11 Questions With Oowee Vegan Boss Verity Foss
Posted on: 01 Nov 2019Happy World Vegan Day! Today's your chance to celebrate the plant-based lifestyle. Fancy learning a little bit more about one of Bristol's most successful vegan restaurants? Keep reading.
In Bristol, we're spoilt for choice when it comes to vegan options. We were named vegan capital of the world in a recent study, after all. But if there's one vendor paving the way for plant-based delights, it's got to be Oowee.
It all started with Oowee Diner, a gluttonous (and meaty) burger joint with loaded fries and a viral Instagram account. Then, due to colossal demand, the Diner's vegan incarnation, Oowee Vegan, burst onto the Bristol food scene at the end of 2018. Soon after, the company's second vegan venture, Oowee Vebab, arrived on Picton Street.
The junk food brand has taken Bristol by storm: anyone remember that mass brawl for free Oowee burgers on College Green? Yeah, we do too.
17 April 2019: Hundreds arrive at College Green for free Oowee burgers
With such overwhelming popularity, it's no surprise that the Oowee team scooped Deliveroo's 2019 award for Restaurant of the Year last month (and the 'Best Vegan Offering' title), beating 20,000 restaurants across the country.
So, in honour of World Vegan Day, we're featuring the person responsible for it all: Oowee's head-honcho, Verity Foss. A co-owner of the now monster brand, we talk what makes great vegan food, the 80/20 approach to a vegan-led lifestyle and the food accounts you need to follow.
Hey Verity, tell us a bit about yourself. What did you do before Oowee?
I used to work in recruitment and banking, then I made sandwiches, and then I created Oowee.
What do you like to do when you're not taking care of your three restaurants?
Eat at as many restaurants as possible, go on holiday and watch dog rescue videos.
Let's talk Oowee Vegan and Vebab. How did you come up with these concepts? What was the thought process behind it all?
I wanted to turn the whole of Oowee Diner's menu into a vegan offering - I like a challenge.
Oowee Vebab was inspired by vegan kebab houses like What A Pitta in London. We wanted to make it slightly different, so we went for a Berlin-style, using a Turkish pide bread. We love the idea of vegan kebabs as its slightly healthier than the usual Oowee offering.
Earlier this year, the team closed Oowee Diner on Picton Street to make way for Oowee Vebab. Why? How's it been going since you opened?
After the success of Oowee Vegan, we wanted to transform Oowee Diner in to Oowee Vebab because it's far more environmentally-friendly, nicer for the neighbors, and it's better to grow a brand that isn't responsible for the death of thousands of animals. It's going well – it's not anywhere near as stressful as the original Oowee Diner.
What are your favourite items on Oowee's vegan menus?
BBQ Smoke Stack Burger at Oowee Vegan, and the Chicken Kebab Fries at Vebab.
Why do you think Oowee's vegan offering has become so popular here in Bristol?
I think more and more people realise the environmental impact meat has on this earth. I also think that as veganism grows, people are starting to realise that maybe they don't want to eat other beings - especially when there are great alternatives.
People are becoming far more conscious about what they put in their bodies; not just in terms of calories, too.
On top of the people doing a 100% vegan conversion, you have more people adapting to an 80/20 diet, with 20% of meals containing meat and dairy whilst 80% are entirely vegan.
This is a great way for people to do their bit to save mother nature without making a 100% transition. I think the 80/20 is a very realistic approach to changing the world.
Before Oowee Vebab: Oowee Diner on Picton Street
Oowee's Instagram feed is pretty amazing. What's the secret to a great food picture?
A picture a day is the trick to interaction – it has to be a tasty picture, too.
When you're not eating Oowee Vegan or Vebab, what other vegan restaurants do you like?
Bristol: Taste of Life Vegan, Koocha, and Fi Real.
London: What A Pitta and Mildreds.
What makes great vegan food, in your opinion?
Great vegan food happens when you don't have to substitute the flavour, texture or taste to make it vegan.
Are there any foodie accounts on Instagram (with great content like Oowee's) that we should be following?
@nataliebrereton, @thom_foodery, @fitwaffle, @deliveroo, @whataleats and @thelittlelondonvegan.
And finally, how are you celebrating World Vegan Day 2019?
Eating loads of vegan chicken nuggets.
Read more:
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Vegan junk food: where to it in Bristol
