Dairy Free Punjabi Breakfast at Namji MK
Dairy Free Punjabi Breakfast at Namji MK AD PR Meal – My experience at Namji MK was complimentary A few weeks ago I was invited to try Namji MK‘s dairy free Punjabi breakfast items at their beautiful restaurant in the Xscape in Milton Keynes. Namji is one of MK’s favorite Indian restaurants, and is well-known in the local vegan community for offering a large range of dietary friendly options. So when founder and Curry Queen Naseem invited me to come review her Punjabi breakfast menu I jumped at the chance! I’d never had a Punjabi breakfast before, and this was the perfect opportunity to find out what dairy free options were available for me to try. Read this blog post to learn all about Namji MK’s dairy free Punjabi breakfast offerings, and discover why you should add it to your Milton Keynes brunch hit list! 28.12.22 – Namji MK’s sumptuous interiors 28.12.22 – Carrot orange juice and mango lassi To Start When we arrived we were seated straightaway in one of their lush, jewel toned booths. At first the table seemed a bit large for just Ben and I, but it was the perfect size to hold the spread of food they ended up bringing out for us to try! We were walked through the menu and the server was well-versed on which items contained dairy and which ones were fine for me to eat. There are no dietary labels on the breakfast menu so here’s a list of what I could have: Halwa Puri – chole and aloo are dairy free, halwa & puris contain dairy so ask for parathas instead Chole Bhature – ask for parathas instead of bhature, which contain dairy Crispy stuffed paratha – aloo and egg were fine, paneer contains dairy, not sure about mooli or methi English style Nastha – I wasn’t served this because it isn’t traditional, but can be made dairy free Ben was offered a mango lassi, but as they are made with yogurt I unfortunately could not try one. He loved it though! Instead, I had their orange carrot juice which was fresh and delicious. Read More The Best Dairy Free Pancakes in Milton Keynes 28.12.22 – A Punjabi breakfast spread 28.12.22 – A plate full of chole, aloo, and parathas The Main Event My dairy free Punjabi breakfast began halwa puri with chole and aloo, aloo stuffed paratha, egg stuffed paratha, and some bhature. Of that the chole, aloo, aloo paratha, and egg paratha were dairy free. I wish I could have tried to fluffy breads (puri and bhature) because they looked so lovely! But everything I could eat was absolutely delicious. I would never have thought to have saucy, curried chickpeas and golden turmeric potatoes for breakfast but I loved it! And the parathas were perfect for scooping it all up. The aloo paratha was soft, spiced, and flexible, while the egg paratha was crispy with a nicely chewy layer of scrambled egg in the middle. In fact, not only was my Punjabi breakfast at Namji MK dairy free, everything except the aloo paratha was vegan as well. The aloo was Ben’s favorite of the curried veg, but I loved the chole so much I got a second helping! This gave me a chance to try a plain paratha too, which was delightfully flaky and perfect with the saucy chickpeas. And to finish this dairy free Punjabi breakfast spread we had some tea. Unfortunately, there was no dairy free alternative for Namji’s masala chai so Ben had a pot of that while I had my own pot of fresh mint tea. It might not have been chai, but it was pleasantly refreshing after such a feast! 28.12.22 – Chole (chickpeas) and a plain paratha 28.12.22 – A pot of mint tea to finish off the meal The Takeaway All in all, we had a lovely time trying a traditional Punjabi breakfast at Namji MK! It’s no wonder Naseem has been crowned Curry Queen – the flavors were spot on, and the crispy parathas were the perfect accompaniment to beautifully spiced veg. I was a little disappointed there were so few dairy free breakfast items I could try, especially at a restaurant known for being so accommodating to dietary requirements with their main menu. But what I did try was gorgeous and I’d happily return for a fun take on the usual catch-up brunch with the gals. Namji MK’s breakfast runs Monday-Saturday 10am-12pm and Sunday 9am-1pm. They’re very busy on the weekends so recommend booking a table Saturday and Sunday. So what do you think, would you try a dairy free Punjabi breakfast at Namji MK? Dairy Free Punjabi Breakfast at Namji MK January 18, 2023 Dairy Free Tasting Menu at Paris House November 14, 2022 Cozy Pubs in Milton Keynes November 11, 2022 The Best Dairy Free Pancakes in Milton Keynes March 1, 2022 About Contact Facebook-f Twitter Instagram Pinterest Privacy Policy
The Best Dairy Free Pancakes in Milton Keynes
The Best Dairy Free Pancakes in Milton Keynes It should come as no surprise but I love brunch. Eggs are one of my favorite foods, avocado toast is delicious, and I’ll take any excuse to eat potatoes for breakfast! But much as I love savory brunch staples, sometimes you just really need a sweet, indulgent breakfast. In those times, pancakes are the way to go! So I’m always lowkey on the hunt for the best dairy free pancakes in Milton Keynes. Unfortunately pancakes at cafes and restaurants are usually chock full of dairy. Made with milk, cooked in butter, and topped in whipped cream – a nightmare! But lucky for me, there are quite a few places in town that offer dairy free and vegan pancakes. And I’ve been trying them out to give you the lowdown! French Affaire The Game Changer Kitchen Olney Pancake Parlour Out of Office Coffee French Affaire I’ve been to French Affaire for brunch several times now and it’s no exaggeration when I say they make the best vegan crepes in town. They’re crispy and soft and just a bit chewy. And the fillings are so generous! Falafel is the only savory crepe listed as vegan, but they’ve also made me a dairy free La Chevre with a cheese alternative. If you’re not vegan, they’ll happily add bacon or a poached egg to your dairy free crepe too. It wouldn’t be a great brunch place if they didn’t have sweet crepes… And French Affaire have several vegan options! They’ve got your standard lemon and sugar or chocolate banana ones. But I highly recommend apple tarte tatin for a bit of drama! 10.07.21 – Falafel vegan quiche at French Affaire Read More Girl’s Brunch at French Affaire The Game Changer Kitchen What The Game Changer Kitchen lack in vegan brunch options, they make up for in serving some of the best dairy free pancakes I’ve ever had. I got a gigantic stack of Biscoff coated fluffy, American style pancakes. And to think – they were completely vegan! The only vegan (and therefore dairy free) pancakes clearly marked on Game Changer Kitchen’s menu are the embodiment of over the top! I don’t want to think about how much Biscoff spread and cookie crumbles were included in this massive stack. They were so sweet and decadent! But absolutely paired perfect with a black Americano to balance it out. 13.02.22 – The Game Changer Kitchen’s vegan Biscoff pancakes 13.02.22 – A cross section of the vegan Biscoff pancakes at The Game Changer Kitchen Olney Pancake Parlour Olney Pancake Parlour definitely have the best range of dairy free and vegan pancakes in Milton Keynes. Six sweet vegan options and one savory, offered with both crepe and fluffy styles! And they were so helpful walking through the menu with me that I know making some of the other savory options dairy free by opting for vegan pancakes wouldn’t be an issue. You do have to specifically request your pancakes be made vegan though – that is not the default for any menu item. I started brunch with Living Life on the Veg, which was filled with roast veg and hummus and topped with plenty of sweet chili sauce. I of course had to try one of their sweet ones too. Naughty Notella was rich and decadent, but the portion size was small enough I was able to finish it all. They even offered vegan ice cream to go with, which would have been lovely if it wasn’t such a cold day I had them on! 26.02.22 – Olney Pancake Parlour’s Living Life on the Veg vegan savory pancake 26.02.22 – Olney Pancake Parlour’s vegan Notella American style pancakes Read More My Top Vegan Eats in Milton Keynes Out of Office Coffee, Witan Gate Fluffy American pancakes are up there as one of my favourite breakfast foods, second only to waffles – Leslie Knope definitely had the right idea! And Out of Office Coffee at Witan Gate offer a really nice vegan stack of fluffy pancakes on their all day brunch menu. They come topped with vegan yogurt, berries, & granola which makes a really nice alternative to the usual OTT, decadent toppings. The creamy yogurt and juicy berries work perfectly with crunchy granola to make a delicious brunch option if you like yours on the sweeter side. 29.05.21 – Vegan pancakes at Out of Office Coffee Witan Gate The Takeaway There are some amazing dairy free and vegan friendly brunch places in Milton Keynes with delicious pancakes. These are my favorites, but let me know if I missed yours! Subscribe to FinalJesstination Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The Best Dairy Free Pancakes in Milton Keynes February 27, 2022 Dinner at The Green Man Eversholt February 6, 2022 My Top Dairy Free Pizzas February 6, 2022 My Top Vegan Eats in Milton Keynes January 19, 2022 About Contact Facebook-f Instagram Twitter Pinterest Privacy Policy
My Top Vegan Eats in Milton Keynes
My Top Vegan Eats in Milton Keynes This is my second year of doing Veganuary and I am loving it! I always feel so much more creative in the kitchen, and love trying new veg-forward recipes throughout the month. But sometimes you just want someone to cook dinner or make sweet treats for you, don’t you? That’s where this guide to my favorite vegan eats in Milton Keynes comes in handy! After extensive (though not exhaustive) research into the MK vegan food scene, I’ve compiled a list of my favorite vegan-friendly breakfast & brunch, lunch & dinner, and dessert & treat vendors around town. So whether you’re vegan, dairy free, or just veeg-curious I hope this guide helps you find a new favorite vegan treat. Happy vegan eating! Vegan Eats in MK French Affaire Out of Office Coffee, Witan Studios The Quirk Space A Vegetative State The Chester Arms Greedy Pizza Ole Tapas Bar Saf’s Kitchen Walnut Tree Fish & Chips Clare’s Vegan Cakery Fuuudge Nutmeg Kitchen My first experience of vegan treats from The Quirk Space was summer 2020. My in-laws surprised Ben and I with a delivery of sausage rolls, peanut butter cups, and brownies for our anniversary! Every piece was absolutely delicious. The sausage rolls are now a family favorite, I always love a dark chocolate peanut butter cup, and the brownies are some of the best I’ve had. 19.06.20 – Sausage rolls, peanut butter cups, and chocolate brownies from The Quirk Space 29.08.20 – A delivery of freshly baked croissants from The Quirk Space Read More My Top Vegan Eats in Milton Keynes Breakfast & Brunch French Affaire I love visiting French Affaire for a fancy brunch out with my husband or the girls! It is an adorable French bistro that offers several delicious vegan items on their brunch menu including crepes and baguettes. I’ll confess I have yet to try their baguettes. The crepes are just too good! While the only savory crepe on French Affaire’s menu is Falafel, they were more than happy to make Le Chevre vegan for me. Both Falafel and Le Chevre are stuffed with so much flavor I never feel like I’m missing out. Just make sure you save room for a sweet crepe. The Apple Tatin Flambee is a showstopper! It is filled with caramelly soft apples, and flambeed in Calvados as they place it on the table in front of you. Location: Stony Stratford Dietaries: Some vegan items on the daytime menu, none on their evening menu 10.07.21 – La Chevre vegan quiche at French Affaire Out of Office Coffee, Witan Studios Fluffy American pancakes are one of my favorite breakfast foods, second only to waffles. Leslie Knope definitely had the right idea! And lucky for me (and you!) the newest Out of Office Coffee location in MK has delicious vegan pancakes on their all day brunch menu. The fluffy stack of pancakes come topped with yogurt, berries, and granola, making a perfect sweet vegan brunch option. Though if you’d rather start your day with something savory, Out of Office also offer a tasty-looking tofu scramble on sourdough toast. Location: Central Milton Keynes Dietaries: A range of vegan and gluten free items to choose from 29.05.21 – Vegan pancakes at Out of Office Coffee Witan Gate Out of Office Coffee, Witan Studios Fluffy American pancakes are one of my favorite breakfast foods, second only to waffles. Leslie Knope definitely had the right idea! And lucky for me (and you!) the newest Out of Office Coffee location in MK has delicious vegan pancakes on their all day brunch menu. The fluffy stack of pancakes come topped with yogurt, berries, and granola, making a perfect sweet vegan brunch option. Though if you’d rather start your day with something savory, Out of Office also offer a tasty-looking tofu scramble on sourdough toast. Location: Central Milton Keynes Dietaries: A range of vegan and gluten free items to choose from 05.11.20 – An assortment of chocolatey treats from The Quirk Space 12.11.20 – A vegan sausage roll from The Quirk Space The Quirk Space If you’ve been following me for awhile, you’ll be very aware of my love for The Quirk Space. It’s a cute cafe, shop, and event space in the heart of Olney. It is also the only place that serves nothing but vegan eats in Milton Keynes! For a light breakfast, The Quirk Space offers great coffee, a variety of vegan milks, and cakes and pastries to takeaway. I highly recommend the croissants! But perhaps the real star of the breakfast show is their “Breakfast Stuff-in Muffin”. The sandwich is stuffed full of the tastiest vegan alternatives to your favourite breakfast sammie fillings. Bacon, sausage, egg, and cheese – all delicious and all plant-based. You can also add ketchup or brown sauce if you like, but it’s perfectly tasty on its own! Location: Olney Dietaries: All vegan, can cater to gluten free 17.07.21 – The Quirk Space’s Breakfast Stuff-in Muffin Lunch & Dinner A Vegetative State A Vegetative State is a firm favorite at Milton Keynes vegan events and street fairs, and it’s not hard to see why! They make their own seitan-based meat alternatives to serve up in a variety of deli sandwiches and burgers. If you’re a fan of New York style deli sandwiches, you need to try A Vegetative State’s famous Reuben sandwich! Multigrain bread is stuffed full of vegan pastrami, sauerkraut, Violife cheezy slices, and Thousand Island Dressing, griddled til toasty and melty, then topped with a pickle. It is absolutely delicious and tastes so similar to the “real deal”. As a lover of Reubens I’d prefer more traditional rye bread, but this is a great swap! Location: Local street food events – follow their socials for the latest popup at a local street fair or takeaway event Dietaries: All vegan 05.12.21 – A Vegetative State’s vegan Reuben sandwich
Romantic Valentine’s Dinner at Sweet ‘N’ Seasoned
This year I was incredibly lucky to win a Valentine’s dinner at Sweet ‘N’ Seasoned through an Instagram giveaway. We have never been a couple to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but this was too good to pass up! After enjoying a delicious vegan brunch there with my brunch gals last summer, I was looking forward to sharing the same with my husband. Sweet ‘N’ Seasoned is a waffle diner that specialises in all day breakfast for every diet. They also have a wonderful vegan menu. Little did we know, a full 5 course meal was awaiting us, with nary a brunch item in sight! Though the majority of the menu was vegan, there were fish and steak options for mains as well. I am not vegan myself, but I am extremely lactose intolerant. For that reason, I follow a dairy free diet. This often means I’ll opt for a vegan item on a menu rather than asking the kitchen to make all sorts of substitutions. Over the last few years of this, I have gotten fairly well-versed in the current state of vegan offerings out there. It’s getting better but still extremely hit and miss! Sweet ‘n’ Seasoned is definitely one of the hits. To Start Upon entering the diner, we were greeted with a glass of prosecco and lovely decor. They clearly had a lot of fun decorating with heart balloons and confetti! Our Valentine’s dinner at Sweet ‘N’ Seasoned began with an assorted canape sharing platter. The omni platter included filo prawns, spicy meatballs, spring rolls, and tuna mayo profiteroles. The filo prawns were my favorite! My husband ordered the mushroom risotto ball and I had the “salmon” sashimi, both vegan, to start. I still cannot believe how like salmon the sashimi tasted! It was truly a revelation. And in my husband’s eyes, the only way to possibly improve on the perfection of a good risotto is to deep fry it. So he was of course incredibly pleased with his arancini. The Main Event For mains I had fish with Anna potatoes and my husband had steak and mash. Unfortunately, we waited quite a long time before getting our mains. The fish and steak were both tasty, but after such an impressive selection of canapes and starters, they fell a bit flat. However, the chefs more than redeemed themselves with dessert. We both had the baked vegan cheesecake. It was absolutely divine. Smooth and creamy, not too sweet, with perfectly crumbly base. Decadence on a plate! To finish the meal they presented a few chocolatey bits, but at that point we were so stuffed we hardly touched them. Everything was delicious, even if our mains weren’t quite as exciting as the rest of the meal. We would’ve happily paid the £45 a head for the quality and inventiveness of the food. And it was so refreshing to have vegan options as the default! The Takeaway Before we left, we made a point to speak with the chefs. I thanked them profusely for such a delicious meal, and shared my delighted surprise that we weren’t offered a single brunch item! We discovered this was a way for them to start dipping their toes back into the catering/private chef waters again. They took a few years off to focus on the diner and wanted to stretch their creative muscles! All I can say is I am very much looking forward to seeing them put on more events like this in the future. Unfortunately, due to rent hikes and the current pandemic, Sweet ‘N’ Seasoned have had to leave their premises. But I doubt they’ll be down for long as they are a resourceful duo! Luckily, we snagged a box of their “Vegan Brunch for 2” takeaway special that ran a few weeks before they shut their doors for good. So we’ve satisfied the waffle craving for now, but can’t wait to see what they get up to next!
A “Saftastic” Takeaway From Saf’s Kitchen
We had our first Saf’s Kitchen takeaway earlier this year, and it surely won’t be the last! The food is delicious, ordering and pickup a breeze. I messaged Saf on Facebook with our order and paid via bank transfer earlier in the week. On the day of pickup, I called to let her know we were on our way. Upon arrival, we simply honked our car horn and announced our name outside her house. In no time, they delivered our bag of food through the passenger window! We ordered the coconut cauliflower spinach, cinnamon cardamom pilau, chicken jalfrezi, a veggie samosa and (not pictured) poppadoms and chapatis. This was plenty for dinner and a light lunch the next day! An added bonus: virtually everything on Saf’s Kitchen curry dinner takeaway menu is freezable. I know some people order extra portions solely to freeze them for a future meal. I might just have to do that next time, because wow, what a powerhouse of a meal! There was a nice sweetness in the cauliflower thanks to the coconut milk. The jalfrezi was beautifully spiced in a way that creeps up on you but didn’t overpower the other flavours. And the cinnamon pilau pulled them both together perfectly. In fact, the pilau was so delicious I’ve tried to recreate it several times myself! But the main star for me was the samosa. It was big and crispy-soft the way the best ones always are. And Saf stuffs them to the gills with a delightful pillowy potato + veg + spices mix. It brought me back to my first experience of eating samosas at a friend’s house as a kid. They were so tasty I couldn’t stop stuffing my face with them, far past the point of being full. And if I had unlimited access to Safmosas, I wouldn’t be able to stop stuffing my face with them now either! So completely more-ish. Saf’s Kitchen offers so many other takeaway options too! This meal is from her more “classic” Indian curry takeaway menu, but she rotates through several menus. These include Punjabi barbecue packs, street food, and Punjabi burgers, all of which look absolutely lush. And she always makes sure to have a variety of options that cater to every major dietary restrictions. That is another major plus in the this lactose intolerant girl’s book! It’s become one of my (more attainable) missions in life to try everything I can on her various menus. But until then I guess I’ll have to sustain myself on dreaming about those samosas.
Eating Out at Anatolia Turkish Restaurant
Milton Keynes: The City of Dreams and Turkish restaurants! Growing up outside DC we had loads of Greek restaurants, enough for me to have several favorites (oh Cava Mezze, how I miss thee…). But I can’t remember ever going to a Turkish restaurant. So imagine my surprise when I moved to Milton Keynes and learned just how many different ones there are here! Enough that I am once again back to having multiple favorites… And eating out at Anatolia Turkish Restaurant in Stony Stratford definitely tops the list. Despite rarely going out to eat, I somehow managed to eat out at Anatolia three (3) times between November 2019 and February 2020! Those times were: A friend’s group birthday meal A belated work team Christmas lunch A welcome lunch for new team members And each meal has been an absolute delight. 1. A Friend’s Group Birthday Meal The first time I tried Anatolia was part of a friend’s birthday festivities. There were at least 10 of us in the group, so to start we got several warm and cold platters to share. I didn’t manage to get a picture of the platters, but if you’ve had a Turkish mezze platter before you can probably imagine them quite well. They were loaded with meats, fried fishes, various dips, and some veg to brighten it all up. Everything was lovely, but I remember particularly liking the fried whitebait and slices of sucuk on the warm platter. And tarama, featured on the cold platter, is always a favorite of mine. I ordered the Whole Sea Bream for my main and to say I still think about it regularly would not be an overstatement. The fish was cooked perfectly. It was nice and flaky without being dry, with lovely crispy skin. And as a grilled item, the charcoal flavor came through pleasantly. But what took it to the next level for me was the bed of sauteed new potatoes the fish came placed on. They were absolutely luscious – melt-in-your-mouth soft but with the skin still, adding a nice bit of texture. I could have eaten those potatoes all night and never tire of them. 2. A Belated Work Team Christmas Lunch My second time eating out at Anatolia Turkish Restaurant was for a very belated Christmas work team lunch at the end of January. I was more than happy to suggest it after such a lovely first experience, especially as it’s dairy-free-friendly as well. I knew they didn’t skimp on portions so this time I went for 2 starters instead of a main. It’s never fun spending the rest of the workday fighting a post-lunch food coma! I got the vine leaves (another favorite of mine) and falafel. The vine leaves might be some of the best I’ve had. The leaves held everything together well but were buttery smooth to cut through and not chewy in the slightest, which they can be. The rice stuffing was perfectly spiced and cooked just how I like it for these. While slightly over for regular rice, the grains were separate and fluffy yet still held together nicely. No fighting to pick up individual grains after cutting into the vine leaves here! And oh my goodness those falafel! Lovely and herby and crispy and fluffy. They were, and I do not use this term lightly, perfection. Pillowy light insides and crispety crunchety outsides. Despite being fried, they didn’t feel oily at all, and were not the slightest bit dense the way falafel often can be. They came with a really generous helping of creamy hummus too. My colleagues all got lamb dishes and they looked absolutely lush. The sarma beyti and lamb chops were the most visually stunning of the dishes if you’re looking for a meal that excites all the senses, but none were ugly to look at by any means. 3. A Welcome Lunch For New Team Members My third time dining at Anatolia within four months was completely by happenstance. We’d meant to eat at Calcutta Brasserie in Stony Stratford but it was closed when we got there (despite calling ahead to see if they were open…) Being the middle of February, it was very cold outside. So instead of waiting around to see if they’d open up for us we simply headed across the street to Anatolia! I got the falafel again, as I loved them so much the month before, and they were just as good as I remembered. I also decided to try another starter (they do offer it as a main as well) – the Seafood Trio. It was a mix of mussels, prawns, and calamari in a rich tomato sauce. The flavors were lovely, and it was the perfect amount of food for a lighter lunch. I just wish the trio had come with a carb of some sort (bread, chips, rice even) to soak up all that nice sauce! There was simply no way for me to get as much of it as I wanted with just the seafood and a fork to pick it up, and at that point the bread they bring at the beginning was long gone… The Takeaway I would highly recommend this restaurant for anyone looking for a top-notch Turkish in Milton Keynes! MK has loads of Turkish restaurants, and they are definitely not one and the same. But I have consistently been delighted by my experiences eating out at Anatolia Turkish Restaurant. Great thoughtful food, lovely atmosphere, and they are always very helpful with helping me find dairy free options.
Girl’s Brunch at French Affaire
After a year of having French Affaire in Stony Stratford on my radar (thanks to a Sophie etc review I stumbled upon when trying to find a local restaurant for my birthday dinner) I finally managed to get there for brunch in January. Service was a bit slow, but with food that good it’s hard to fault them too much. And it made for a leisurely late breakfast catch-up with good friends as well. I got an Americano to start. It was a bit bitter as I prefer to drink my coffee black if I can, but that was nothing a little Demerara sugar couldn’t fix. Of course, the real star of the show was the crepe, and what a star it was! Being extremely lactose intolerant, I’ve avoided them and their dairy-filled goodness in restaurants for years, and you just can’t make them the same at home. So it’s been awhile since I’ve had a crepe of any sort, but it was the best welcome back a girl could ask for. I got the Crepe Aux Legumes with a poached egg and it was beyond delicious. The veg (peppers and mushrooms) were cooked perfectly, and the vegan cheese (Violife Greek style if my taste buds weren’t mistaken) was the perfect accompaniment – soft and creamy, a bit salty, the closest thing I’ve tasted to goats cheese in years. My egg was a bit more done than I usually like, but I love a very runny egg and this one was by no means hard so very much a middle of the road poached egg. Between the food and the adorable design aspects, I’m so glad I’ve finally had a meal at French Affaire, and I can’t wait til the next time I get to go back! Their dinner menu is definitely high on my “to try” list.