OUR PANEL ANSWERS YOUR CULINARY QUESTIONS, FROM THE BEST VEGAN MEAL KITS TO HOW TO MAKE UKRAINIAN DUMPLINGS
TH EEXPERTS
Alice and Lucy Johnson Founders of Vegan Sisters
Adrienne Cooper Founder of Fun Foodie NYC
Joelle Thomson New Zealandbased wine writer
Olia Hercules Author, Mamushka: Recipes from Ukraine & Beyond
Which vegan meal kits would you recommend?
Alice and Lucy Johnson: For breakfasts that deliver olfactory delights, Dishoom’s Bombaystyle meal kits (from £18 for two, dishoom.com) hit the spot. The Vegan Sausage Roll Naan Kit features sausages created by renowned chef Neil Rankin, tomato chilli jam, cream ‘cheese’, coriander and spices for a steamy pot of comforting chai. The kit with a bloody mary is perfect for an extra kick.
Pasta-lovers should order from Pastan (pastan.co.uk). Mix and match from the selection of vegan pasta, gnocchi and scintillating sauces (pasta and gnocchi from £4, sauces from £6) or opt for complete dishes (from £13 for two). Our favourite is the barbecue jackfruit.
Grubby is more budget-friendly (from £8.88 for two, grubby.co.uk), with over 150 recipes, as well as a selection of family boxes. The kits champion British produce while showcasing multicultural recipes, from Sicilian tagliatelle to Thai curry. Plus, Grubby offsets its food waste, uses 100% recyclable/compostable packaging and delivers by bike wherever possible.
What are the best alternative food tours in NYC?
Adrienne Cooper: While the selection can be overwhelming, the good news is that whatever your niche, this city has got a nibble for it.
Gregory Marro of Greg Walks NYC (gregwalksnyc. com) offers a variety of unique options, including his two-hour Greenwich Village LGBTQ+ History and Food Tour (£70 per person). His tours are outstanding — whether he’s breaking out into song, telling you an old family tale or sharing a Sicilian panini with you.
When people refer to New York as a melting pot, they’re talking about Queens. As one of the most ethnically diverse metro areas in the world, the food is beyond compare. And there’s no one better to take you through it all than Joe DiStefano (joedistefano.nyc/tours). He’s got a few tours, but to get the best bang for your buck, go for the World’s Fare Eating Along the 7 tour (£200 per person for a 4.5-hour tour). You’ll feast on snacks and dishes from China to Latin America, Nepal and beyond — think Ecuadorian roast pig, peking duck sandwiches and a selection of Filipino desserts.
For the last one, you’ll need a boat — the Staten Island Ferry, to be exact. Join Meredith Toback, native Staten Islander and owner of Cititrek Tours (cititrek.com/staten-island), as you sample goods from Albania, Sri Lanka and Mexico (£133 for two people for a two-hour tour
