Kara (and Jim's) Vegan Supper Club
Kara Hayward put on her first vegan supper club at Café Boscanova back in 2016. The monthly family-feel suppers were an instant hit and have continued to grow in popularity. Kara learnt everything she knows about cheffing from husband Jim, who has some 25 years’ experience working in just about every type of kitchen. (They live together, work together and are still one of the most loved-up couples I’ve ever met).
Together, they founded plant-based catering company Green Label Kitchen in 2018, and to keep afloat during lockdown started offering an affordable food delivery service. (They were included in my post about the best places to eat vegan in Bournemouth - you can check that out here). Inspired by Marcus Rashford, they have also delivered hundreds of free meals to kids in need during the school holidays. They don’t shout about this, but I feel the need to shout about it on their behalf; we need more people like Kara and Jim in the world!
As places have reopened after the pandemic, Kara and Jim are back to catering festivals, events and markets. They have just served up their food at the opening weekend of Bobby’s, the new department store in Bournemouth. Their plant-based food includes mezze boxes, ‘chicken’ caesar wraps, chocolate brownies and peanut butter cookies.
I paid Kara’s Vegan Supper Club stall a visit at Purbeck Valley Folk Festival, and bought my most delicious and nutritious meal of the weekend - a mezze box of heritage tomato, lentil and dill; summer slaw with mustard dressing; quinoa tabouleh; and beetroot hummus and dukkah. I’m not vegan, but I’d happily live on a plant-based diet if it could all be this good. It was fresh and zingy, crunchy and spiced - an absolute flavour bomb taste sensation. They also made me a delicious iced chai, which was the perfect drink on a sunny afternoon.
