The Hogless Roast — Restaurant in London

(review of wedding catering rather than visit to the actual business in London)

Where, oh where, to begin.

We booked The Hogless Roast for our wedding completely blind. A small indie company with outstanding 5-star reviews, trying to change the world by providing delicious plant-based food that truly doesn't cost the earth 🌎

Well, if going in blind is anything to go by, then SOMEONE TAKE MY EYES 👀

Just like everything at our wedding, Matt and his crew were beyond perfect. In every way.

🍔 Pulled pork burgers that were so close to meat they had my dad - and everyone else - fooled

🍟 The most incredible hash browns with a ration of fluffy inside to crispy outside that literally had me crying out for more (I tell you now, from now on, the smaller the hash brown, the better)

🥬 A blissfully fresh salad bar with the best vegan coleslaw, pickled red cabbage, and mixed leaves that you ever did see

🍝 and Mac 'n' cheese that literally blew everything else out. of. the. park. Honestly, every bite of this meal had me wishing I'd married the food instead, but this creamy richness of was literally the divine holy grail of pasta.

🍦Followed by Hackney Gelaton vegan gelatos which if you aren't aware already, are the best vegan ice creams that exist and I which would willingly trade all my limbs for 😍

Vegan has never tasted so good 🤤

But you can tell they're not just there to get the job done, to advertise, or to make a porky profit.

Everyone was so friendly and charming, and an absolute pleasure to talk to. Never thought I'd be bonding with owner Matt about the savagery of online hackers over a box of dirty hash browns, but there we go💚

If not on your wedding day, then when?

Matt also mentioned that they create almost no food waste which made me love them even more (as if that was even possible) 🌍

Guests were saying it was the best wedding food they'd ever had and that they couldn't believe it was vegan 👌 I'm not one for militant vegan propaganda but I can't say I wasn't chuffed.

TYSM @thehoglessroast you haven't seen the last of us for sure - or the 100 wedding guests who couldn't shut...

I am an omnivore, as is my husband (both descendent from a long line of avid carnivores) and The Hogless Roast catered the evening meal at our NON-vegan wedding in Shropshire.

Throughout the day, several relatives asked us "what the deal was" with the hogLESS roast. Not really understanding the concept. They questioned, queried and many eyebrows were raised.

Then the wonderful Hogless Roast crew arrived, set up quickly and efficiently (in a different place than previously discussed due to an overzealous wisteria), and began prep for a wedding party of 130 people. Many of whom then approached me about the "delightful aroma", suspecting they were in fact going to have a "traditional" hog roast after all.

Once ready, the sceptics lined up alongside the veggies and vegans and received their tray of treats. Hogless bap, with stuffing, apple sauce and crackling, tater tots and coleslaw and some of the most delicious and oozy vegan mac 'n' cheese ever to grace this green earth.

Vegans were delighted, sceptics became believers and even my own mother (who, as a rule does not consider a meal a meal without meat) was in agreement that this tasty plant-based offering had far surpassed her expectations. Even asking "HOW did they make that crackling?!?".

Everyone was full and happy, my husband and I breathed a massive sigh of relief, and the meal became a key talking point among many of our well-satisfied guests.

Then, once everyone was sated, the team took their stall down and disappeared into the night. Like a wonderful vegan mirage.

TLDNR:

They were fantastic. Would give more than 5 stars if I could.

Would I book them...

Ross and the team at The Hogless Roast catered for our wedding this year, and they were absolutely brilliant from start to finish. The liaison was really smooth and hassle-free, they made things as easy as possible, liaising with the venue for us so we could completely relax about everything, and all we had to do was choose the delicious food. The team were so lovely, and a real pleasure to have as part of our wedding day - very friendly, helpful, and kind to all our guests. The food was absolutely awesome! So many of our guests commented on it, and a lot for whom vegan food was an uttery alien concept stating it was "the best wedding food ever!" Certainly a lot of minds changed about what they could expect from vegan food, which really made us smile as a vegan couple. And when your guests include some retired animal farmers, an entire fire watch, and a mass of people with multiple different food issues - a huge win full stop! Cannot recommend highly enough, the team and the food were total stars. Just wish we could do...