VEGAN LONDON: The Return Flight

I know, I know; I've been home for months now (almost a year!), but here is the final post about my trip to London. 

The tube goes directly to the airport, but it was a little confusing because the trains that arrived were not mimicking the sign.  I may or may not have refused to stay on a train that was questionably going to our terminal; hopefully they can work on that because I can't be the only person that didn't get it (or am I?).

We did go to Harrod's while in London, but I think I glossed over most of our non-food related stops and missed mentioning it.  It was overwhelming and we didn't make it through the whole enormous store (which is probably a good thing since I've heard that there's a pet-shop upstairs).  But, we met a representative from Patchi chocolate in the candy department who sold us what was purported to be vegan (and really amazing) chocolate.  Unfortunately, when I contacted them once home for more information about the product and the vegan ingredients, I received no response.  This was extremely disappointing, as the recipients of the chocolate were really impressed.  In any event, this is just a cool Harrod's sign that is in Heathrow.

I didn't find any enticing vegan options in the airport (my friend had the forethought to have made a Saf-to-go purchase), so I just waited for the flight anticipating my reunion with 89.

There was a lot going on in my seating section, so I had to rely on my friend across the aisle for the initial photo of everything wrapped.  I was seated on the opposite aisle; there was a nice New York actor in the middle seat, and an insufferable, drunk man at the window.  This man would not stop annoying the flight staff for booze or our shared seatmate for unwanted conversation- even after being asked to stop talking altogether by everyone involved.  Eventually he fell asleep and his foot somehow managed to come to rest upon my neighbor's tray table; it was appalling.

photo courtesy of JD Gut

But I digress.  The meal was much more identifiable than the questionable meal going: that's soy rice pudding in the top left (I don't really like rice pudding so I only tasted it; it was okay).  An unmarked roll, vegetables and couscous that were decent at best, and a cold bean salad medley that was the savior of the whole tray.

photo courtesy of JD Gut

I can report that we did, at least, receive actual vegan margarine.

photo courtesy of JD Gut

We also unexpectedly received this hummus sandwich as a "snack," but I saved it to eat the next day.  The bread was super soggy and the hummus was probably the worst I've ever had.  I'll never understand how you go about ruining hummus.  In sum, British Airways receives extremely low marks for vegan meals.  Not a Biscoff to be seen!

So that's it, an unceremonious end to an otherwise exciting and delicious trip.   More travels to come, though...stay tuned.

Pet London!

Pet London!

89!

VEGAN LONDON: Let the Trip (recap) Begin

I've just traveled to London, England- exciting for many reasons: vacation, first trip off the continent, first stamp in my passport, and, well...LONDON!

I approached the impending travel with the same research techniques I'd employed in preparation for Portland, Oregon- namely, blogs.  Who needs guidebooks?  My vegan peers did not steer me wrong; special thanks to QuarryGirl, Fat Gay Vegan, and Vegan in Brighton.

I came down with the flu almost immediately upon return and could do nothing but watch Downton Abbey and snuggle with 89.  So, it's going to take some time, but I'll soon be organizing my trip photos and blog-worthy stuff and off we'll go.  I assume that the easiest and fairest way to blog will be as close to the order that everything occurred.  In that vein, let's start with the special "vegan" meal on our British Airways flight out of America.

Upon delivery, it looked relatively impressive: fruit, salad, questionably vegan (no ingredient list) dinner roll...

Upon further inspection it became clear that the reality would be a significant downturn from my first impression.  I'll get to the main course- which was just plain icky, but it was the inclusion of blatantly dairy creamer and non-vegan butter that really got my blood boiling.  If you offer a vegan option, people assume you know what that means, dig?

I'm not much for bad language, but, if I had to guess, this is the point of the trip when I began cursing heavily- if only in my mind.  Limp eggplant is bad enough, but half-covered in awful tomato sauce and half-covered in gravy; what the eff is that about?  And don't get me started on what I can only assume were once nutrient-dense broccoli florets.  As if the flight itself weren't enough to make me gag.

A little later on, a snack appeared.  It felt cool and substantial; we were excited.

We needn't have been.  Another questionably vegan roll, more dairy creamer & non-vegan butter, orange juice, and apple sauce. What vegan wouldn't want this random mess assortment?  Total gagfest (Although I did drink the OJ).

Bigtime fail, British Airways.  I'd joked that the vegan meal would wind up consisting of all vegan things I happen not to like: apples, cilantro...but I'd given you much too much credit.  Those things are actually vegan and would have gone together better than this hot mess.

Fear not, though; the eats vastly improved upon arrival; stay tuned!