I was invited to try out the Veganuary menu at Bill’s recently. I’ve eaten at Bill’s before and I know they put the emphasis on fresh, quality produce and they often have a lot of vegetarian dishes available. So Bill’s seemed like the perfect place to give Veganuary a go.
Miso Aubergine Fritters (pictured at the top) seemed like the stand out dish on the starter menu and . There’s a smokiness to the chilli and soy dip which complements the aubergine fritters perfectly and the seed topping adds a welcome crunch. A very moreish start to the meal. I had the Candy-Striped Beetroot, Kale and Red Onion Hummus on Toasted Sourdough topped with sliced celeriac, pomegranate & mixed seeds. It was fresh, crunchy and a perfect light introduction to the vegan menu.
I liked the vegan take on a wellington in the shape of Carrot, Cashew Nut and Mushroom Wellington. It was very tasty, but I did find the portion size a bit on the small side so I’d recommend adding a side or two if you opt for this one. Or alternatively (like me) you can share some of your companion’s choice as the Vegan Burger on special was more substantial and very filling, as well as being a carefully balanced mix of flavours and textures which created a satisfying burger.
Alongside the Veganuary menu there’s a Low and No Drinks menu featuring a range of non or low alcohol drinks from cocktails to beer and gin. It’s great to see so many choices available if you are trying to be good this January. I recommend the Hayman’s Small Gin, served with Fever-Tree Slimline Tonic – you won’t realise it’s not a full strength G&T.
For dessert my dining companion picked out Sticky Chocolate Pudding served drizzled with syrup, icing sugar and hazelnut crumb, with a scoop of coconut ice cream on the side. Very gooey, just as a sticky pudding should be.
Meanwhile I had the Frozen Amaretto Parfait served with shortbread crumb, coconut flakes and raspberry sauce. It was lovely as there was a good kick of amaretto flavour and the parfait slid down very easily. The portion size is generous though, so make sure you have plenty of room or maybe have it to share.
We really enjoyed trying out Bill’s Veganuary menu and would recommend giving it a try.
Disclosure: I was provided with a meal at Bill’s to enable me to try out the Veganuary menu. My opinions are my own.
To begin with we made the gingerbread mix for our house. We mixed this up and then rolled it out onto the work surface. Then we used our cutter kit to cut out the various house panels: gable ends, sides and the roof pieces. Then we cut out the chimney and started on a gingerbread man, a sleigh and reindeer.
