Curious about continuing your streak after Veganuary? Wylam Brewery presented some of the best and tastiest vegan street food options that Newcastle has to offer. Wylam hosts plenty of fests throughout the year, and with a beautiful venue, scenic lake view, and plenty of craft beer, it’s the perfect place to hang out and indulge in some tasty treats. Starting their ingenious concept of food battles in 2015, the creators have rallied the street-food entrepreneurs of Newcastle together, bringing scrumptious new dishes to delight the crowds. Though Battle of the Burger was the flagship fest, the team have expanded these culinary contests to the wild and wonderful, with Lord of the Wings and Slice Wars only a taste of what is to come this year. Searching for the best street-food aficionados to be named victor, only one can be crowned, though this gastronomic grapple is certainly a friendly one.
Despite the storm trying to dampen the mood, sellers valiantly held on to their hats as they dished out their best takes on British classics and world cuisine. If you’re in need of some top-notch vegan street food recommendations, here’s the run-down on the unbelievable spread provided at Wylam’s all-vegan extravaganza.
We started out with vegan fish and chips from Saving Nemo, a gorgeous platter of piping hot chips, crispy battered tofu, and a mountain of mushy peas, sprinkled with salt and vinegar. The Durham-based street-food seller also makes climate-conscious decisions by recycling all their cooking oil. These nifty businesses don’t just aid the planet by steering clear of meat! Saving Nemo also offers jumbo battered sausages, calamari rings, and all the vegan sauces your heart could desire, definitely worth a warming visit in this frosty spring weather.
Wylam Brewery’s Flower Power feast was an unforgettable celebration of vegan street food
Our next pick was a gloriously indulgent pulled jackfruit birria taco, courtesy of Birria Bandits. This flavour bomb was served with a deeply flavourful consommé, fresh lemon, and open access to some seriously tasty hot sauces. Birria Bandits also offered a buffalo mushroom taco, as well as some mouthwatering brownies, alongside generous service with a smile, for a delicious display of vegan Mexican street food.
To follow up these hearty bites, we headed to Veganatomy, serving up unbelievably realistic vegan sushi with some amazing flavours. We opted for the tempura sushi roll, packed with fresh and pickled veg, deep fried in a satisfyingly crispy tempura batter, and smothered with vegan teriyaki sauce and gochujang mayo. Offering such delights as vegan banh mi, generously loaded rice bowls, and all the sushi you can imagine, I highly recommend giving Veganatomy a try.
The highlight of the night, in flavour, value, and vibes, was Scott & Wilson with their Mac Attack UFO burger – a perfectly succulent and extra thick Beyond Meat burger paired with an indulgently creamy mac 'n' cheese and a bright, tangy sweet chilli, all encapsulated in a satisfyingly soft yet perfectly crispy UFO style bun. Scott & Wilson offer a variety of super satiating beyond meat and chickn’ burgers for exceptionally reasonable prices, and their upbeat energy and sunny service is off the charts.
Wylam Brewery’s Flower Power feast was an unforgettable celebration of vegan street food, showcasing the unbeatable diversity and creativity of Newcastle’s ever-innovating vegan scene. Whether you’re continuing your Veganuary streak or simply seeking some flavourful vegan delights, start your exploration of plant-based scran with the mouthwatering offerings from these vegan venders and venues.
Sad you missed the first of the year? We would be too… but don’t worry! You can visit all these brilliant plant-based connoisseurs across Newcastle. Just give Flower Power a search and you can find the list of vendors on the 44events Facebook page.
If you have a taste for more of these delicious battles follow the link below and whack the next fests in your calendar! https://foodbattles.co.uk/