A special occasion to visit the motherland

Say hello to Natürlich Vegan

Natürlich Vegan, the German translation of my debut cookbook, is finally out and you can order your copy here. It’s a bit funny seeing my book in German. My research and recipe writing has all been in English and I’ve lived in the UK for so long that I almost feel more at ease in my second language, especially when it comes to food. But holding the German edition in my hands also comes with a sense of pride. It somehow connects the journey back to my roots.

To mark the launch, I went to Munich for a few days of filming, interviews and book signing with my publisher DK. I also had some time off to properly explore the city for the first time and it didn’t disappoint. The sun was out, and after 30,000 steps, I’d squeezed in just about as much as one day can hold.

Of course, I paid an obligatory visit to Munich’s many beer gardens, which are worth coming to for the view alone but made even better with a crisp lager in hand.

The best souvenir Munich has to offer? The bread.
The moment I took the first bite of Bavarian bread at AVIN, I messaged my girlfriend to rave about its flavour. It’s the kind of bread that tastes incredible on its own: full of flavour, with a crisp crust and deep, moreish notes of wholesome, unprocessed wheat. This is what bread should taste like! I later on discovered Julius Brantner Brothandwerk, where you can purchase a delicious wholegrain rye sourdough with a 48-hour fermentation to take home.

Some Munich Favourites:

• Suuapinga Bakery (great coffee and vegan cinnamon buns)

• Julius Brantner Brothandwerk (excellent Bavarian bread)

• Asamkirche (a beautiful church in the Altstadt)

• Madam Chutney (what it lacks in interior, it makes up in flavoursome food. The Chana Masala was delicious)

• English Garden (serene park with rivers, lakes and beer gardens)

• LAP Coffee (excellent coffee to take on a stroll through the English Garden)

• Ludwig Maximilian University (worth a visit to learn about the White Rose)

• Marienplatz (busy but beautiful central square. Take the lift up the New Town Hall for views over Munich)

• AVIN (wine bar with a few vegan options for dinner)

Test Kitchen

What’s Cooking?

After Munich, I made my way to the Dutch seaside to spend some quality time with family. Since I’d been away, my test kitchen at home hadn’t seen much action, but it felt like the perfect excuse to revisit some of my favourites while I was there. Toum made its usual, non-negotiable appearance for our barbecue spread, and I whipped up some Mutabal when we went sailing, perfect for scooping up with torn pieces of baguette. Both are simple to throw together, though the Mutabal is especially good when you char the aubergines by simply chucking them into the hot coals after barbecuing. Once they’re soft, you can take them out and remove the peels, revealing the tender, smoky flesh underneath. We also grilled loads of veg and turned the leftovers into Sicily’s Couscous con Verdure for dinner the next day.

From the Archive

Turkish Olive Oil Dishes

It’ll come as no surprise that I’m a big fan of Turkish cooking. Of all the places I’ve travelled, Türkiye might be the one that surprised me most when it comes to traditionally vegan food. Once you step into the world of zeytinyağlılar (which translates to “cooked with olive oil”), there’s really no turning back. The two dishes below are among my favourites. Incredibly simple to make and just as good served warm as they are cold, though they’re traditionally enjoyed at room temperature.

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Watch on Youtube →

I hope you enjoyed this week’s round-up. See you next Friday for more updates from the test kitchen. Have a good weekend!

Much love,
Julius