ALLERGICO BANH MI CA PHE - MADAME SEITAN - TIPPLE TIPS - PUZZLES & GAMES AUTUMN 2022
Contents: 3: Banh Mi Ca Phe 1 | Find out why Vietnamese food is the best in the world according to this Warwickshire restaurant! 13: Madame Seitan 17: Allergico Explains: Cider & Perry We check out an exciting new vegan food business run by the former owner of an iconic Warwickshire vegan café. Everything you need to know about these much-loved seasonal beverages!
Editor's note
The days are getting shorter and the temperatures are hopefully plummeting after the baking hot summer we've had! I love the autumn season as it is a chance to get out the seasonal jumpers and of course the seasonal food. All of our interviewees for this edition are perfect for the season, from an iconic fiery Vietnamese sandwich to everything you ever needed to know about cider and perry. We'll also be revisiting a former interviewee and seeing how she's getting on in her new business. So sit down, get yourself a cup of something mulled and enjoy reading!
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Sophie Wallace Founder & Editor of Allergico BEST WISHES, SOPH HELLO ALLERGICOS!
Since 2014, its popularity has soared, bringing a Vietnamese staple to a whole new audience.
It's been nearly a decade since The BBC listed the Banh Mi as one of the best sandwiches in the world
With such an impressive rise to fame, we just had to sit down and talk to them about their success.
Having started its life as a small street food cart in late 2019, Banh Mi Ca Phe quickly became a popular food brand throughout the West Midlands. Despite the global pandemic, they opened their physical store in Leamington Spa's Regent Street in April 2021 and have gone from strength to strength
Banh Mi Ca Phe
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3. What would your dream plans for the business' future look like? I have a lot of dreams, but my dream for Banh Mi Ca Phe is to expand to more branches and towns. I want to promote and affirm Vietnamese street food on the food map in the UK. In particular I want this for the Banh Mi, as it's a nourishing, delicious and affordable fast food option for everyone.
2. What was it like opening during a pandemic? It was difficult in every way, it took a lot longer than the planned opening date because of all the problems, the physical store was closed, everyone was afraid of the pandemic. But we are here now and we have received a
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Simply because I miss Vietnamese street food. Every time I miss home, I want to eat Vietnamese food but Leamington didn't have it. I thought why not? So I decided to open a small Vietnamese restaurant in Leamington for myself, and Vietnamese street food lovers.
Why did you decide to set up a Vietnamese street food business?
lot of support, love and help. Thank you all very much, especially those of you who helped advertise our shop from the early days, thank you Leamington!
Very good question, Banh mi and other Vietnamese dishes are famous around the world, but not so much in the UK. I think this is because the Vietnamese are famous for their nail industry here, so the restaurant trade is less common. To me, Vietnamese food is very delicious if you do it right. Do not cut corners, cook with all the love like grandparents and parents do. Then the food is great, not inferior to any other delicious food in the world, is sometimes even better in terms of nutrition.
Why do you think it took Vietnamese food longer to become popular than its counterparts?
What is your favourite item on the menu?
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I've got many favourite Vietnamese dishes, but one I particularly love is Banh Mi. This is associated with all ages, but especially childhood. It's spiritual food and part of the identity for both rich and poor Vietnamese people. “Banh Mi is a less expensive but still nutritionally complete and balanced. Do you have any advice/recommendations for people trying Vietnamese food for the first time? Not much, just read the menu and ingredients and carefully. After doing this, tell us what ingredients you are allergic to, so we can give you the best advice. Then just eat and enjoy!
How do you make your Banh Mi so delicious? We make them with love and care, how we love to eat is how we want our customers to eat. Above all, everything is always very fresh and What's the response been to your food so far? We have had so much great and positive feedback about our food! People keep asking if we open at night time or do delivery. I hope soon we can open at night and have a delivery option. Why do you think so many people consider the Banh Mi the best sandwich in the world? Many people consider the Banh Mi the best sandwich in the world because it's an airy and crunchy fresh French baguette with a Vietnamese flourish, wheat and rice flours provide a thin and crispy crust.
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It's then stuffed with an ever varying combination of so many different flavours, from meat to fish to tofu and homemade sauces. The Banh m Mi also has a lot of Vietnamese fresh herbs such as: coriander, radish, pickled carrot, cucumber and Vietnamese mint. This brings together salty, sweet, sour, spicy flavours. This amazing taste is why David Farley from the BBC called it "the best sandwich in the world".
Vietnamese coffee is said to be very special, what makes it so unique? Vietnamese coffee is something that's very special to us and everyone in Vietnam, we love it! The taste is so amazing, so different to every other coffe out there. Many people don' know that Vietnam is the world's second largest coffe producer. This coffee is something you have to try at least once in your lifetime.
7 | delivered during the day. This includes the seasoning for the dishes which are always marinated for 6 to 8 hours. This makes the dishes very tasty and full of flavour. Do you have any allergyfriendly recommendations for people visiting? We always enquire about all allergy issues before our customers order food. Then we encourage guests to carefully read all food ingredients on the menu and talk about allergy containing ingredients. Always be careful and inform us of allergies and intolerances so we can give the most reasonable advice. We also regularly train and remind staff about allergy awareness.
Does Vietnam have any autumnal traditions? Yes we have a big autumn festival called Trung Thu. It's the time for family to come together, with kids running around chasing candy and watching a dragon dance. Together we eat many traditional dishes, drink tea together, listen to the old people in the village tell stories and eat moon cakes. Great vacations that no child far from home can forget. Where to find Banh Mi Ca Phe: 112 REGENT ST, LEAMINGTON SPA, CV32 4NR
Tipple Tips
When the days get colder, the drinks get warmer! So with the Autumn incoming, this season's Tipple Tips are all around warming drinks. We have a great selection for you, from hot spiced drinks, to rich deep flavours sure to shake off the autumnal chill. Alongside seasonal classics, we also have some delicious hot drinks for those who are going alcohol-free. One particularly exciting one is a Turkish staple which is truly marvellous.
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Boozy Ginger Beer 9 |
Not quite ready to say goodbye to summer Margaritas? Well this is the perfect crossover drink! It's easy to adapt too, just leave out the tequila to make it alcohol-free. Place the tequila in your glass of choice. Add in the ginger cordial. Top up the drink with water to taste. Give the lime wedge a gentle squeeze over the glass, then add to the mix. Enjoy!
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INGREDIENTS:
25ml Ginger cordial (ones with a hint of chilli work especially well)
One lime wedge Water METHOD: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. P h o t : B l F r m P h t t : O l m c
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50ml Reposado Tequila (if you can't find this, buy the best alternative you can afford)
Looking for a party drink without the alcohol? Try this delicious mocktail which provides some deliciously refreshing fizzy delight. Want to spice it up? Garnish with a small slice of chilli! Add the 25ml ginger cordial to a fluted glass (alternatively a coupe glass will work). Top up with the fizzy alcohol free drink. Add your favourite garnishes. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS: Bottle of Nozeco or similar alcohol free grape based fizzy drink 25ml Ginger Cordial METHOD: 1. 2. 3. 4. P h o t o c r e d i t : B e l v o i r F a r m P h o t o c r e d i t : S a i n s b u r y ' s
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Ginger Nozeco Fizz
11 | Beer & Cider Low & No alcohol P h o t o C r e d i t s : E y a m B r e w e r y P h o t o C r e d i t s : E y a m B r e w e r y Eyam Brewery Mompesson's Calling Plum Porter Available: Eyam Brewery Website & select stores Eyam Brewery Black Death Vanilla Stout Available: Eyam Brewery Website & select stores P h o t o C r e d i t s : H a z e r B a b a & B e l v o i r HazerBaba Turkish Apple Tea Price: £7.53 Stockists: Amazon, health food shops nationwide Belvoir Ginger Cordial Price: £3.75 from Sainsbury's Stockists: Belvoir website & stores nationwide
12 | Food Festival Finder: The Leamington Spa Food Festival Where: Pump Room Gardens, Royal Leamington Spa, CV32 4AA When: 11th & 12th September 2022 The Allergy & Free From Show Winter Where: NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT When: 5th - 6th November 2022 Vegfest UK London 2022 Where: Olympia Grand, Olympia Way, London, W14 8UX When: 12th & 13th November 2022 BBC Good Food Show Winter Where: NEC, Birmingham, B40 1NT When: 24th - 27th November 2022 Logo Credit: BID Leamington Logo Credit: The Allergy & Free From Show Logo Credit: Vegfest UK Logo Credit: BBC Good Food/Immediate Media
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Longtime fans of Allergico might recognise Keirra Macdonald-Mosdall as one of the owners of The Garden Shed, a much loved vegan venue in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. Whilst that venue has sadly closed its doors, Keirra has set up an all-new vegan food business and we caught up with her to talk about Madame Seitan and all things vegan food!
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Madame Seitan
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What kind of products do you sell?
My shawarma kebab, for sure! I make the seitan with authentic Middle-Eastern spices, recommended by an Iranian shop keeper I once met, he always advised me that you cannot eat falafel without pomegranate syrup! He's right, I'll never eat them without again!
My thing is world foods, and of course seitan.
I like to cook food from around the world that you would normally get anywhere else or at least, is a bit more exciting that a standard burger. What's your most popular product?
Madame seitan came about because of taking over The Garden Shed café, although it was the first business I owned it wasn't my creation. Madame seitan was my baby. What inspired you to give the business such a unique name?
My best friend and I were chatting about what I could call my name if I ever renamed the business, at that time I was experimenting with making seitan. And Ben, my friend just came up with Madame seitan! And I instantly knew that's exactly what I'd call it. I practiced how to make seitan from then on for about 2 more years before I went ahead with renaming the business!
Why did you decide to set up Madame Seitan?
I've got a 5 year plan foe Madame seitan, maybe a business on wheels. But you'll have to keep your eyes peeled for anymore info about what's going to happen next! What was your favourite memory from working at The Garden Shed?
What would be your dream for the business' future?
Owning the Garden Shed Café was an amazing experience, I was so young and just excited to show the world what I could do. Did you take any ideas/popular dishes over with you when The Garden Shed closed? I'd like to think my menu at the café is the same is what in doing now but now, I'm bigger, better and with a lot more experience. What advice would you have for anyone considering opening their own food business? It's a hard graft! But very rewarding when you cook for people and make people happy. From when The Garden Shed opened to your work at Madame Seitan now, how much has the vegan food landscape changed? Oh, a lot. I mean look at the supermarkets and what they offer, it's crazy. And I'm so so so grateful that the vegan food world is getting bigger and better! What's your favourite warming autumnal dish? Pumpkin and cauliflower curry! Keep an eye out for Madame Seitan at food events throughout the Midlands!
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Allergico Explains:
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Cider & Perry
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Perry: Any apple variety can be used to make cider, but many are carefully selected for flavour Famousprofile. cider-producing regions include: Herefordshire, Somerset, Cornwall in the UK and Brittany in France. Only perry pears can be used to make the drink called perry. Perry pear trees take a long time to grow to maturity, some can survive for hundreds of Theyears.West-Midlands makes famous perry.
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Term decoder: Real cider & Real Perry
C R E D I T : C A M R A
But what's the difference and how do you know which varieties will work best for you? In this piece Allergico is aiming to shed some light on these questions and more, so you can enjoy this delicious seasonal drink!
Cider:
The term "real" in the context of cider and perry means either beverage which is seasonally produced and uses 100% apples or perry pears depending on the variety. Over the decades, a wide variety of cider and perry brands have flooded the market, meaning that heritage varieties are often left fighting fierce competition from international rivals. However, groups such as The Big Apple Association and Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) are fighting to preserve what is known as "real" cider and perry.
With autumn now here, many people love to enjoy the classic British drinks of cider and perry.
Price: £2.20 £2.25 dependent on stockist
Available: Aspall website, Sainsbury's, Tesco Description: A refreshing dry cider with a floral aroma.
Aspall's Premier Cru Cyder
Description: A Herefordshire icon, this robust dry cider works perfectly for everything from curry to a roast dinner.
Allergico
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Recommends: Dry Cider: Weston's Old Rosie Price: £4.75 - £5 depending on stockist
Available: Weston's website, Tesco, Iceland
Description: This medium-dry cider is refreshing and has a smooth taste, with a scent full of fruit.
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Medium-Dry Cider:
Sheppy's 200 Edition
Henry Weston's Vintage Cider
Description: For their 200th anniversary in 2016, Somerset's most famous cider company brought out this robust traditional beverage.
Price: £2.00 £2.25 dependent on stockist Available: Weston's website, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Tesco
Special
Price: £2.25
Available: Sheppy's website, Waitrose (single bottles only)
Available: Aspall's website, Sainsbury's, Waitrose
Description: This cider is a strong one in both vol and taste. But that means it provides a rich, sweet fudgy and fruity taste which is truly delicious.
Cornish Orchards' Wassail Mulled Cider Price: Case of 6: £30 Case of 12: £54
Description: Originally integral to the eponymous festival to ensure a good apple harvest, this is an iconic old English autumnal drink.
Price: £2.50 - £2.60
Aspall's Imperial Cyder
22 | Sweet Cider:
Available: Cornish Orchards' website
Price: See Weston's website for prices
Available: Weston's website, Weston's Cider Mill
Cider
Price: Case of 12: £30
Available: Gwynt Y Ddraig's website
23 | Fruit Cider:
Description: Say iechyd da with this delicious Welsh cider. It combines the classic combination of apple and blackberry to brilliant effect.
Description: Rhubarb combines with classic Rosie's Pig cider for a traditional and fresh taste.
Weston's Rosie's Pig Rhubarb Cloudy
Gwynt Y Ddraig Autumn Magic Cider & Blackberry
Woodredding
The company uses three types of pears in this beverage to create a crisp and refreshing drink.
This small-business made perry is a delicious introduction to the beverage.
Woodredding's website, stores & festivals in Hereforshire
Available:
Available:
CREDIT:
Case of 12: £30
Price:
Sweet Perry Price: See Woodredding website for prices
24 | Perry: Gwynt Y Ddraig Perry Vale Pear Cider
Gwynt Y Ddraig's website
Description:
Description:
Weston's, Aspall, Sheppy's, Cornish Orchards, Gwynt Y Ddraig, Woodredding
Want to learn more about Real
Check out these organisations to learn more:
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Perry, Real Cider and Real Ale?
Founded back in 1971, this organisation was set up to help secure the future of real ale, real cider and real perry. Today, it's one of the most prominent consumer groups in the UK.
CREDIT: CAMRA, The Big Apple Association The Big Apple Association This organisation was set up in 1989 to support and raise interest in apples, pears, cider and perry. Its Blossomtime and Harvesttime events in Herefordshire are annual highlights.
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA)
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Puzzles & Games 28 | Warm up your brain cells with these autumn puzzles!
Pigpen Cipher 29 | We're back with another seasonal cipher, but can you guess what it says? ?manteiVfohsidlanoitanehtsiohPtahtwonkuoydiD:REWSNA
30 | The Anagram Challenge See if you can solve these fiendish seasonal anagrams! OFF PEEP TEAL MILL REDUCED MACE NOOK SCENT SHUT A N S W E R S : 1 . T O F F E E A P P L E , 2 . M U L L E D C I D E R , 3 . M O O N C A K E , 4 . C H E S T N U T S
31 | Wordsearch BANHMI PHO VIETNAM GINGER BEER TEQUILA AUTUMN CINNAMON HALLOWEEN DIWALI HANNUKAH PUMPKIN TOFFEE APPLE See if you can find the words in our autumnal wordsearch!
Warm up those brain cells with this autumnal trivia!
Big Quiz
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Which of these was the original vegetable used for Halloween carving? A) Watermelon B) Turnip C) Apple For which festival is it common to eat Mooncakes in China? A) Diwali B) Thanksgiving C) Mid-Autumn Festival What is the name given to the last Sunday before Advent when Christmas puddings are traditionally made? A) Stir-up Sunday B) Singsong Sunday C) Sit-down Sunday 33 | A-3,C-2,B-1:SREWSNA
34 | Picture Round! sasomaS,seirrebkcalB,secniuQ,ohP:srewsnA Can you name what's in these four pictures? They're all about either this edition or the season of autumn, good luck!
Thank you for reading, see you at Christmas!
