MOTHER Works

A bohemian vegan eatery serving funky and delicious bowls and dishes, overlooking the peaceful Hackney Wick Canals.

This Friday I hacked all the way to Hackney - excuse the pun - to visit the cafe that is infamous amongst the London vegan community: MOTHER works. The atmosphere of the place echoes the food it serves, with a leafy, earthy interior complimented by ceramic plates and coconut bowls. The reason this spot gets extra brownie points, however, is for its bulk food dispensers offering a small range of delicious looking seeds, pulses, granola, nuts, etc. Sustainability and ethical rating 5/5. I also loved that the entire wall facing the canal was glass, which was pushed open on this gorgeous, summery day so that eating inside felt almost alfresco. They also offer plenty of tables outside to sit and watch the quaint houseboats bobbing on the water.

Another lovely touch was the extensive variety of homemade complimentary oils, spices, and sauces to add to your food - such a nice, personal detail!

Anyway, regarding the actual food, I ordered the predictable option (for me), which was the ‘Mother Bowl’. After scrolling through many beyond aesthetic images of this particular bowl on Instagram, I had high hopes. And it certainly lived up to expectations. Crunchy, leafy greens and purple slaw made up the base of the bowl, which was topped with a light, fresh quinoa tabbouleh and sauerkraut, and roast sweet potatoes with vegan mayo drizzled over, and finished with a dollop of beetroot humous and a generous sprinkle of sprouts and seeds. It was the perfect combination of flavours, foods and colours. However, I would say that the balance ratio was a bit off. The sweet potatoes were perhaps the best flavoured and cooked sweet potatoes I had ever had - spiced to perfection and super soft, and the mayo served with them had a truly wonderful taste and creamy texture. However, there was only a very small portion of them, so you really had to savour each bite. I also think there could have been more grains, to make it slightly more filling. I would say that a ‘bowl’ on the menu implies that it is healthy, but not necessarily as light as a salad. Most buddha bowls or superfood bowls I have ordered are always slightly more satiating. I would also recommend making use of their homemade oils and dressings, as the salad underneath is in need of a bit of extra moisture. Otherwise, I would very much order this dish again.

I am keen to go back to try their other delectable-looking dishes. I was certainly eyeing up their acai bowls … Their special that day was vegan eggs benedict - can you imagine? They looked weirdly realistic as well, although I’m not sure I personally would be converted by the taste. There are two things that I am still rather suspicious of with vegan cuisine, and that is cheese and egg substistutes. However, I am willing to be convinced otherwise!

'Mother Bowl': £8

#Health #Bowl #Fresh #Vegan #Hackney