Category Archives: STYLE OF LIFE

General, STYLE OF LIFE

better with nut butter | heyqnut

IMG_2473Everything tastes better with nut butter on top. 

My favorite must be almond butter, but then there is also hazelnuts and oh, pistachio nut butter is definitely the most exclusive of them all. To me, it is the ultimate treat*- enjoying a banana or dates topped with a little bit of ground nuts into a delicious and gooey cream. 

I can’t quite remember the moment of this discovery, but I am sure happy I did! It might have been on social media or researching bulk/zero waste stores all over the world, however, it was definitely during my stay in London. I stumbled upon the start-up company heyqnut. I was so amazed by the device, that I decided to go to hetu (in London) within the next couple of days. I brought my empty jar of another nut butter (I go through them quite quickly once they are in my possession) and got a refill in the zero waste/ bulk store on London’s South Bank. The nuts, I believe it were almonds, were just roasted and chopped and then put in the heyqnut. The nut butter was not completely smooth, with a little crunch to it which I personally quite enjoyed. After I indulged on this almond butter, I decided to do a little more research on the heyqnut. Funny enough, the start-up is from a part of Bavaria, Germany where I also have family- this made me ever more curious and amazed. I waited no longer and contacted the people behind heyqnut and have had the pleasure and honor to do a small interview with them. 

Facetune_21-08-2018-20-46-28IMG_2478What does “heyqnut“ stand for?

Our original idea was to call ourselves “Knut“, however, the Berlin Zoo trademarked this name for its polar bear. This is how Qnut came to be. It sounds similar phonetically (in German) and the letter’Q’ has positive connotations of quality and quintessence. We then added ’hey’ to ’qnut’. This was the birth of heyqnut.   

Where and how did the idea originate to provide the consumer with nut butter in such a simple and fast manner? 

A trip to California in 2014 marks the beginning of this project. We realized that nut butter is very established in grocery stores and has been for several years. It was our mission to do similar by European standards, implementing our ideas of design, sustainability, longevity, being consumer-friendly and taste. The twist is, however, to not do so for a single household, but rather following the leitmotif of ’sharing is caring“ in the natural habitat of our target audience- being organic grocery stores, cafés, hotels, culinary schools, schools, catering services and so on. 

The idea and product is stripped down to simplicity. More often than not are these the ones requiring the most work. How long did it take you to perfect the grinding gear and concept? 

It took around 1 year from the initial idea to the first prototype. 

What kind of materials are used to built the heyqnut? 

We solely use sustainable materials such as wood and metal. We have consciously abdicated from the use of plastic, as the machine is built for eternity. The manufacturing is exclusively done within the region (Bavaria). The woodwork is done in the Allgäu, our funnel-maker is located close to Munich, who also builds the jet engines of Ariane launch vehicles. 

Does the heyqnut work manually, with electricity or a different kind of mechanism? 

The machine works mechanically. The mechanism is, however, powered by a small engine through a common household outlet. 

If you want to switch up the type of nut butter you are making (as a distributor) how does one go about cleaning the heyqnut? 

It is a very simple process: You dissemble the grinding gear, which takes about 1-2 minutes, place it in the dishwasher or quickly give it a wash by hand and then assemble it again. We also have a selection of supermarkets, who do not clean the heyqnut between the change of nuts so that each customer can individually decide what nut they would like to have ground. The cleaning then takes place once a day- it is a matter of taste.

Where can you grind your own nut butter with the heyqnut? What is your favorite nut butter? 

You can easily find a list of stores on our website. We have just started distributing new machines to new locations- we are expanding by the day! We already have locations in Germany, France, in the UK, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium and Spain. Our favorite nut butter is organic Sicilian pistachio butter or organic Bavarian hazelnut butter. They are great for cooking, cocktails, to produce nut mylks or to enjoy by themselves! 

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*Despite my weakness for any kind of nut butter, it is important to me that I moderate my intake. I have to bare in mind that one teaspoon of nut butter probably equals to 7-10 almonds for example. Therefore, I really do consider it as a treat.  

Photos taken at Ohne in Munich.  Thank you to heyqnut for the interview!

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STYLE OF LIFE

HOME

What is it that we call home? Is it a person, a place, a house or a state of being? Arrival. A mindset. 

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The inner monologue counts. It speaks through my eyes, my body- rearranging the current, the frequency and the atmosphere. Eyes that see- for seeing and observing – not for judging or criticizing. Ears that listen- to understand and absorb- not to reply. A heart open- to everything. This is home. You are home. I am home. Repose- within. 

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A never-seizing quest to find this eminent condition of arrival – within. It pullulates, occasionally, then seizes and resumes once water has been poured on this sprout. In this time, however, of pullulation- I am. Beyond expectations, duties, responsibilities and opinions. Stripped down to this nakedness of my being. Me: weaknesses and strengths, laughter and tears, dances and tantrums, screams and kisses, Peter and Wendy- boundless, eternal. 

Others, need to allow me to preserve these qualities- support not suppress them, love not hate them, challenge not judge me- let me be me. I have arrived- here with me. I am waiting for you to join me- dancing wildly, pondering meticulously, laughing whole-heartedly, drinking voluptuously- here. Commence this synesthetic journey- see with your heart, hear with your eyes and feel with your eyes – and you will arrive. At home. Unbenannt-2IMG_8415ABOUT RADICE: 

Radice is a sleepwear company founded in Munich, Germany in September of 2017. It is their mission to create something one can wear all day, but also at night. As we spent 1/3 of our lives asleep, it was also important to create the best sleeping experience that is relaxing and rejuvenating, but most importantly something that feels good on the skin. Sustainability is very important to RADICE as well! They produce and source their fabrics from Shanghai, where silk has been tradition for over 5000 years. After visiting countless manufacturers for silk they stumbled upon a boutique founded by three women, who now produce their high-quality and exquisite silk sleepwear. Silk* is a natural and organic fabrics, which is comparable to the human skin. Thus, it lets our biggest organ breathe whilst we are asleep, regulated our temperature (it cools in summer and warms in winter- the perfect insulator), helps reduce stress and therefore improves the sleep quality. 

The prints were created in collaboration with European artists to reminisce travel destinations and memories. Radice embodies the spirit of freedom, what you love and realizing your dreams. 

*Silk is made by silkworms and therefore NOT VEGAN. I am personally still struggling with clothes in terms of veganism, but I am taking one step at a time. In this instance, I am arguing between the stress and harm placed on animals vs the pollution synthetic materials create in our ecosystem. When synthetic materials, without helpers such as the GOOPY friend with which I wash all my sportswear and synthetic clothes, are washed they release micro plastics into our water, rivers and oceans which might eventually end up on our plates again. This is not a problem with organic and natural fabrics such as cotton (vegan), wool or silk. Hence, I am still debating this matter! This is one of RADICE’s arguments for silk as well.  

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*This post was made possible due to the kind team at RADICE sleep, who’ve sent me their sleep-wear on a loan basis for this shooting.

 

Shot by Sarah Johanna

 

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General, STYLE OF LIFE

BERLIN’S #1 ADDRESS|V GUIDE BERLIN PT. 1

THE JUICERYⓇ BERLIN

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IMG_7726No Berlin-visit can go by without having been to “The Juicery”. It is located right next to the Mauerpark, so you can also take your juice, smoothie or bowl on a walk.  Ideally you would take it to go in a container you brought, but if you forgot it is not too bad since all the packaging is made of cornstarch and compostable. The açaí bowl is the best I have ever had in the entirety of my life (it has the perfect consistency and no where in the world has my bowl been graced with so many fresh berries or toppings), the smoothies always surprise your taste buds with new flavor (as in the “Passion for Ido” where sweet, sour and fresh work together synergistically to create a previously unknown taste experience) or texture combinations (such as the chia seeds in the blueberry kale). All the produces used are organic and ripened to perfection.

As I have grown to love the creations of The Juicery more and more with each visit, I knew I had to sit down with the founder. I was so fascinated by the high quality of the produces, the combination of the juices and the curation going into all of this. Seydi was so kind as to answer a few of my questions, before which I enjoyed a sugar cane juice with lime, an açaí bowl and the newest of his creations- newtella (HEAVEN)!

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(Seydi with Newtella)

How did The JuiceryⓇ of Berlin come to life?

It all started with experimenting with different types of diets whilst I was working out a lot- back then it was low carb, now they call it ketogenic, you know they always find new words and terms. This is what confuses the consumer- they are exposed to two contradicting facts or studies so that it is hard to decide which one is the“right“ one. Then I zoomed out, took a step back to see my progress and how far I have come in achieving my fitness goals, only to realize that I didn’t make any progress at all. I was always very lazy and didn’t dream to cut up some fruit for myself. However, I remember that I always enjoyed the taste of fruit when my mother was so kind as to prepare them for me. Then I remembered how light, good and energized I felt when eating fruit. This sensation in combination with my desire to create good in this world and society, lead me to embark on a journey of seeking (self) fulfillment. I read many books about philosophy and diet…I knew I had to take this leap of faith, ignore this steadiness I have built and simply risk it, go all in. In front of my old shop I started with offering 2 juices on Sunday’s- people came up to me, they wanted to take pictures. I felt that I offered something people were drawn to, they cherished this work, which in turn motivated me again. What stuck with me from many biographies I read was something along the lines of: You have to do something that you really love so that you do not have to work another day in your life. So I asked myself what I loved and it is this curating and stimulating of senses- the visual, the olfactory, the flavor. Going to the wholesale market I felt like a child in a candy store. Then everything just came together and moved quite quickly. We opened our doors in September 2014. The most important lesson I have learnt during this process is that your attitude is key- what you bring to the situation is what you get. Life became my private teacher. 

You use organic ingredients only, why is that important to you?

What I strive to do here with The JuiceryⓇ is a steadiness in terms of quality or even improve upon what we offer to our customers. Right from when we started, we offered organic produces only. When you offer something that solely has to do with health and well-being it only makes and is the next logical step, a no brainer so to speak. You need to differentiate between what you fuel your body with – if you treat your body well and want to do good, organic produces are key! Another factor we look out for is flexibility- we always try to realize the wishes of our customers, but advise them that sometimes leaving out an ingredient might make something less creamy and things as such. So we try to collaborate and work out a way where both parties are happy. 

How did you go from 3 Juices to this vas variety you offer today? 

I didn’t take any of the creations from recipe books, they did not appeal to me as much. I listened to senses, taste buds- so started with myself and what I liked best. I worked three months on the recipe of the açai bowl before putting it into writing. I have now developed 3 criterion based on which I create my juices and smoothies: 1) DO IT HEALTHY Everything has to come from nature, meaning that it is unprocessed. Cacao powder is the grounded bean, or dates to sweeten instead of maple syrup. 2)DO IT TASTY It has to taste good and speak to the taste buds. I look out for the temperatue, consistency, a balance between sour and sweet, if the taste should unfold more at the beginning or finish. 3) DO IT SEXY. We are all aesthetics, you eat with your eyes. 4) DO IT FRIENDLY. I want to give something to people and watching their faces when eating you can really see that something is happening inside of them. These are the 4 criterion I apply to my work. 

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You always curate and find special and exquisite produces, how do you go about this process?

I always try to discover anew what nature has given to us to feel good and re-sensitize my taste buds, such as replacing sugar with dates, an energy drink with ginseng. It is a journey of continuous discovery, where you perception is changed constantly. 5 years ago no one would have been able to tell you what chia seeds are, now they are a staple. For the birch water I traveled to Latvia- I want to experience it first hand at first to see what it does to my body. This way I explore new produces and creations. 

What is your favorite juice/smoothie? 

After I was physically active I go for something very refreshing and lemony such as the YELLOW DETOX or APPLE BERRY. If I crave something sweeter I usually go for coconut- I could eat coconuts for the rest of my life, which is why I make a lot with coconuts. 

What are the future plans for The JuiceryⓇ? 

We do consulting for others where we teach things such as work flow optimization, where and how to shop (good quality, when something is ripe and sweet), how to store the produces on location. Other than that we are working on opening more locations of The JuiceryⓇ. So stay tuned! 

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CREATIVE MIND, LET'S TALK, STYLE OF LIFE

COLOR

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Break it apart, this white light, and you will see- color. All, inconspicuous to the naked eye. Aid it; with insight, empathy and understanding…a landscape manifests itself. Full of contrast: darkness, light- visibility.

Some days I spend quite some time on assembling an outfit, on other days I go for a pair of jeans and a black or white t-shirt.

Black and White. I see it as an expressive form of utilizing clothes- the strongest and most dominant choice one could make in my eyes. When the canvas is as plain as possible- denim and a t-shirt in white or black, you paint the picture with your colors. Your personality and everything that you are. Endless. It might sound ridiculous, but here is the thing: I wear three pieces of jewelry every day and night- a silver ring around my ring finger, a choker and a lock pendant in gold around my neck. I usually never take these off. Last summer and now more often, I am asked or ask of myself to take these off for certain activities. Activities where I see it as necessary to let go of what I have defined myself as, letting go of the minor details that materialistically ground me in reality. To explore and see again. Awareness without judgement- observant, seeing it all, taking it in. So I let go, place them on a tray. To relocate and re-center. The energetic and vibratory truth of who I am at the core- without bedazzlement or costume; naked.

Even if I do not take the jewelry off and merely go for “just“ a t-shirt, I feel the most comfortable, at ease and confident. I am not constrained by a piece of clothing, that takes my thoughts of awareness to worrying about something to sitting right. I can just be and move freely.

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The focus does not lie on the canvas, its texture, fabric or origin, but rather the colors, these rich, full and glistening colors. Finally, finally, they can show and shine through. Expression is found in language- of the body: the eyes, the movement of the hands and fingers, the tilting of the head. To the right, or left, at what angle? The gravity lies in the minute details. See! Expression is found in language- of words: How do the words I have spoken effect others, what energy flows toward them as I speak  ? Attentively I watch them, receive their energy and process their language of body and words. It is a continuous back and forth of energy- in flux.

What is left, when you strip it down to a simple canvas, a simple silhouette. You. This vast landscape of color, light and truth.

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Photos by Felicitas Willkomm

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General, STYLE OF LIFE

LONDON V GUIDE

 

IMG_4087-2When I started my inquisitions into the vegan food scene of London, I was startled by the magnitude of the offerings. In a ranking of“ Best Cities to be vegan in“ London ranked the 8th place, being above New York City (to my surprise). Due to this magnitude it was impossible to go to each and every one of these restaurants and cafés, however, here is a sweet selection of the locations that were the most appealing to me!

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MY TOP CHOICES

essence cuisine

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Best for raw, gourmet food 

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Essence cuisine is one of Matthew Kenney’s various plant-based restaurants, that are located everywhere from New York City to Sydney. He is a chef who has committed himself to creating a lifestyle company evolving around plant- based food This involves an array of modern and state of the art restaurants all over the world in the most sought after locations, or the world’s first culinary educational center dedicated to a plant based kitchen and lifestyle. It is called Plant Lab- what I would do to take a course there! Essence cuisine is located in Shoreditch- the interior is sleek with a metallic touch here and there. At the counter, coffee, cocktails and smoothie bowls are made, whereas the kitchen is located downstairs. This is where the magic happens. I ordered raw vegan dishes only and was blown away by the stimulation of my taste buds. The raw ravioli with kimchi cream filling were an absolute dream- it was a top and bottom of coconut meat wrapper and in the middle was the kimchi cream that gave this amazing dish the ravioli flavor. I was very inspired by the spicy carrot sushi roll, as the marinated carrots acted as a rice replacement, which is something I was still looking for to not only have cucumber and avocado in my nori. Also, the nori was much thinner than the one I have at hime, which I absolutely loved as well. The highlight must have been the desserts: we ordered the nut cheese board, which had a variety of cashew cheese with pear chutney and three different types of crackers- this made me want to get into vegan cheese making. The chocolate caramel brownie was an absolute dream- the caramel actually did taste like caramel, the chocolate ganache was a pure dream of chocolate as well. My personal highlight were the raw pancakes, it was my silver lining that despite transitioning into the raw vegan lifestyle I will not have to give up my love for pancakes The pancakes themselves consisted of coconut and banana and were made in the dehydrator, served with berries and vanilla. All in all I can only speak highly of essence cuisine, I did not get a chance to try the cocktails but they sure did sound amazing. Oh and before I forget, the smoothies bowls are very delicious as well! I could eat here every day. Gourmet raw vegan dining!

Nama Foods

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Best for raw, innovative food 

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Nama is an all raw vegan restaurant in Notting Hill, that also offers food courses, such“Aspiring Raw Chef“.“Fermentation Made Easy“,“Raw Aspriring Pastry Chef“. Eating raw means eating whole, high energy foods that are not heated above 42 degrees celsius/ 107.6 degrees Fahrenheit. This preserves all the nutrients and allows for the food to practice all its healing power on your body (more about my transitioning to a raw vegan diet maybe in another post?- let me know!). As my own diet currently consists of 90% raw, vegan food I was so excited to go to a restaurant that offers innovative dishes and recipes that suit my current lifestyle.

The menu is a pure delight! In fact it is so good that I went back to it for 5 consecutive days, trying to decide what to get, before we finally went to have breakfast and lunch (BRUNCH hahah) at nama foods. Could you imagine a full English breakfast without any animal products PLUS being raw?! Well, nama foods has all of that and much more. As I am not that big of a fan of this “style“ of breakfast, I eventually went for the coconut porridge and the toast with rawtella and bananas. The coconut porridge did not contain any oats, as one might think when hearing porridge. It was an even healthier version. Even though oats can be consumed on a raw vegan diet, they are not the perfect morning food, as they are very mucus forming. Hence, the“porridge“ at nama foods made with activated almonds, apples, coconut dates, cinnamon, vanilla and lucuma and topped with hemp seeds, cacao nibs and blueberries, served with almond milk is THE perfect morning energy booster you needs without compromising a mucusless, raw diet! Then we also had NAMA’s artisan almond and walnut toast with a rawtella (hazelnut/chocolate spread) and bananas- this was so so good, I have such a sweet tooth when it comes to pancakes and these could replace my banana pancakes (not raw) any time! After some time passed we also had lunch. I went for the Truffle Pasta- zucchini pasta (somehow they managed to make these better than I make them at home- I need to work on my recipe) with cultured cashew truffle cream, chestnut mushrooms in Jerez, aged cashews, crispy shallots and black autumn truffle. THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTE DREAM! Whenever I went to a restaurant before going vegan, I always looked out for truffle pasta and ALWATS got it if I spotted it on the menu. Now that I know that you can enjoy the same taste on a raw, vegan diet and do not have to make cut backs I need to try to make this recipe myself one day! To drink I had the Holy Mayan Cacao, as it was something I never got before- it had a mild chocolate/hazelnut taste with spicy aftertaste. I was contemplating to get a Dandelion coffee as well, since I have never had one before and heard so much about it. To my lunch I got a ginger JARR Kombucha, which was delicious as well, but is not the healthiest due to its fermented nature. Nonetheless, I enjoyed it and think there is no harm in drinking it as long as it remains a rarity.  The staff at nama was so welcoming and warm, offering their advice on what to get or how a dish is made. As you can probably tell by the endless words on NAMA foods.. I am in love!

Unfortunately Nama foods is closing in April 2018, the news made me very sad. 

Location: 110 Talbot Rd, London W11 1JR, UK / Notting Hill

Roots Juicery

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Best for superfood bowls 

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Roots Juicery is located in the vibrant and lively Fitzrovia, which is full of cute little places just like this. Apart from serving the best açai bowl I have had in London over the course of the past 4 weeks, and delicious cold pressed juices- Roots Juicery is also committed to turn the focus away from processed foods to alive, raw and organic produces. The ingredients used for their bowls, juices, sweets and lunch dishes are organic. What struck me the most about this cold pressed juicer is that all of the juices are served in glass bottles! This is a rarity these days, where PET bottles have the upper hand, If you bring back your used bottle for the next juice, you get a 10% discount- if that isn’t promising a sustainable and zero waste lifestyle I do not know what is. Of course I was unable to try everything off the menu, even though I wished I could as the salads and the banana bread caught my eye. The acas bowl, however, was very rich and filling, You could taste and see that a lot of açai was used, which I always find to be the best indicator in terms of acas bowls. The next time I come back I definitely want to give the dragon fruit bowl a try! I went for a green juice with celery, leafy greens, green pepper, batavia, lemon and coriander. The texture of this juice was just amazing- very smooth and refreshing…it did taste VERY healthy, but that is something I generally like and love about drinking cold pressed juices (especially green ones). All in all, I can only recommend Roots Juicery, it must be one of my favorites in London.

Location: 1 Charlotte Pl, Fitzrovia, London W1T 1SA, UK / Fitzrovia

Raw Press Juicery

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Best for salads and take out

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At Raw Press, as the name already says, you can also get cold pressed juices in its entirety- ranging from green juices, to ones focused on roots to nut milks in different flavors. Other than delicious juices (served in plastic bottles though) you will find an overwhelming menu full of vegan, sometimes gluten free. sometimes raw goodness! It took me a few minutes to decide. Eventually my friend and I decided to share an acai bowl (topped with blueberries, peanut butter, waffle toast, berry chia jam and granola). There are, however, five other delicious-sounding bowls to choose from that vary in base and toppings alike! Later, I got blueberry waffles with maple syrup and coconut yogurt, which were divine as well. As a snack my friend got nachos, which had several dips, including cashew cream cheese, which was my personal favorite. Then, Raw Press also has a huge selection of raw sweets such as bounty bars, flapjacks, carrot cake, raw brownies and several energy balls. It is also the perfect spot to grab some lunch on-the-go or to stay in, work a little and eat a lot. They offer a wide selection of salads that changes daily, where you can customize your bowl to your liking- including salads such kale & chickpea salad, moroccan carrot salad or courgette with basil-pistachio pesto. Water is offered with charcoal to filter, cleanse and alkalize (LOOVEE). All in all, it is the perfect spot to indulge on sweets and salads for breakfast or lunch.

Location: 32 Dover Street London W1S 4NE / Mayfair & 3 Ellis Street London SW1X 9AL / Chelsea

Mother Works

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Best for breakfast 

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Mother works was founded by 3 siblings who want to bring their health journey closer to each and everyone of us with their café. I could not agree more that what makes the vegan lifestyle and a journey of health-betterment more easy and enjoyable is visiting restaurants and cafés that provide you with new food inspiration, allow you to sit back and simply enjoy your meal without preparing it and being surrounded by people, who are also eager to embark on a similar journey. The atmosphere and interior of MOTHER was very laid back and cozy- some plants racks with neon signs, coffee table books, alkaline water, some jars filled with super foods, racks stacked with bananas behind the counter and a menu written on a blackboard. The seating was wooden as well, allowing for an intensified close-to-nature experience, in addition to all the plant-based goodness of course.

The menu was filled with delicious sandwiches- avocado, peanut butter, coconut BLT, non-tuna mayo, pulled jackfruit and many more, an açai bowl with two different variations of toppings, smoothies and juices. On the special’s menu of the Saturday I visited MOTHER works, were a stack of gluten free banana pancakes with a sliced banana, syrup and homemade “nutella“. These were hands down the BEST vegan pancakes I have ever had- they were chewy yet still fluffy, ad just the right amount of banana flavor and were not draining in coconut oil (I NEED THIS RECIPE!). Additionally I had the açai bowl topped with “Chunky Monkey“ – berries, banana, cacao nibs, peanut butter, coconut flakes and some date syrup. As I craved some greens, I also ordered the “Lean Green“ smoothie with coconut water, banana, avocado, spinach, lemon, mint and spirulina- a very healthy tasting and vitalizing smoothie! All in all this must be one of my favorite locations and definitely a place I have to come back to more than once!

Location: 1, Canalside, Here East Estate, London E20 3BS, UK / Hackney Wick

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Açai Berry the Amazon Boost 

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Best for a quick, healthy bite 

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At “Açai berry“, the specialty, as the name already suggests is açai bowls. It seems to be more an off-the-counter and quick stop place rather than a café/restaurant you would want to remain at for a long time. However, as it is located in the Kingly Court, there is plenty of seating outside as well that can be made use of once the weather is right! The base of the bowls was made of 100% acai berry puree, which had a very intense flavor and the rich purple the acai berry is so well known for. In terms of toppings you could choose your bowl from the menu (approx. 7.50 pounds), but then also add your favored toppings on top, such as goji berries. Peanut butter, chia seeds and the like. Other than bowls, smoothies were also offered, which I did not come in the delight of. All I could tell was that the açai berry was a staple ingredient in each smoothie. The only thing I have to criticize and was slightly disappointed by was that the bowls were served in a plastic container, despite staying in. In case one knows that in advance, one can bring their own stainless steel container/bowl and get the bowl made into that.

Location: 11, Kingly Court, Kingly St, Carnaby, London W1B 5PW, UK / Carnaby

INDULGENT FOOD 

Deliciously Ella

Best for delicious cooked vegan soul food 

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Ella Woodward has garnered popularity and a wide reaching followers hip through her recipe and plant-based, whole food blog Deliciously Ella. This first seemingly innocent endeavor, brought to life to gain independence from medications, soon turned into a business that now stands for a recipe app, several cookbooks, granolas and snack bars sold in grocery stores as well as three Delis across London. The Delis serves everything from breakfast, smoothies, cold pressed juices to coffee and sweets to lunch and dinner. The delis have a very comfortable and cozy atopshere, where walls are decorated with prints of plants, wooden furniture and some spots of color through tiles and flowers here and there.

I visited the Deli once for breakfast, where I ordered the pancakes with chocolate and banana and a green smoothie (Unfortunately also only served in a plastic cup when staying in, however, Ella announced on her Instagram stories that some time in March the Dei will serve the cold pressed juice in glass bottles and the stay-in smoothies in glasses as well! Go NO PLASTIC! ). The pancakes were very delicious and satisfying. In case you have never made banana or oat pancakes yourself, do not be disappointed by them being a little flat and rather chewy- it is perfectly normal! The Smoothie had some greens in it, but the taste was dominated by the sweet banana and peanut butter. It was tasty, but I also like to drink a green smoothie and actually taste that I am drinking greens- the slight bitter and maybe sometimes not too delicious taste, if you know what I mean?

When we stopped by for lunch I had spicy broccoli with quinoa, which was really good and stimulated my taste buds just in the right way! I couldn’t find this on the menu any more, so it must have been taken down. The second time I got the Cauliflower and Butterbean falafel with lemony broccoli. The broccoli has a really nice fresh and crunchy flavor. The falafel and hummus were also spiced very nicely, after which I was super full! *

Location: 18 Weighhouse St, Mayfair, London W1K 5LU, UK / Mayfair

Haunt/Biff’s Jack Shack 

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Best for drinks and comfort food

biffsjackshackHaunt is a laid back and down to earth a vegan bar and eatery, where Biff’s Jack Shack serves a VEGAN AF dinner menu full of vegan junk food. On the menu you will find jackfruit burgers and wings in different flavors, for example as with blue cheese or cinnamon sweet chilly. Of course, there are “filthy“ fries as well. Since I never was a huge fun of wings in that sense, I went for “The Jacksu“, which has Katsu sauce, Japanese pickles, lettuce and a tempura/crispy broccoli floret served on a toasted brioche bun. The crispy fried jackfruit patty was absolutely delicious and the combination with the slightly sour pickles was also amazing! The only thing I lacked was a little but more freshness- maybe a tomato or some more of that lettuce. As a side we went for the“

Vegan AF Poutine“, which was similar to the original Canadian dish- fries loaded with cheese, porcini mushroom gravy, Seitan bacon and some seeds. I absolutely went crazy for the gravy on these! All in all this was probably one of the best, if not the best vegan burger I have ever had!

Location: 182 Stoke Newington Rd, London N16 7UY, UK / Stoke Newington

Temple of Seitan (Camden)

Best for a fast food experience MINUS the meat 

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templeofseitanAt the Temple, as the name already indicates, the main attraction is Seitan. Seitan is made of wheat gluten and is very similar in consistency to meat. Therefore it poses the perfect meat replacement, especially for people testing the vegan waters. At the Temple of Seitan you will get the perfect and full fast food experience ranging form burgers, wings to fries and Mac and cheese MINUS the meat, eggs and dairy. The strategy and marketing of the Temple is very clever and I think it is perfect for people transitioning- the burgers are wrapped in paper, the fries are served in cardboard holders, just like you would get them at McDonald’s or Burger King. Even though all the packaging used is compostable, it would be even more ideal to have them served on plates. However, I think this is part of the experience they want to create and I absolutely admire that in raising awareness to a vegan diet where no real cut backs have to be made. I went for the“Temple Burger“ with the crispy Seitan fillet, bacon (V), cheese (V), lettuce and ranch mayo, regular fries (or chips here in the UK). Additionally, I got a small Mac and cheese to share. Everything was absolutely delicious and satisfied these (bad) cravings I had for a burger. I couldn’t really say which burger is better- Temple of Seitan or Biffs jack Shack. The consistency of the pattie was very different, yet both really good. What I can say, however, is that if you want the same fast food experience minus the meat- Temple of Seitan is the plane to be. Oh, and they also had deliciously looking cookies!

Location: 103a Camley Street N1C 4PF, UK / Camden & 10 Morning Lane E9 6NA, UK / Hackney

COFFEE

Gallery Cafe

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Best for pastries and Sundays 

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I came across the Gallery Café through my cravings for (vegan) croissants and was so happy to find out, once I was in the cafe, that they do not only offer plain croissants, but almond and chocolate croissants as well…heaven. Back to the cafe though- it is also very cozy, laid back and has a beautiful conservatory with windows facing a beautiful terrace and back garden. Apart from coffee and amazing looking baked goods, like my sought after croissants, the café also offers a full on English vegan breakfast, porridge, sandwiches, burgers, juices and smoothies. It seemed to be a very popular place with a clientele of all age groups. On the weekends no laptops are allowed- so just sit back, eat and enjoy the plant based goodness as the Gallery Cafe instead.

Location: St. Margarets House Settlement, 21 Old Ford Road, London E2 9PL, United Kingdom/ Cambridge Heath

Grind 

Best for catch-ups (and pictures)

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Grind is a group of fun, hip and Australian inspired espresso bar with several sites all over London. Some locations serve coffee and espresso infused cocktails only, whereas at other locations you are able to enjoy brunch, lunch and dinner. On the menu you will find sourdough bread with jam or avocado, smoothies and juices, some vegetables and of course coffee! The Grind blend is absolutely amazing and was made especially for espresso coffees and to work well with milk. In terms of milk alternatives they offer almond, oat (my go to’s) and soy. What made me go to several of the Grind locations (Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, Soho) was the not only the amazing coffee and matcha lattes, but simply the branding and concept of it. The interior always has some of that nice-looking millennial pink, marble countertops and a fun neon sign such as „French lessons given downstairs“ or“Love is the drug“. The atmosphere is always buzzing with life, good music and amazing drinks! It is safe to say that I am obsessed…even though I slowly start to realize that my body cannot handle caffeine that well anymore, it is after all quite acidic and dehydrating  so always make sure to balance the coffee out with a glass of water. This didn’t keep me from buying the Grind tin though…I guess I am left with the matcha then.

Location: Clerkenwell, Shoreditch, Soho, Exmouth, Covent Garden, Holborn, Royal Exchange, Whitechapel

Attendant 

Best for relaxed coffee breaks

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The Attendant is also focused on providing Australian brunch cafes with high quality and seasonal products, The Australians really did pave the path in coffee culture, didn’t they? The brunch menu is described as being“wholesome, produce driven“ and seasonal and fresh. In terms of coffee the“Attendant“ makes an effort in furthering the sustainable coffee trade by paying higher prices for a higher quality. I can only give a big YES to this…we often underestimate the importance of seemingly “small“ decisions, such as what kind of coffee you buy and drink. The atmosphere in the Attendant cafés is absolutely lovely- many plants hang on the walls and stand on cupboards, creating an urban-jungle like feeling. It is great to sit down to read, have a catch-up chat or even to have small meetings. The milk “menu“ (lets call it that) had all the alternatives you could wish for. I eventually went for an almond milk matcha. Later, after reading for a while, I also got avocado on toast. The bread was very crispy and the garnish on the avocado (some seeds and lemon) was absolutely delicious! If I would have gotten the chance I would have visited Attendant more than once- I loved the interior, the atmosphere and the menu!

Location: 75 Leather Lane London, EC1N 7TJ/ Clerkenwell & 27a Foley Street London W1W 6DY / Fitzrovia & 74 Great Eastern Street London, EC2A 3JL/ Shoreditch

Please note that all the price indications are made in relation to the restaurant/cafe type i.e comparing coffee to coffee places and juicery to juicery. Also, it is normal that for restaurants to offer nutrient-dense, exotic ingredients and organic produces to be at a slightly higher price, your body will thank you!

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STYLE OF LIFE

NOURISH YOUR TEMPLE

Our bodies. They house so much that we cannot see, cannot grasp. A system so utterly complex and yet so simple. Sometimes maybe too simple; so that we find ourselves seeking complicated answers to simple and plain questions. What is good for our bodies? Sometimes the simpler is the better, sometimes less is more. 

My body is my temple- it is a complex network of systems, allowing me to pursue my everyday activities and so much more. To ensure the health, longevity and upkeep of these systems I am continuously trying improve my own behavior. Yes, it is a long and most likely eternal journey of evolution, however, an accumulation of small steps and actions are necessary to get the ball rolling. One of these steps, other than curating and using my green make up collection, is what products I use for the upkeep of my exterior shell. For my body care I opt for organic, healthy and sustainable options that are ideally vegan, plastic free and produce zero waste. Let me take you through my five essential body care products and regimens: DSC_0651.jpg

P. Jentschura face brush

DRY BRUSHING
An organ often disregarded and not given enough credits to, despite it being the largest. It is one of the main players when it comes to detoxifying- our skin. If however, our skin is flooded with toxins and dead skin cells, it cannot do its job properly and rid ourselves from all the waste and toxicity housed within. We always take good care of our faces- masks, exfoliants, face wash, moisturizer…the list goes on and on, but we often neglect the rest of our skin. Dry brushing, ideally in the morning and 3-5 times a week, has a multitude of benefits for your inner and outer beauty. Let’s start on the inside, because that is where real beauty comes from, right? Dry brushing improves your vascular blood circulation and lymphatic drainage (make sure to brush along those lymph nodes) and thus the skin is able to detox and discharge metabolic waste more effectively and it stimulates your metabolism and digestion- a healthy gut is always something to strive for. Also, it reduces cellulite and is an effective method of exfoliation, allowing your skin to rejuvenate and “breathe“ properly by clearing clogged pores.

When picking out a dry brush, make sure it is kept very minimal and natural- ideally wood without any plastic! Also, the linked dry brush is NOT VEGAN, as I owned it before going vegan. This Agronauti or Aromatherapy Associates brush are, however! 

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Bar Soap

BODY WASH SOAP
Despite the fact that I opted for organic and natural body washes, I still couldn’t get around some ingredients I did not necessarily want to put onto my skin; therefore I switched to a bar soap for my face and body. The soaps I use are cold process soaps that consist of natural oils only, do not clog your pores and are lipid regulating. Despite the amazing ingredients I had some tribulations at the beginning- my skin was always very dry and itchy after usage. This made me realize that my skin’s natural oils must have been partially removed. Now, after my natural oils have been restored and not washed away with every shower I take, my skin is in perfect condition again and feels moisturized and hydrated.

These soaps can become very slippery and dissolve quite easily, due to the gentle cold process. Therefore it is advisable to keep them in a travel soap box or a cotton soap bag to get the most out of your bar soap. Even though a very natural bar soap first seems to be very expensive it is actually cheaper in the long run as it lasts you longer than a regular shower gel would AND you reduce your waste!

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Razor // Blades

RAZOR
Only very late have I realized the immense plastic consumption and waste production when it comes to razors. Re-purchasing the 5-blade razors is a very expensive and also environmentally unfriendly business in the long run. So I made a one time investment into a proper razor, with actual blades (that can be collected and then discarded at a special recycling facility). Even though you might have to spend more money at once, it actually is cheaper seen over a longer time period. Yes, adjustments are necessary- the razor can be very weird in your hands at the beginning and the sharpness of the blades can be underestimated at times, leading to some cuts here and there. But hey…practice makes perfect, right?

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Organic Lifestyle Products

SHAMPOO
For roughly three years now I have been using Organic Lifestyle products exclusively. Ever since my hair has been as healthy as never before- I do not get split ends as fast as I used to, the structure of my hair feels much better and they are voluminous. It feels free of which is also the slogan of the brand:“If you love it, free it. You hair.“ Free of parabens, sulfates or anything else that weighs down your hair. The products are mainly made of vegetable and plant extracts, nothing unnecessary is added. The only ingredient that I would criticize is palm oil, but maybe they will find a way around that as well…or even a bar soap shampoo? Nonetheless I would never let any other products touch my hair!

To compensate the packaging I always buy the biggest bottle possible and then refill the smaller ones I already have at home. 

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African Botanics |Marula Body Oil

BODY OIL
I have always been one to battle dry skin, especially in the colder seasons. Usually I turned to body lotions, sometimes the ones that come with perfumes, which were seemingly luxurious and good. After checking the ingredients online it turns out it is especially these lotions that have carcinogenic ingredients. I definitely do not want to put that on my skin! So…I invested in a very luxurious and admittedly expensive body oil. If there is one thing I do not mind investing in it is my health and my body. The oil is entirely made from cold pressed oils, its main ingredient being marula oil. Marula oil „contains powerful antioxidants, high concentrations of nutrients and essential fatty acids that protect against environmental aggressors, help reverse photo-damage, boost cellular activity, hydrate at the deepest levels and repair the skin“ (africanbotanics.com). Also, the brand African Botanics supports a fair trade production, ensuring a synonymous support  for land and people, providing remote areas of the country with economic opportunities and permitting women to support their families.

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Toothpaste // Floss

TOOTHPASTE AND FLOSS
I have this pet peeve (one of them)- when I go over my teeth with my tongue I need my teeth to feel smooth. To achieve this finish I do not want to sacrifice the health of my body and teeth, therefore I always go for a natural toothpaste. My favorite is the“Weleda Sole“ toothpaste, where salt acts as a natural defense against cavities and preventing the formation of plaque. It does not contain foaming agents or fluoride, which has been proven to damage the central nervous system.

In case my teeth decided to save some food reserves in case of starvation, I always use floss. It comes in a refillable glass container and is 100% biodegradable and compostable. The floss itself can be refilled. It is unfortunately made of silk and coated with beeswax, so the ideal floss for me would be made of cotton and soy wax. Nonetheless, it is already a one step in the right direction of producing as little waste as possible.

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Shot by Sarah Johanna

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STYLE OF LIFE

DENIM & SWEATERS

Transitioning into the colder months of the year just after leaving the warm and long summer nights behind us can sometimes be quite hard- the days become shorter, the temperatures colder and the choice of clothes becomes warmer. I always struggle a little at the beginning of the autumn/winter season to find the right pieces of clothing to combine, even though I am a huge fan of cozy knit sweaters. It takes some time to get accustomed to look at a bundled up fluff ball in the reflection of the mirror- coat, scarf, sweater, tights…you know the drill. What a luxurious struggle it can be to spend a good 15 minutes in front of your closet, desperately trying to find something for the new season that are not shorts or flowy tops.

I am striving to curate my closet to a somewhat minimal collection of staple pieces I can almost wear year round and combine and match as I please. This means that when shopping for new pieces, I always keep my current wardrobe in mind, what I could wear and combine the piece in question with and if I can wear it for many seasons to come. For these three looks, I took my favorite pair of jeans, my WoodWood denim (which are great for summer, but also, as I just recently found out, look great with sweaters) and styled it with three different sweaters. So that the outfits do not look as boring as it sounds – sweater and denim – I added a few accessories here and there such as using a silk scarf as a belt, a minimal golden necklace, a hat or nothing at all (but my favorite book). Knowing that a basic outfit can be made more playful and interesting with some accessories or a different hairstyle, makes the decision-making a lot easier and once again shows that nothing beats a good pair of denim. In actuality, there is nothing more you need for the colder months than one or two pairs of jeans and some sweaters and accessories you can mix and match with.

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Uzwei Cashmere – Rag & Bone fedora – Are You Am I necklace

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Sister’s Kokon zwo knit sweater – Dior mitzah- Are You Am I necklace

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second hand Strenesse turtleneck 

 

accessories: dior silk scarf, Are You Am I “Lira” necklace, Rag & Bone “Floppy Brim fedora”

Shot by Sarah Johanna 

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STYLE OF LIFE

V GUIDE | COPENHAGEN

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VEGAN FOOD GUIDE | COPENHAGEN

To me, traveling and discovering new places would not be the same without simultaneously checking out new restaurants, coffee shops or bars. I feel as though you get to know the atmosphere of the location more with each Cappuccino you savor, Açai bowl you spoon or drink you sip. Therefore, whenever I travel to a new city or area, I love to inquire beforehand where I can drink and dine. I might spend hours searching the internet for “best vegan food“, “açai bowls“, “best coffee shop“ at that specific location. This brings me the greatest joy and gives me something extra to look forward to, amazing food and drinks! As I love to invest time in this food-hunt I thought I would share my inquired spots with you and save you the time to do so.

When deciding on what search result to click, I always opt for local pages, even though that might restrict me with the language. However, pictures can speak more than a thousand words, so I do eventually find my way around things. Reading up on what locals like and where they go is always advisable, since they know their city best. In case you have friends at that specific destination or have a friendly Airbnb host or a helpful concierge why not ask them too. As a vegan you are somewhat limited when it comes to going out, but even though the restaurant might not advertise itself as vegan, they might still offer a vegan dish or you can always tweak and change things around to MAKE them vegan. This might occupy a little more time when ordering, however, also allows you to have a nice chat with your waiter or waitress. Without much further ado, let’s get into it:

Souls

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At Souls you “eat like you give a fork“ about what you fuel your body with. As if the mantra of the restaurant (printed onto the backs of the employee’s T-Shirts)  wouldn’t be convincing enough, the interior is everything you would expect of a consciously-minded, danish restaurant. Small, squared wooden tables placed near the windows which flood the inside with light. Pillows are scattered around the window ledges, inviting you to succumb to the hyggelig atmosphere ( I hope I am using this danish word correctly, danglish is a thing now, trust me) and sit for a few hours over the delicious food served at Souls. I went to Souls two times, once for breakfast and once for dinner. It seems to be a very popular place amongst locals, as we did not get a seat inside at first and spent some minutes at a table outside, cuddled in blankets. Thus, I recommend to make a reservation just in case.

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For breakfast I got the açai bowl, which was topped with fresh strawberries, blueberries, bananas, granola and coconut shavings. Additionally we ordered the Avocado smash, which was the typical avocado on toast, only that the toast was rugbrød, which is danish rye bread- very delicious. To make sure we are not missing out on anything, we also ordered the brunch plate, which encompassed all the other brunch/breakfast dishes on the menu, such as the pancakes, hummus and guacamole, avocado smash and cashew yogurt. I absolutely loved the breakfast and savored every bite. The only thing that did not strike my fancy as much was the cashew yogurt, but that of course is a matter of taste. When we went for dinner I went for the Viking Salad, with “meat balls“, cashews, broccoli, olives, lentils, a mix of leafy greens and truffle dressing. As soon as I read truffle the decision-making wasn’t too hard after all. The coffee was also absolutely amazing with an amazing selection of milk alternatives such as almond, oat, coconut (my three personal favorites) or soy. The hot chocolate was the perfect treat for after dinner: it tasted a little like liquid bounty because they make it with coconut milk, so good! To conclude my ravings, I can only recommend Souls. They have a variety of offers, which I am sure any non-vegan will fancy as well!

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Location: Melchiors Pl. 3

42 Raw 

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“…is a celebration of food and drink served in their natural state. Naked, nutrient rich and delicious just as nature intended“ is what covers the walls of the hip and vegan-heaven of 42 raw. I received this as a recommendation of being similar to Daluma in Berlin, which I absolutely love. However, what places 42 raw over Daluma in the ranking is that absolutely everything is vegan and they couldn’t out-do themselves any more. The menu is absolutely amazing and has a huge variation from sweet to savory to small bites and bars. There are four bowls you can choose from for breakfast (Açai, Chia, Matcha and Granola) and pancakes. I tried the pancakes, which I believe are made from some kind of nut flour (like almond) topped with bananas, coconut shavings and chocolate sauce…heaven. I also had the açai bowl, again…I know. What stuck out to me was the granola! I loved it so much that I purchased a bag of it and took it home with me, at least that was the plan…it didn’t even survive the day. There’s also an array of sandwiches, smoothies and hot drinks you can choose from such as a matcha latte, golden latte (turmeric) or beet latte. I absolutely regret not trying one of these, as I opted for coffee again, but here I have one more reason to return to Copenhagen and eat my way through my second stay as well. 42 Raw has three locations in different parts of Copenhagen, but judging from my single visit I could tell that this is where the cool kids of the city meets and dines and I didn’t mind gathering some new style inspirations while enjoying my delicious breakfast.

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Location(s): Pilestraede 32 / Waterfront- Tuborg Havnevej 4-8 / Falkoner Allé 21

Yellow Rose 

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It was raining buckets outside that day and Yellow Rose was the perfect shelter to keep us from getting wet. You had to go up a small staircase,  which led you to the restaurant that is located on the first floor above the shops on the ground floor. This is definitely something I was not used to, but absolutely fascinated me, making it even more of a place to retreat to. The interior was very hyggelig, in fact, this is where I first laid my hands on The Little Book of Hygge and was instantly fascinated by hygge and how the Yellow Rose implemented its ideas into they interior. The colors were kept very warm, white and yellow, and the materials used natural, such as wood. The offer differed a lot from what we had in the other two restaurants, but not less tasty. I am unsure if they serve lunch and dinner as well, however, for breakfast they offer “breakfast“ buns with a variety of spreads, such as avocado/hummus or peanut butter/banana, which are the two options we chose. The buns were very delicious and fluffy themselves, which filled up my belly quite quickly. I also, once again, had a coffee with oat milk. At the yellow rose they use the Oatly barista edition for their oat milk, which is one of my favorites I like to have my coffee (made) with. Across from the counter, there is a selection of vegan danish sweets and snacks, such as chocolate and cookies. This was definitely more of a “soul food“ type of place than the other two, but that was exactly what we needed on that rainy day.

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Location(s): Peder Hvitfeldts Straede 17

Original Coffee 

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It wouldn’t be a food guide made by me if I didn’t mention coffee. I believe I have done so in all three of the restaurants, but you know, you can never have enough coffee (with a glass of water on the side of course), unless you cannot fall asleep at night anymore. Original Coffee is a very cool coffee chain I discovered by just walking around the city. They have multiple shops all over the city, among them a rooftop location in the ILLUM mall, which treats you with an amazing view of the city. Original Coffee has their own roasted coffee as well, which I always- to try new, small and different roasteries. The coffee was amazing, they had a delicious vegan date bar and some danish magazines to flip through. In conclusion, I was happy.

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Location(s): Bredgade 36 / ILLUM Østergade 52 / Nordre Frihavnsgade 2

I hope that this vegan food guide will be an inspiration to you on your next visit to the Danish capital!

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STYLE OF LIFE

GREEN MAKE UP

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Beauty. It is individual, it is subjective – to place, culture, influences, the individual. We all perceive different things as being beautiful; our opinions – shaped by our surroundings, what we read, look at. All these influence our perception. Women often feel a certain pressure to concur with societal standards, promoted through the world of social media, fashion and especially advertisement. To me beauty and individuality are synonymous- beauty can lie in our biggest insecurities, flaws but also best features. They make me, me. And you, you.

Approximately one year ago I made the decision to completely live off a plant based diet and not jump between being vegan or not anymore. With this decision I developed an increasing awareness of what I put INTO my body. What kind of foods I consume, how my body reacts to them, what changes I need to make to my diet and lifestyle. It is fascinating how impactful our diet is; not only to ensure we are at our healthiest possible in terms of diseases, but also how energetic we feel. Ensuring the inside of your body is healthy and clean ultimately effects your “looks“ on the outside. Because, as commonly known, true beauty lies within. Double entendre right there.

With that increasing consciousness of what goes INTO my body, I eventually started to look at what I put ONTO my body, ranging from shampoo, body wash, facial soaps, creams to make up. The skin is our biggest organ, so I believe that what I put onto it will eventually also end up inside. Thus, I began a quest, searching for some of the best green make up brands and their products, always keeping my concerns in mind to “enhance“ my exterior beauty. It was astonishing how many make up brands there were I have never heard of, usually always staying on top of the game when it came to new make up releases. The issue is: magazines and advertisements concentrate on the “normal“ products more, as there is a higher demand for them. However, now, slowly but surely the green beauty products find their way into the mainstream as well.

I was looking for natural and predominantly vegan products, such as: mascara, concealer and a foundation/ BB cream. On my journey I discovered a heap of amazing brands offering much more than what one might imagine green make up brands offer. Yes, they have heard of contour and highlight, translucent setting powder and and and…As a first I only purchased a mascara, concealer, foundation and BB cream, as I still have a contour palette and highlighter from non-green brands and also do not want to waste it and throw it away. However, I was never SO amazed by any make up products, since all of these were the first to satisfy my needs and expectations. Let me give you the walk through:

giphy1As a foundation I picked the ilia vivid foundation. Reading the description made me exclaim some oh’s and ah’s! I have very dry and sensitive skin, which is why I always look for moisturizing products that leave a rather dewy than matte finish. This foundation is said to have „medium to full coverage and leaves a natural radiance to the skin“, due to many amazing natural ingredients like coconut, rosehip and cranberry seed oils. I was utterly amazed by this foundation the first time I put it on my skin was moisturized, it had a natural glow to it and covered everything I wanted if I was going for a more full-faced look. The ONLY thing I do not like as much is that after it has dried it feels a bit tacky on the skin, but other than that I am in love.

For those days when I feel lazy or do not want to wear a heavier make up, I turn to my juice beauty stem cellular cc cream. This saves me the step of putting on an SPF and moisturizer. Like the vivid foundation it leaves the skin very moisturized and also glowing, however only has minimal coverage, which I personally prefer for a daily use.

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To conceal the dark circles under my eyes, which never seem to fade (my sister, however says they will eventually fade by improving my kindey’s ability to filter toxins out of my body through the power of a raw vegan diet & fruits), I use the rms beauty “un” cover-up. This is the first concealer I have ever owned that satisfies all my needs. Finding the perfect concealer has been somewhat of an ordeal. Either they were moisturizing and did not cover enough or they covered it all and were not moisturizing or even oxidized and changed color over the course of the day. The rms concealer, however, does all of the above all at once. The list of ingredients is very minimal and promising, with a ton of amazing oils and extracts to nourish the skin in such a sensitive area and make the eyes look fresh and awake.

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If I had to choose one make up product it would definitely be mascara. I love how it makes your eyes look bigger and awake. The nudestix mascara lengthens and nourishes the lashes, leaving no clumps and the lashes remain soft after applying. I have re-purchased this mascara already, since I am very pleased with the results and therefore do not feel the need to look any further. My sister has previously purchased the ilia mascara, which did not coat the lashes as much as the nudestix and therefore created a very soft and natural look, which can also be really nice for hot summer days.

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All these products are rather on the high end side of the spectrum and price-wise are probably in the same range as MAC and some of the fashion brand make up products. However, I feel as though these products last much longer. I have been using the concealer for three or four months now and there is still plenty of product in it. Thus far I only had to re purchase the mascara, because as I mentioned I love mascara.

Even though make up is fun and great, there truly is nothing better than having a bare face, where you can rub your eyes at any time, cry at the movies and splash some water on your skin when it is hot. I am a make up enthusiast, but also like to step out without it on some days. It really depends on the mood and what I am up to. If you want to enjoy some make up some day, I can only recommend to turn the other way and browse through the wide selection of green make up products there are!  They are fun and do not do any harm to anyone.

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This is not a sponsored post. All the products are available on Niche Beauty,a great beauty online shop for everything natural and green! 

Shot by Sarah Johanna

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STYLE OF LIFE

NEW YORK CITY

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I have been to New York City three times now, with each time a little bit longer and with each time I grew to love it even more. You board a plane at a location you usually are highly familiar with, spend a few hours in a cabin, after going through an ordeal of luggage claim, customs and borders you arrive at an entirely and potentially unknown destination. With some of them you leave the airport and fall in love at first sight, with others it takes time. Personally, I fell in love with this city from day one on; it felt homey. I know for a fact that I am not the only person in this world who thinks this way, so many people visit this city every day, some love it others hate it. What makes you love it, what makes you hate it? The list is long, very long. However, after doing the checks and balances I end up loving it so much, for a multi facet of reasons.

What do I love about New York City? What can’t you find in any other city? Well, there is the skyline of Manhattan- breathtaking. It truly is a concrete jungle, from every angle different. Just when you thought you do not need to rely on google maps any more, because by now you know your basics, you exit a different not so familiar subway station and are lost again, but it is a good kind of lost, you get to see something new every day. Walking around, which I loved to do, I decided to take a different street and way to get to see a different angle, another facet, another color of this city. Despite your eyes being glued on google maps so you turn the right way, take the right subway into the right direction „downtown or uptown“ you need to remind yourself to look up, an by up I truly mean up so your head lies in your neck. When the sky is painted with a spotless blue, the contrast between it and the glass and concrete simply makes you smile. Manhattan in itself is humongous, it might look tiny on the map at first, but then you realize there are a dozen districts each with its own flair, style and uniqueness. The change might just be around the corner, or on the next street, between this and the next avenue. But then there is also the multi-mishmash in Williamsburg. A totally different life, once again. Almost a different culture…with different people.

This is probably the primary reason why you love New York City; the people make the city, the city IS the people. You “meet“ so many people each day, you’re so close to them: sharing seats in the subway and bus, standing in line for New York’s one and only fuel – coffee, preferably iced. There are a million windows in this city, each houses its own story and wonders, the walls and ceilings are usually not as isolated, so you get a glimpse of that other window’s life. However, as soon as you decide to step onto the streets, “which will make you feel brand new“, each and everyone more or less decides to share a glimpse of their personal lives, stories that they unconsciously tell the 8 million around them. New Yorkers usually say New Yorkers are not friendly, however, I have only had experiences of the opposite. The tumult on the streets every day motivates you, gives you drive, ambition, the willingness to really do something today, make the best of this day…usually you do not even want to go to sleep because there are so many things to do and so little time. When you are rushing to get to an appointment and awkwardly move from side to side with another person, performing this funny dance, you both kind of laugh and then go separate ways again. Bumping into someone is a daily task, and inevitable if you’re rather short grown as I am. Yet, there is always a kind hearted apology and if not I am truly stunned. Most importantly however, if you strut down the streets as if you own them, which for one also makes you feel good about yourself, people might actually notice you and make some space…wow! Ordering a coffee, ideally bringing a reusable coffee cup, as the rest of New York City already uses enough disposable plastic cups (literally every other if not each person) turns out to be a very fun thing. You get to say what you desire, what your name is, potentially have a little chit chat…and then you need to draw that credit card which is less fun, but whatever.

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You meet so many people every day, lead so many conversations you can’t possibly recount every one of them…all these impressions accumulate over the day and do not end, because this city truly does not sleep. After breakfast- work, after work- lunch, then cocktails. There is just always SOMETHING to do that it really is hard to say no and go home. The good thing is though, if your plan A of weekend activities does not work out there is always an option B, C, D…and basically one for every letter in the alphabet. Nonetheless, you do need this time at home, I especially needed it at the beginning, to handle this overflow of impressions day in and day out. Yet they enrich you so much, open your eyes and allow you to see things from a new perspective, wearing a different color of sunglasses. What is the most important thing i have learnt these past 10 weeks? You learn something every day and it is important to be aware of your surroundings without judgement. One of the many conceptual ideas I apprehended in my summer classes.

This city inspires you to prosper, forces you to ground yourself in who you are, helps you discover and uncover who you want to be, work on it each and every day, create, live, experience and come one step closer to your dreams. There is endless possibility.  This is why i would now call New York a home. It allows you to realize yourself in an environment where all or at least most of the conditions are ideal for you to grow, as a human. It definitely did all these things for me. A home should make you feel safe, provide these conditions- where you can be you, without judgement and without limits.

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