This week, when is a dog, not a dog? Cat goes vegan in the city.

Those who read this column regularly will know I'm a carnivore at heart; I ate burgers, and only burgers, for nearly a week. However, this week is #MeatFreeWeek. A global campaign to make people think about how much meat they eat, the impact it has on animals (ah, obviously!), our health and the environment. I was away on holiday last week and the calories I didn't drink (because of baby) were made up for in double desserts. So, it seemed like the ideal time to step away from the steak dinners, go the whole hog, and go vegan.

A vegan diet is one that avoids all exploitation of animals; meaning no dairy, no eggs, no meat, no fish and yes, sadly, no burgers. I have a few friends who are vegan - all the time, not just when it's trending on Twitter - and I know how hard it can be to find somewhere to go for dinner with them. So, this week, I thought I'd check out some of the best vegan bites in the city.

Stereo

Stereo is multi-track: a perfect mash up of a cafe, bar, restaurant and live music venue. It's also entirely vegan, not the clientele, you don't have to sign a disclaimer at the door but, if you opt to eat in, no animals are harmed in the making of your dinner. Cost: A bit of bread - £24 dinner for two Service: More tortoise than hare… (possibly my only criticism)

The interior has a stripped back, studenty vibe. There's music posters on the walls, but it's less teenager's bedroom, more trendy grown-up den. The menu, as I mentioned, is fully vegan and quite extensive, whether you're after bar snacks or a sit-down meal. It kicks off with tapas dishes, chips, dips and sandwiches and follows up with some more fulsome mains.

I thought I'd ease myself in to my meaty detox with their Haggis Fritters, which I had heard were as tasty as the kind Burn's Night is made of; sadly, though, it wasn't to be. Unlike the Weegie on Twitter this week, who didn't want his local Tesco to get into trouble, I am a grass. They had run out of Haggis Fritters! I was disappointed but decided to go wild and share the Crispy Gnocchi and, low and behold, a burger (of the vegan variety!) instead.

The problem, historically, with eating out if you were vegetarian or vegan was that without animal flavouring, the dishes were often incredibly bland. What Stereo has nailed is flavour. Every dish was as tasty, if not tastier, as one with meat it in. It's exciting, it's dynamic and I challenge you not to consider chopping out meat after having a meal there.

Cost: A bit of bread - £24 dinner for two

Service: More tortoise than hare… (possibly my only criticism)

Bloc+

Mid-week, I took myself to Bloc+: another bar, club, eatery that’s doing a fine job of all three. It’s not strictly a vegan/vegetarian place but there are some great options on their menu and I’d heard buzz about their ‘Not Dog’ Hot Dog. When I arrived, it was absolutely hooching, far busier than I’d expected for a Wednesday lunchtime and I just managed to grab a table.

There was no chewing over what to have, I went straight for the Not Dog. What is it if it isn’t a plastic sausage out of a tin, though, I hear you ask! Well, this veggie delight is a falafel ‘dog’ with avocado, cheese sauce, veggie chilli, toasted walnuts, dried apricots and American Mustard (for vegan, just say when ordering) and, quite simply, it’s the dogs…

When it arrived my first thought was immense; an adjective I would more commonly use to describe a steak. It was big, meaty (but not, obviously!) and seriously satisfying. Just the right amount of spicy too. Perfect flavouring and an incredible combination of textures, especially with the dried fruit and nuts, which I normally wouldn’t fancy anywhere near my food!

The staff were efficient and helpful but in a relaxed way, which is similar to the vibe of the whole place: easy, no fuss but certainly slick. The varied menu also makes it good choice if you’re yet to be sold - or persuade your friends - on going entirely meat-free.

Cost: Only a few beans - £8.95 for their (massive) Not Dog and Chips.

Service: Cool for (fast) cats.

 

The 78

By Thursday night, it was time for a celebration. So, I took visiting friends, Gaveril, to The 78 for Dutchy Pot night. Like sister bars, Mono and Stereo, The 78 is also vegan and well known for having great DJs on the mix to help you digest your food.

A few years ago, their weekly Dub N’ Grub took having ‘great DJs on the mix’ to a whole new level: the DJs were also in charge of dishing out dinner from a small hatch in the kitchen. Sounds wacky? It was. But it was also great fun and an absolute bargain, a starter and a main never cost more than £7!

Sadly, the cheffing DJs burned themselves out, so the all new Dutchy Pot was born (every Thursday): you still order from the hatch and a three courses remain under a £10, but reggae DJs Arrogant Sounds stick to blending tunes not sauces.

They keep their prices low by having a set menu and, this week, it had a Mexican flavour, with Taquitos to start followed by Mushroom, Seitan, Black Bean and Pepper Fajitas with Salsa and Sour Cream then Chocolate Cake or Apple Fritters for dessert. My friends and I exclaimed through most of our dinner (just rising about the reggae) that we couldn’t believe it was animal free! How on earth do they make sour cream?

I thought that this week I would feel I was missing out, quite simply, a meal wasn’t a meal unless there was meat in it. However, I was pleasantly surprised, not just by the number of vegan places Glasgow has on offer but the quality of the food. I’m not quite a fully signed up ‘Glasvegan’ yet but I definitely want to try and have more #MeatFree days each week.

Cost: Cheap as chips -  £9 for three delicious courses!

Service: Reggae, Reggae - but dont blame the DJs!

Wee Bird Recommends

If you’ve not managed to get your giggle on during the Glasgow Comedy Festival, you better get a wriggle on, the festival closes this weekend. Wee favourites are The Best of Scottish Comedian of the Year at Dram! and Janey Godley at Òran Mór (both this Friday 27th and Saturday 28th March). Janey tells it like it is, ‘All men need to be happy are sausages, shark documentaries and…’ (Wee’ll leave her to share the rest!)