Last week, we complained about restaurants not having enough good vegan and vegetarian options on the menu.

And while many meat eaters disagreed and recommended me take our plant-based demands to specialist outlets, fellow vegetable lovers agreed: we need better choices.

Mum shows hack to cook three pizzas on one shelf and leave space for a side dish below

Well, my vegan friends, we could be about to see an explosion of exciting vegan chefs come into action.

Because Leiths School of Food and Wine – one of the most famous cookery schools in the land – is launching its first ever 100% vegan class this autumn.


And, surprise surprise, it’s sold out in record time.

But don’t let that dishearten you; they’ve just released two more dates and the school is looking to put on a series of vegan classes in the near future.

Dates for Leiths vegan classes Sat 4 Nov 2017 10.00 – 14.30

Sat 6 Jan 2018 10.00 – 14.30

Tue 10 Apr 2018 10.00 – 14.30 Just call 020 8749 6400 or or book online: https://www.leiths.com/classes/the-essential-vegan They’re also putting on a class with Ching-He Huang on Saturday 4 November, which will also be completely vegan.

On the menu will feature a range of cuisines and classics including:



Vegetable stock from scratch

Egg-free mayonnaise

Broccoli pesto

Dairy-free cheese sauce

Beet bourguignon

Risotto

Quick chickpea curry

Tempeh skewers with spiced coriander chutney

Chocolate mousse with tahini biscuits

A continuous stream of animal-product-free trained chefs will be graduating with great ideas and skills – ready to transform dinner parties around the country. And who knows – maybe it’ll inspire a few to open up their own businesses, which means more delicious vegan grub being made available.

‘We’ve noticed a definite surge in the demand for nutritional knowledge combined with practical cookery skills over the past few years, which led to the launch of our Nutrition in Practice course,’ Camilla Schneideman, managing director of Leiths School of Food and Wine tells Metro.co.uk.

‘Since then, veganism has become increasingly popular in the UK, with restaurants such as Mildred’s, Temple of Seitan and Fed By Water drawing in huge crowds.

‘Committing to a fully plant-based diet can be very difficult initially; there’s a lot to consider in order to ensure that you are completely nourished and deficiency-free. Our first fully vegan class, The Essential Vegan, is designed to guide people through that initial transition, making it less daunting.

‘It sold out extremely quickly, which seems to reflect the appeal of being taught how to cook delicious, innovative vegan food. Leiths has the reputation for teaching not just recipes, but the essential skills to go with them, the whole package.

‘The response we’ve had to the release of the class is exciting; it shows that the perception of veganism is changing on a large scale. We have another class running in April 2018 and we are working on an evening course, with sessions set to cover nutrition, dinner party recipes and our best ever vegan cakes and bakes.’

The awesome thing is that Leiths – founded by Bake Off judge Prue Leith – is a top, top school.

In fact, it’s been voted 1 of the top 10 cookery schools in the UK by The Guardian, Independent, Country Life and Trip Advisor. It won the Food and Travel Magazine Readers Award in 2014.

It’s even been used by the royal family.

What does that matter? Well, it shows that veganism really is on the up. It’s not confined to small Brighton kitchens or hipster gaffs in Shoreditch anymore. It’s being taught in world-famous institutions in West London.

It’s no good denying it as a fringe movement.

Veganism is here to stay as a culinary and ethical movement – and finally, the establishment is getting on board.

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