Celebration of Vegan Food in Chester #Chester Food and Drink Month

A plant-based diet is not only super-healthy, but it’s also much better for the environment. Whether you are a fully committed vegan, or you just like to enjoy superb vegan food and drink when the mood takes you – there is plenty of choice in and around the city. From online cookery courses to Michelin Green Star excellence and the very best vegan wines, Chester Food & Drink Month has got you covered.

All about the Greens – on your marks, get set, bake!

Bake Off season is upon us and, as is the case every year, we’re obsessed! Whereas we love to try out as many tips and tricks in our kitchen at home as we can – successful home cooking is more of a hit and miss scenario than a guaranteed win – so it’s time to get a little help from the professionals. If you fancy upgrading your home cooking to a healthier and altogether better-for-the-environment offering, then take a look at plant-based cookery school All About The Greens. Co founder Lisa Hinze loves to create cakes and bakes which are egg and dairy free, so if you’re looking to introduce more vegan dishes to your weekly repertoire, she has the know-how you need to get going with confidence. With All about the Greens online courses you can amaze your friends and family with plant-based versions of your favourite bakes and dishes. Pick up classic techniques and discover those simple switches that make all the difference.

Use code WLGT50SEP21 for a 50% discount of All About cakes Plant Based Baking Courses to celebrate September’s Chester Food and Drink Month.

Online Plant Based Cookery school, 07730 848 529, allaboutgreens.co.uk

Chip’d – flip out over vegan delights at Chip’d

Delicious chips from Chip’d are, of course, 100% vegan. When it comes to their chips, Chip’d are purist perfectionists! They don’t cook anything else with their grade one, hand-chipped potatoes from the Netherlands which are twice-cooked in pure rapeseed oil and flipped in salt. All you need to do is dip these beauties in one of ten tasty vegan dips – we recommend you go proper Dutch with Oorlog (vegan mayo, satay & fresh onions), which is totally divine. But the menu doesn’t stop at amazing chips and dips! A range of delicious Dutch snacks is also available including authentic bitterballen and frikandel, and we especially love the epic speciality milkshakes and lattes on the drinks list too. Dine in on Northgate Street, order a delivery via Uber or Deliveroo, or beat the queue and order for collection at www.chipd.vmos.io. However you decide to enjoy your Chip’d Fix, we know you’ll absolutely love it!

124 Northgate Street, Chester, 01244 313 242, chipd.co.uk

Hanky Panky Pancakes – a truly vegan festival of flavours

And you thought that Hanky Panky Pancakes only served the naughtiest, most decadent and luxurious pancakes since, like, for ever? There’s a lot more going on at HPP than meets the eye – as in late 2019 one of our favourite Chester foodie couples launched Mrs HP’s Spice Kitchen – a game changer for (very) locally produced, authentic and totally-delicious Indian cuisine, cooked to her family’s fabulous vegan recipes. So many of the ingredients come from their own garden – and you can’t get much more local than that! An absolute favourite has been the vegan kati roll (actually only added to the spice menu earlier this year). This sit-in or takeaway triumph includes homemade fresh coriander chutney (from said garden) on a freshly griddled soft paratha, topped with fried onions and peppers, masala potatoes, and dressed with tamarind sauce and chutney powder – a truly vegan festival of flavours. And as I have chomped my way through quite a few of these over the past few months, I can confirm, they are absolutely divine!

20 Commonhall Street, Chester, 01244 319 225, www.hankypankypancakes.com

Hypha – a plant-based jewel in Chester’s crown, and now with a Michelin Green Star to celebrate

I am in awe of this incredible team. Nik Friar has always been a local food and drink superstar, but to think about what he has actually achieved this year alone – is simply phenomenal. To open a fine-dine restaurant is one thing, and to be awarded a Michelin recommendation just six months later is another. But to be awarded one of the UK’s very first Michelin Green Stars is seriously hitting the high notes on an epic journey which shows no signs of slowing down. But that’s not all. Somewhere in the middle of that he also opened his very own fermentation lab Koji, which supplies fantastic (and a little Willy Wonka-esque) concoctions to the sublime seasonal stories of Hypha – and very recently he opened Native on Rufus Court – a natural wine bar serving plant-based snacks to surprise and delight. One of the hardest working and innovative restauranteurs in the city and beyond – Nik we salute you. What an incredible trio of gifts you have bestowed upon this city.

5 City Walls, Chester, 01244 312 490, www.hypha.uk