One Year On As A Vegan

You may remember at the end of last year I penned a post titled "One Year On As A Vegetarian". Well, this year I'm sharing my first year as a vegan. Yep – in the most millennial move I've ever made, I've declared myself as a bloody vegan. 2018 has been dubbed over and over as "The Year of the Vegan" and when you look at the changes and figures from the past 365 days, it's easy to see why. 
The Vegan Society has discovered that this year, there are over 600,000 vegans in the United Kingdom making up 1.16% of the entire population. Whilst those numbers may seem small, almost half of those vegans (42%) transitioned over to a plant-based, cruelty-free lifestyle this year, including myself, which emphasises at just how fast the movement is growing and people are choosing a more compassionate, cruelty-free lifestyle.

A Stress-Free Dinner Party with La Belle Assiette

As you hit your late twenties, you start to consider things that you may not have necessarily considered in your younger years; you realise the importance of decent skincare, you no longer pick out a bottle of wine based on the alcohol percentage vs. price (well, maybe sometimes) and you swap house parties for dinner parties. Whilst I love a dinner party – because y'know, I love food and wine – I have never hosted one because believe it or not, I don't really enjoy cooking. I'm strictly an eating rather cooking kinda girl when it comes to my love for food!
However, I was recently offered to review a complimentary stress-free dinner party service from La Belle Assiette who send a private chef to your home to whip up a delicious three-course menu for you and your guests. Our dining table is currently balancing on two DVD cases and isn't in any fit shape to host dinner party guests but luckily Charlie was on hand to offer us her lovely little home for the evening. La Belle Assiette promise restaurant quality food in the comfort of your own home and whilst the chef takes care of the cooking, you can focus on the hosting and enjoying your own party.

Review | A Sustainable Dining Experience at Cub by Mr. Lyan

Nestled within a series of bars and storefronts on East London's unassuming Hoxton Street is Cub Restaurant, a small, intimate restaurant that offers rather a unique and exquisite dining experience. Cub is the newest venture from one of London's most well-known cocktail connoisseurs, Mr. Lyan. If you haven't heard of him, he's the guy behind White Lyan, Dandelyan at the Mondrian Hotel and Super Lyan (located just beneath Cub) and has been widely praised across the city for changing the capital's drinking scene. Cub is Mr. Lyan's (real name, Ryan Chetiyawardana, FYI) and zero-waste pioneer & chef, Douglas McMaster's, newest creation. As per Mr. Lyan's previous game-changing venues, Cub is so much more than a restaurant - it's a culinary experience.

A Vegan Food Guide To Barcelona

I'll admit something to you. Before heading to Barcelona, I was quite worried about finding vegan food out there. Let's face it, Spain is known for it's love of dry cured meats and cheese, which is the total opposite of vegan-friendly. However, after a little research, we were pleasantly surprised to find that the vegan scene in Barcelona is booming!

Upon opening the HappyCow app (an amazing vegan restaurant locater for those of you not in the know) when we arrived, we were greeted with hundreds of vegan eating out options in the city. Unfortunately, we only had a few days in Barcelona and only managed to check out a small portion of them but I wanted to share my favourites for any other vegan pals heading to the Spanish coastal city. So, kick back and prepare to potentially salivate your way through my vegan food guide to Barcelona...

Review | Aparthotel Silver, Barcelona

Have you ever stayed in an aparthotel before? Imagine the hospitality and service of a hotel teamed with the facilities of a rental apartment. Well, that's exactly what an aparthotel is. For those who crave a little more than a pricey minibar, travel kettle and a small selection of instant coffees on their travels, an aparthotel may be the answer. Serviced aparthotels are designed to be a home away from home, combining the service of a traditional hotel with more day-to-day living facilities in your room or apartment, whether that be a fitted kitchen or larger living area to kick back and relax!

During our first trip to Barcelona we spent our final two nights at the Aparthotel Silver in Gràcia - the more bohemian and artsy district of the city adorned with independent shops, quirky cafes, delicious restaurants and Gaudi's architectural route of Modernism. In fact, the Aparthotel Silver is located just 100 metres from the first ever home designed by Gaudi, Casa Vicens (which we somehow missed during our trip!).