If eating vegan means eating the sort of foods we enjoyed at Foam and Fork, there is no doubt it is a rewarding experience. Don’t worry, you’re spoilt for choice.
I hold my hands high and admit I was skeptical about veganism. Don’t get me wrong, I fully understand the reasoning behind it, and I’ll be the first one to applaud such reasoning. I just couldn’t imagine getting the same level of food satisfaction as someone who has no such qualms about eating everything. So, when Charlene proposed to commit to a month long of veganism (called ‘Veganuary’, you may have heard), I felt a slight uneasiness.
The first stop on this month long, vegan dedicated foodyism was an outlet located in Gzira. Foam and Fork (formerly known as The Grassy Hopper) goes back a long way. A quick look into the history of Foam and Fork will tell you it was first launched in 2013 as a mobile vegetarian kiosk. The people running Foam and Fork pride themselves on using no refined sugars or starches, adding superfoods and herbs to their dishes but, most of all, on serving food which is 100% vegetarian and mostly vegan. For them it’s not just another outlet, it’s a lifestyle.
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Foam and Fork is located on a side street and not exactly in the most prominent of locations. The interior décor of Foam and Fork features a sky-blue coloured roof, wooden tables, and seating coloured in yellow – the colour of joy and mental stimulation, as well as plants (I always like it when places feature plants). Combined, such décor gave us a sense not only of calmness, but also of optimism.
The first thing that usually comes to one’s mind when asking about vegans is ‘what do they eat?’ Vegan means waving goodbye to meat, eggs, dairy and all other animal-derived ingredients. Many vegans do not eat foods that are processed using animal products. In some ways it is restrictive, but judging by the menu here, it is surely not boring.
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There is an array of items at Foam and Fork, ranging from a few salads, various starters, and three types of platters to share, including a comfy food platter (no details here about what is on offer), homemade nachos with vegan cheese and plant-based beef, as well as fries with ‘serious’ sauces (again, no mention about what type).
Foam and Fork’s Main courses come in the form of rice, noodles and black beans, as well as burgers made from a homemade, alternative to meat (specifically noted that it is not ‘Beyond Meat’). The legend in the menu helps to decide what is vegan, gluten free, and what is homemade.
As for drinks, we opted for homemade sodas made from blackberries and raspberries (costing €2 each). There was also the option of having homemade lemonade at €1.80, or some soft drinks and wines and a few spirits. There was also one brand of specialized vegan beer available, costing €5.50 per bottle.
We asked why this was vegan, only to get a simple “It’s Vegan beer” in reply. A quick search suggested the beer is made from organic and earth friendly materials, so we suppose no animal-based products are used during its manufacturing.
Signature 3 lifes (sic) of a hummus.
We opted for a ‘Signature 3 lifes (sic) of a hummus’ for starter, which consisted of two types of hummus – chickpea and beetroot – with homemade tortilla chips. The latter had a touch of marmalade on top, its sweetness balancing out the acidity of the hummus.
The chips were nice and crispy, and you could definitely feel the difference between homemade and packaged stuff. We liked them so much we definitely could have done with a few more chips, but overall, for €5.50, we thought it was a fair amount to share and a good start to our experience.
Wu Tang Bowl
We had not yet finished the starter when the main courses were brought to us. Charlene picked a ‘Wu Tang Bowl’ of cold rice noodles with wakame (edible seaweed), radish, carrots and red cabbage. The dish was topped with some cashews, chili, sesame and a citrus dressing. The portion was most satisfying, with the noodles, seaweed and finely chopped vegetables combining for a light and fresh dish.
Massa Inked Me
As for me, I decided to go for the colorfully named ‘Massa Inked Me’ (apparently named after some ‘cool inked dude’) described as a sort of beef sarnie hotdog made from plant-based beef (homemade) sauces sauerkraut kimchi pickled onions and vegan cheese. Trust me, the only bad thing I can say about this dish was the slate it was served on. I don’t mind a bit of fancy but really, that sound of scratching on rocks whilst cutting up my food is just not for me.
In any case, the hot dog was top notch. You know you are onto something good when you can hear that crack of bread as soon as you dig in your first bite. As for the filling, there was no trace of meat and yet you could still feel like you are tasting meat, without resorting to much imagination. It was also very well salted, moist in texture, with enough mayo, and a touch of BBQ flavour. We shared the dish but by the end of it, we still felt as if we should have ordered one each, instead of sharing it.
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As for dessert, we were told a ‘Vegan snickers cheesecake’ was the only option left. If you are one of those who won’t compromise on the full indulgent mix of the traditional snickers cake, look away. The base was formed by crushed peanuts whilst the middle part was made with cashews and coconut milk, which gave it a very milky texture. I thought it tasted like ground almond paste (or what we call, ‘intrita’).
The top part consisted of vegan chocolate. To me, it was missing the caramel element, but the almond taste did partly make up for it. Charlene liked it very much, but I wasn’t as enthusiastic. Overall though, I thought it was a decent enough attempt inspired by a much-loved indulgent type of cake, with clear swaps carried out.
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Make no mistake, being vegan must be hard, and I have no doubt that initially keeping up such a commitment is a struggle. Nevertheless, if eating vegan means eating the sort of foods we enjoyed at Foam and Fork, there is no doubt it is a rewarding experience. Debates as to whether veganism is morally right, just a trend, or a revolution will continue, but in any case, enjoy Veganuary!
OMGFoodMalta Rating: 6.5/10
Bill Total for Two: €32.50
Website: https://foamandfork.business.site/
Email: none found
Address: Triq San Gorg, Gzira
Tel: +356 21311676
Opening hours:
Monday to Saturday: 12:00 to 15:00 / 18:00 to 22:00
Sunday: 10:00 to 18:00
