rootingaboot

The Hug and Pint, Glasgow

171 Great Western Road, Glasgow G4 9AW

What can I say to convince you to try the critically acclaimed Hug and Pint? Well, it’s been a firm favourite of Rooting Aboot’s for three solid years now. And this devotion shows no sign of abating. Beautifully presented pan-Asian vegan food, all of their dishes deserve the highest praise because I’ve never had a bad ‘un.

The Hug and Pint’s mushroom rice pudding served with succulent mushrooms, crispy fried onions, pickled radish and fresh spring onions atop the smooth, silky rice underneath.

From the black pepper aubergine, the sweet coconut tempeh, the jackfruit curry, the rice noodles, the tofu and seaweed miso soup to the mushroom rice pudding etc etc, this tastebud extravaganza just goes on and on. All the dishes are best suited for sharing and you need about four or five if there’s two dining. Don’t worry, the friendly and helpful staff are always on hand to advise. The menu changes daily and when it’s gone, it’s gone for the day.

From far left, we have the cucumber, chilli oil, peanuts. Top of photo is black pepper aubergine. Middle is sichuan pepper and black bean tofu. Far middle right is sweet soy and coconut tempeh. Bottom right is kimchi porridge with seaweed and onions.

*An example of their daily menu. The mushroom and soybean broth, ramen noodles and the jackfruit curry were finished by the time we got there. Bah!*

Finish off with an oat milk White Russian. Go on. You know you want to.

The 13th Note, Glasgow

50-60 King Street, Glasgow G1 5QT

Website: http://13thnote.co.uk

Best chips in Glasgow (they really are). Our Veggie burger, Reubens burger and onion rings with garlic mayo dip – what a feed, but please leave the cactus alone.

The 13^thNote in Glasgow has been offering satisfying vegan food and drink for decades. With a high ceiling, large windows and soft lighting, as well as some quirky house guests (look out for the gimp-masked mannequin) it’s a cosy place in winter and cool oasis in summer.

There is a pleasant separate restaurant just off the bar area if you prefer to eat in a quieter space where artwork adorns the walls at reasonable prices. Not often you can pick up an original canvas or photograph by local artists while stuffing yer face.

Vegetarians are catered for with cheese and milky stuff, but the 13^thNote clearly labels vegan and vegetarian offerings. Daily specials are advertised on their blackboard.

There’s always room for pudding in the Rooting Aboot household. We opted for a daily special, coconut and cinnamon cheesecake (made with tofu), and weren’t disappointed I can tell you. The 13th Note’s sticky toffee pudding is also a blissful sugar rush too. Next time…

Madha, Glasgow

42 Albion Street, Glasgow G1 1LH

Website: http://www.madha.co.uk

Vegan menu here: http://www.madha.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/MadhaVegan.pdf

Madha is one of those rare Indian restaurants that clearly labels all the vegan food on their menu. The lovely owner, Joseph, personally assured Rooting Aboot that all vegan food is prepared in a separate area of the kitchen with its own pots and utensils. Don’t be fooled by the small restaurant front. Comfy booths and peace and tranquillity from the bustle of the Merchant City is guaranteed in the much larger soft-green coloured restaurant at the back.

Madha’s rasam soup tingles your lips and puts fire in yer belly. You up for it?

Madha cooks both north and south Indian cuisine, so offers different dishes, flavours and spices than just the usual North Indian/Pakistan fare found in Glasgow. Start off with the poppadoms and homemade pickle, chilli tomato and mango chutney. Next try the Rasam; a traditional tomato based soup that makes your lips tingle and puts fire in your belly, but not for the faint hearted. And boy, do I love their dosa; a thin crispy lentil pancake with a spicy potato and onion masala in the centre, accompanied with sambar, coconut and tomato chutney. Yum, yum and more yum.

Feast your greedy, hungry eyes on these dosas.

Purely for the purposes of giving you a comprehensive review (ahem) we felt obliged to order the chocolate brownie. Rich, velvety and smooth there was three minutes of silence while we scoffed it.

The Plant Room, Brighton

17-18 Brighton Square, Brighton BN1 1HD

Website: http://www.tpr.coffee/index.html

On a recent adventure to Englandshire during March 2019, we rumbled into Brighton. Famous for the very large grains of sand on the beach, it’s also a haven for vegans and vegetarians. The Plant Room is located off ‘the lanes’ (an area full of small, independent shops). With modern decor and lots of sunlight streaming in, it was a clean, fresh cafe that hit the spot for sightseers in need of refreshment. And cake, let’s be honest.

Check out the big hunks of chocolate cake.

The chai soya lattes, with a sprinkling of cinnamon on top, had the right combination of spices and the smiley waiter challenged us to eat up the chocolate cake. No problem there, mate.

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