Sunday lunch review: Browns, Kingston

I discovered a 'new' place the other day - Kingston. Lovely place with shops (for those wanting to avoid Oxford St), food and the river. It's still in London for those Zone 1 snobs (easy to get to from Waterloo) and lots of places to eat on the riverside.

I made a visit to Browns (a chain - shock horror) and ordered the lamb roast, whilst Food Companion (FC) ordered the fishcake salad (a slight difference in appetite). My lamb and plate of veg was delicious. The mustard cauliflower needs a special shout out too, as well as the Raspberry Lemonade - light and refreshing for a summer's day...

National Vegetarian Week 2015 dates announced

Get those dates in your diary!

National Vegetarian Week 2015 is from Monday 18 to Sunday 24 May 2015. 

Keep up to date with news of the week through www.nationalvegetarianweek.org

It will be its twenty-third year celebrating all things veggie and is a great time to talk about food and its impact on health, animals, people and the planet. The ideal seven days to share meat-free recipes, promote veggie products, showcase menus and launch new ranges.

The week is also perfect for veggie events large and small, from pop-up themed veggie dining experiences to large scale foodie festivals.

If you're a business, educational establishment, community group or individual, there are lots of ways to join in and use NVW to your advantage. If anyone is interested in the many benefits that come with being a sponsor or official partner for NVW, contact Ben Orlowski-Hatton on benjamin@vegsoc.org or0161 925 2000.

The Vegetarian Society, founded in 1847, inspires and supports people to be vegetarian. The charity organises National Vegetarian Week, runs the Cordon Vert vegetarian cookery school, and provides services to support those pursuing a vegetarian way of life, including the Vegetarian Society Approved trademark scheme. Find out more at www.vegsoc.org  

Summer Appetite Festival - on an island in E17

This July a special summer edition of Appetite Festival will take place in Waltham Forest's Lloyd Park as part of Walthamstow Garden Party, a free two-day festival produced by the Barbican and Create. 

Showcasing local food businesses and growers, the Appetite tents will be set up on Lloyd Park's moated island on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 July. 

The perfect mini art & food festival, Summer Appetite will magic-up the ideal chill-out space, complete with deckchairs, vintage vehicles and the opportunity to taste and buy from stalls set up by our favourite E17 foodies - everything from Walthamstow-grown organic vegetables to mouthwatering gourmet food delights, gin palaces and pop-up tea rooms. 

With a focus on local artists, designers, writers and performers including poetry and spoken word performances, a very special Art Stall and some grown-ups-only liquor-lubricated evenings. 

Entry to the Walthamstow Garden Party is free, from 12 noon - 8pm daily. 

Check out www.appetitefestival.co.uk for more details 

Fever Tree pop up gin & tonic bar

If you get a chance to visit the pop up bar at 16 Hoxton Square from Fever Tree (the guys who do those fancy tonic waters) - then do.

Around 150 gins to choose from, 4 tonics to choose from - what's not to like? Everyone there is really friendly and helpful.

Hurry though it's only around for another week, and they do workshops too. Wahey.

Foxdenton raspberry gin with lemon tonic. Delish!