Découverte

Découverte

6 Sir Isaacs Walk, Colchester, CO1 1JJ

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/decouverteshopcafe

PLEASE NOTE: SINCE PUBLISHING THIS POST DECOUVERTE HAS TAKEN ALL DAIRY FROM THEIR MENU, AND BECOME COLCHESTER'S 3RD VEGAN CAFE!

As Colchester continues on its path towards vegan dominance, cruelty free consumers will be pleased to hear of Colchester's brand new vegetarian café. 

Following in the footsteps of Colchester's two fully vegan establishments, comes 'Découverte', which opened on Boxing Day 2015 and consists of a small vintage shop alongside an organic, vegetarian café. Much of the food they serve is vegan, and is clearly labelled with the 'V' symbol.

Lentil & Squash Soup

Due to the cold weather outside, I decided that I needed warming up with a cup of tea served in a beautifully delicate teacup, accompanied with oat milk. Whilst continuing along the 'warming' theme, I opted for the homemade 'lentil and squash' soup of the day, served with seeded bread. Coming in at £3.50, this seemed good value for such a tasty, hearty meal. The freshly heated soup was thick, flavoursome and incredibly filling. The gluten-free vegan chocolate cake which followed, allowed for a sweet treat to finish.

Gluten Free Chocolate Cake

Whilst eating my food I was able to enjoy the beautiful beams and busy walls filled with different vintage items. The café feels small (with 5 tables squeezed into the space) but this is what gives it its character and charm. The owners clearly knew what direction they wanted to go in, and have done that well.

Having spoken to the staff it is clear that they are passionate about the food they make and serve. The café was relatively quiet whilst I was in there, which allowed the owner to talk about the two years of hard work it's taken to get the business up and running, and I was pleased to see that they seem to have established the ways in which they differ from 'The Den at Twenty Three' and 'The Nourish  Co.'(Colchester's other vegan cafés) in the hope that they will also thrive. 

I wish them every success, look forward to paying many more visits to the café, and hope that at some point they will be able to drop the dairy and non-vegan options from the menu in the future.

If you pay a visit to 'Découverte' then let us know your thoughts!

Full menu: Show Menu
Opening Times: 11:00-16:00 (Tues, Weds, Fri, Sat, Sun) Closed- Mon/Thurs

The Den at Twenty Three / The Den at 23

23 Crouch Street

Colchester

CO33EN

www.facebook.com/thedenattwentythree

@theden_at23

www.thedenattwentythree.co.uk

Mon 12pm-4pm

Tue-Sat 10pm-4pm

Closed Sunday

INVmay.pdf

"The Den at 23" opened in March 2015, and is Colchester's first cafe to offer an entirely vegan friendly menu!
It is run by Jennifer Dunn of vegan cake company "p.s..it's vegan!", and her husband Robert.

The Den sells breakfasts (such as sausage sandwiches and sausage tofu breakfast muffins), lunches such as burgers and toasted paninis, and sweet options such as cupcakes and waffles with ice cream.

Teas and coffees and hot chocolates are served with a choice of soya, almond or coconut milk, and can be topped with soya whipped cream (and vegan marshmallows!)

The Minories Garden Cafe

The Minories Garden Cafe

74 High St, Colchester, Essex CO1 1UE

01206 712437

Trip Advisor Reviews

The Minories Garden Cafe is situated at the end of the High Street/ top of East Hill, and is a stone's throw away from Colchester castle.  It is joined to the Minories Art Gallery, and boasts a pleasant outdoor seating area (complete with Victorian folly!)

The Chef has helpfully been veganising a lot of the vegetarian options.
Their current vegan options are:

• Vegetable curry served with pilau rice and lime pickle, or jacket potato. (request no naan)

• Five bean chilli with jacket potato and salad OR rice and salad. (If ordering with rice request no cheese, no sour cream. If ordering with jacket potato request no coleslaw)

• Jacket potato with baked beans and salad. (request no coleslaw)

• Roast vegetable and houmus sandwich served with Fairfield crips (Note: on the menu this is a sandwich, but the loaves of bread may contain whey powder, so request a baguette or roll instead. Also request no coleslaw)

• Chefs’ Sharing Platter – fresh vegetable crudités with pitta bread and houmous

• Homemade potato wedges, served with sweet chilli dip (request no mayonaisse)

• Chefs’ Homemade Soup of the Day - always veggie and often vegan (served with a roll – ask for no butter; vegan spread unavailable at time of post).

•  Drinks: a variety of herbal teas and pressed juices. Soya milk is available for tea or coffee.

Cafe at number 21

Cafe at number 21, Trinity street, Colchester

Cafe at number 21 (next to Timbers on Trinity Street) opened in June 2012 with the aim of catering for for vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and omnivorous diets.  

It is now under new ownership, and  after chatting with the current owner I learnt that their current vegan options are:

-Aubergine bake
-Roast vegetable salad
-Usually at least one vegan soup.

They are open to suggestions, so the menu may change.
Soya milk is available for teas and coffees.

Cafe at 21 has nice a bright interior and pleasant garden at the back.

This cafe previously sold vegan cupcakes by local  business "ps...it's vegan!" 
Vegan cakes can now instead be be brought from "Caffe Sala" or  "The Minories Garden Cafe", or privately ordered from "ps...it's vegan!" by visiting their website here.

Cafe Nero

6 Culver Street West Colchester, CO1 1JG and Caffe Nero at Williams and Griffin Colchester, CO1 1PN

Going by Cafe Nero's "Dietry Products Summary" their vegan options are:

 

Sea Salt crisps 

Fruit salad 

Porridge made with Soya milk

Red Pepper Penne Pasta 

Bear yo yo (for the kids..)

and..

popcorn.

Come on cafes.....Give us some interesting food!

Jardine Cafe and Bistro

Questionnaire results for:

Jardine Cafe and Bistro,

Westcott House 

140 High Street

Wivenhoe

CO7 9AF

http://www.jardine-bistro.co.uk/

Please note that unfortunately we cannot verify the accuracy of any findings provided by the eateries surveyed.

RESULTS: Provided 11/04/12

The following options could be made vegan (please state changes that would need to be made at time of ordering)

-From the lunch menu

Sandwich
Hummous, Artichoke, Pickled Beetroot and spinach

Light Bites
Tempura Vegetables with Coriander and Chilli Dipping Sauce
Nicoise Salad (without the Mackerel and Eggs)

Light Lunch
Penne Arrabbiata (without Cheese)
Veggie Board (without Cheese)

Side orders/starters that are suitable for vegans
-- Rocket Salad (without Cheese)
- New Potatoes (without Herb Butter)
- Chips
- Broccoli (without Blue Cheese)

 Would you/your chef be prepared to make a vegan meal especially, if given enough advance notice?

-Yes , we’d be happy to! 

 Amount of notice required
-One day notice.

All our food is cooked from raw ingredients and if we have them in stock, we try to accomodate a walk in/last moment request for a vegan meal

Vegan dessert options

-Mango, Passion Fruit, Raspberry and Lemon Sorbet

-Last month we had an Orange Pannacotta which was entirely vegan