Oganico Shop and Tea room Loughton

Whilst on my travels and visiting family, I always find it difficult to find places that meet my dietary needs. In fact, it's near on impossible. I love going out for tea and cake, so I always keep a keen eye for new places that I could go and actually enjoy myself at.

Whenever I go to my parents, I usually have to venture into London to find suitable places to eat, but what with having M.E, I don't get to do this very often, and when I do, I take days to recover. So when I discovered a new wholefoods shop was going to open in Loughton Essex named Organico - I was very keen to see what it was going to be like.

For a healthy person, Organico is a pleasant 10 minute walk from the underground station (central line) however if you don't like walking so much, it would make an incredibly short bus ride!

Places like Organico, are gold dust!
Especially when you have food allergies and staying in Essex!

It's so nice to see shops like these opening up on the outskirts of London. Such a relief for me too, because from my parents, it's just a short drive in the car.
Parking is easy, as Organico is very close to county council car parks (bonus points there!)

Everything is Vegan!
Vegan tea, coffee, juices, smoothies... Even the cake is vegan. What's more, is that they have a couple gluten free choices too (yes, that's vegan too, yaay!)
On my first visit I had a Gluten free vegan Almond Muffin. It was sweet, moist, and had a wonderful texture.

On another visit I had a Spirulina orange truffle (annoyingly I've lost the photo) - now knowing what spirulina tastes like, I was a bit apprehensive... But this truffle was amazingly good! Just the right balance of orange to cover the taste of the spirulina, and sweet enough to cure the sweet craving.

It's an Aladdin's Cave for organic and vegan foods products They sell an array of cupboard foods, herbal teas, home essentials. Stacked from floor to ceiling, They're bound to have what you're looking for!

I really hope that as many people as possible visit this amazing little shop, because shops like this deserve to become the norm of society.




They're fresh, stylish, welcoming and homely, whilst catering for everyone's needs. Shopping needn't be a chore - it should be a pleasure, so why shop at a big bright and noisy superstore that's full of stress, when you could probably find all of your desired things in happy little places like this?

The Village Whole Food Store Enfield

When I visit my family I always struggle to find food I can eat. Without little independent shops like this, I'd be stuck with gluten free fish fingers and chips, or tuna with rice pasta and salads... Sounds all lovely, but it really does get boring!

I have been visiting this shop whilst staying with my family for a few years now, so thought it was about time I wrote a little about it.

This shop at Forty Hill, Enfield, has been open for some years, but has grown into something rather special.

Visit their website here

It's a lovely drive through some country roads which passes some lovely parks. You could easily pop in before your park stroll for some cheeky treats, (I always get a mini box of vegan chocolate truffles..) Or you could call by after your walk and try a wonderful vegetarian meal for lunch or dinner from their freezer section (I would personally recommend the gluten free vegan pies...)

The customer service is outstanding. Almost everything you could possibly need is in this shop, from health supplements, gluten free, vegan foods, to household products. Should you want something they haven't stocked, they will do their best to order in what you ask for as efficiently as possible. 
  It's busy on the weekend, but if you have time to call by during the week, you're bound to have a lovely conversation with the assistants and shop owner. 

What's more - is that they even sell homemade gluten free vegan cakes!! Seriously scrummy...

The shop offers some nutritional advice, and if you need that extra bit of help, you can book an appointment with their on site qualified nutritionist. 

If you're not sure whether you want to see a nutritionist, but want to be healthier, why not subscribe to their newsletter? It's totally free and gives out brilliant advice.

It's shops like this that make life a little more colourful and interesting. I bet you, more memorable too! We waste so much time in conventional superstores and what's worse is that we don't enjoy our time there. So why not treat yourself and explore some different places, go for a stroll round a lovely park for some well deserved fresh air, then pop into an independant shop like this one for something you have possibly never tried, and bound to love!