer when you make your order.
Crust: has won the award for Best Pizza in the UK at The Italian Awards in 2019. Their pizzas are cooked in their wood-fired oven before your eyes, and they do not disappoint.
Delifonseca menu changes regularly, but when last sighted featured a tempting broccoli, blue cheese and spinach soup to warm the soul. We enjoyed one of our best meals of 2019 at their beautifully renovated restaurant on The Stanley Dock. I enjoyed a Persian lamb stew, that fondly lingers in my memory.
Gary Usher is the creator of Wreckfish Bistro. There is a beautiful new dish on the menu – pan roast halibut, crispy potato terrine, confit fennel and a butter sauce. And if you travel a little further to Gary Usher’s Pinion in Prescot, you will find one or two vegetarian dishes, including a superb cauliflower dish, that is quite complicated to put together, but definitely worth all the meticulous care.
Most offers need to be accessed on-line. There is a plant-based bonanza to be had out there.
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