Flicking the Vs: June 2013

Vegan in Helsinki

Normally, when I go abroad, I do a lot of research beforehand on where to eat - where's the nearest vegan-friendly restaurant, where can...

I like lots of things about Terre a Terre. Among them is (you guessed this one, right?) the food - it's fun, it's interesting, and it's like no other veggie restaurant I can think of. Their cookbook is one of my favourites. I love that it's another reason to head down to Brighton. And now I love that their tapas and wine deal.

It's not the cheapest veggie place I can think of (in fact, it's one of the most expensive, along with Manna in London), so whenever there's a chance to get stuck in for less, I've got to sign up.

During our recent visit, Mr Flicking the Vs pointed out you get a big bowl of chips, a carafe of wine and a plate of tapas for a shade under £40 for two. Terre a Terre's prices can be a bit steep, but that sounded like a deal that couldn't be turned down.

I fear chardonnay (tastes like butter to me. Just me, or you get that too?) but the unoaked chardonnay that came with the tapas wasn't greasy. The chips were decent if a little less than piping hot when they turned up and the non-vegan mayonnaise replaced, rather bemusingly, with guac rather than tomato ketchup.

The tapas was the main event. Ten little morsels of five little dishes, and each one a great heap of fun.

Aubergine zhuganosh with spice lavash tanoor flatbread, cauliflower and ginger bhaji with tamarind relish and coconut shavings, deep fried corn cakes with chilli jelly and guacamole, warm mushroom mousse, and something with a lotus root crisp on top, which I have now alas forgotten. There were a few other bit and piece in there, like smoked tofu and nicely dressed leaves.

They were all little stunners, and even mushroom-phobe Mr Flicking the Vs had to admit that the mousse was a star turn. The only vague disappointment was the chips, being a bit flabby and a little chillier than they need to be. Still, the chips had brought more interesting friends along, so we couldn't really complain too much.

And, for all the tiny plates, we were pretty full after working our way through the whole lot.

But do you think I let a little thing like stomach capacity get in the way of a good dessert? Of course not - limits are there to be done away with, good-sense boundaries to be smashed. I like to think of myself as the Usain Bolt of pudding consumption. A slow, sleepy, sugar-high Usain Bolt.

So, we pressed on, and ordered the churros. I love churros. There was no doubt about what I wanted for dessert, but when it came to the fiendishly tough question of which of the three sauces - chocolate, cherry or salt caramel - to choose from.

I asked the waiter and he was so adamant it should be caramel, I couldn't really say no.

Turns out the waiter knew his sauce. The salt caramel was amazing - thick, rich and gorgeous, although the salt wasn't overly apparent. Still, it was a heavenly pudding, and a pretty fabulous way to end a pretty fabulous meal.