Rachida Brocklehurst is the founder of The Green V™. She also founded the Green V PR & Creative that works with various businesses that focus on luxurious, sustainable, and cruelty-free products or services. She writes for Vilda Magazine and The Huffington Post and a columnist for Vegan Food & Living Magazine. In this interview, Rachida shares some insights about her vegan life, The Green V™ brand, and vegan travel.
Q: You have been a vegetarian for 14 years before transitioning to veganism. What was that defining moment that made you decide to embrace the vegan lifestyle?
It really felt like a natural progression. From the moment I decided to go vegetarian, I had always felt very confident about my ethical lifestyle choices; I didn’t wear leather, I was passionate about animal rights and was vocal in my views! I knew about veganism and what vegans didn’t eat, but I really thought it was about health, rather than animals or the environment.
I stumbled across controversial YouTuber Freelee The Banana Girl when I was searching for smoothie recipes, and at this time I was already using soya milk because I thought it was a healthier option. I was intrigued about her lifestyle, and binge watched pretty much all of her videos and started to educate myself.
I honestly had no idea of the cruelty of the dairy and egg industries, and once I’d watched more videos and footage, read articles all about veganism and plant-based eating, I realised that I had to transition. Ultimately, I felt horrified at thinking I was living a lifestyle in alignment with animal rights, when in actual fact I was complicit in the abuse that animals were suffering by continuing to eat animal products.
Q: Tell us about The Green V™. Why did you start it?
I moved to Brussels, Belgium, about 5 months before going vegan. As a vegetarian I found the city really difficult when it came to eating out. Plenty of restaurants didn’t even cater for vegetarians, and some of them thought fish was veggie – so you can imagine it was pretty tricky! When I decided to go vegan, I knew that I was going to be making things harder for myself, so I decided to set up a blog (A Vegan In Brussels) to help English-speaking vegans living in Brussels, or visiting the city. From there, I wanted to have a wider focus, not just on Belgium but globally, and to include my experience of travelling as a vegan.
As my professional background is in journalism, PR and editorial, writing is my default way of communicating, so I rebranded A Vegan In Brussels and created The Green V - a platform full of useful, practical advice for the travelling vegan! I’ve recently launched my own PR and digital marketing agency exclusively for luxury, sustainable and animal-friendly businesses, so I’m now wanting to help both travellers and also the decision-makers and business owners that can help create enjoyable experiences for people that avoid animal products.
Q: What makes it different from other vegetarian and vegan travel related sites? What can vegan travelers learn from it?
My site, and my work, is focused more on the luxury sector, which I think makes it slightly different from other websites. I’ve always enjoyed the luxury side of things, and particularly when it comes to travel, I want to be able to experience the culture and atmosphere of a new location, but I also need my creature comforts too – I’m not much of a camper or hostel-stayer, I never have been, so why would that change as a vegan? At times I’ve found that people can be a little judgemental within the vegan community, and I want to show that there are different tastes and preferences, just as there are in general society. The fact that I write about staying in 5 star hotels or eating at Michelin star restaurants doesn’t make me less of an activist; it’s just a different approach.
Vegan travellers can visit my site and find high-end hotels that will provide wonderful vegan experiences for them, they can learn where to go for luxury treatments and where to enjoy high-end, plant-based cuisine. I’m also releasing a book and series of travel guides very soon which will make it even easier to travel vegan-style, without feeling like you have to make compromises.
Q: What have you learned about the global vegan community since you started running your site?
It’s huge! Wherever I go, vegans have stepped before! There are so many groups around the world, especially on Facebook, where you can interact with people that either live in the area you are visiting, or that have stayed there before. And this is priceless. I’m all about trying to experience authenticity, and speaking to native vegans in a particular region is the number one way of finding out the best places to head to.
Q: What is the biggest challenge for you as a vegan traveler? What are the best things about it?
I would say there are two challenges. The first, is finding traditional food that is either vegan, or has been veganised. This requires research, because you also need to remember that in some places, a dish can be marked ‘vegetarian’ but has actually been cooked in chicken stock, for example. Different countries have different definitions, so it’s wise to understand that beforehand.
The second challenge is the linguistic divide. Whilst yes, the English language is spoken in many, many countries, if you’re in a rural setting, you might struggle communicating with the locals, for example the small villages in the South of France. I’m lucky in that I can express myself and what I eat in French, Italian and German and if you like to visit places ‘off the tourist map’, it really is essential that you know your set phrases/food items, or at least have something like The Vegan Passport (from The Vegan Society) to refer to.
Saying this, my top tip would be to always be polite and friendly – even if you’re having trouble with ingredients. A smile is universal, and if you make the effort to learn the basics of a language (even just – hello, thank you, please, sorry… etc) – you’ll have a much better experience.
The best thing is being able to explore different countries and cultures whilst staying true to my beliefs – and it is absolutely amazing to experience the vegan-culture of different places, especially those that you don’t expect to be very vegan-friendly. It’s utterly heart-warming and inspires me to do more!
Q: What are some of the common stereotypes of veganism and vegan travel that you think others should stop believing?
I think it’s important for establishments to realise that ‘the vegan salad option’ on the menu isn’t enough anymore. Vegans, vegetarians and people who just want to cut down on animal products should be given several quality options – that have had the same amount of consideration as the standard menu items. Sure, it’s great to see a vegan option on a menu, but the days of a plain green salad are over.
I’d also like people to realise that travel as a vegan doesn’t have to be scary or something to worry about. Yes, it requires a little more research, but there are some fantastic resources available – knowledge is power!
Q: Tell us about a memorable experience you have had as a vegan traveler.
Last year Mr Green V and I went to Mallorca for a few days. Our final night was spent in Palma, and we decided to stay in an Airbnb (for the first time). Our lovely hosts were so kind and welcoming, and even got up early to prepare a wonderful vegan Mallorcan breakfast for me, which included a homemade pastry, fresh fruit juice, local produce and more. I was so touched by this thoughtful gesture.
Q: What are the most vegan-friendly places you have visited? Which ones would you recommend for those traveling as a vegan for the first time?
I would have to say that Berlin is definitely the vegan capital of Europe. Everywhere you go, there are vegan places, and vegan options in non-vegan restaurants/cafes. It’s insane! The concept of veganism and the social justice movement is so strong there, it’s so motivating. Plus, you can enjoy vegan junk food through to high-end dining, and everything in between!
I’d also recommend Rome, Florence and Milan, veganism is huge in Italy, and Paris – which has a great vegan scene that is growing all the time.
Q: What was the least vegan-friendly place you have been to so far?
Aside from rural locations (but I always find food!), I’d say that the French-speaking part of Belgium is the least vegan-friendly place I’ve visited. Brussels is getting much, much better, but I do find it difficult in Wallonia – it’s a combination of the traditional meaty-cheesy-creamy standard food, and the fact that different dietary requirements are simply not the norm, so people often don’t quite understand. Sadly the customer service attitude is often not the best, so they don’t have that desire to please the customer and provide a lovely experience, unlike in places in Italy for example. Of course, this is a generalised statement, but it is based on my own experience there, however, I’m sure there are plenty of places that will happily offer vegan food too.
Q: Is there a place that defied or exceeded your expectation as a vegan traveler? What was the best vegan meal you’ve had there and how did you find it?
Slovakia really impressed me! We spent some time their last year, and stayed in the High Tatras, a mountainous area where the majority of guests were actually Slovaks. In a tiny supermarket, we found vegan protein bars, various tofu salads and the hotel we stayed at put together delicious breakfast options for me – something new each day, which was so kind and thoughtful. When I booked the hotel, I mentioned I was vegan in the initial email, but I wasn’t expecting them to be so accommodating – it was just a case of finding somewhere in the right area for us. We then visited Bratislava, and there are so many vegan-friendly places it is amazing! There’s also one spot (Refresh Restaurant) that makes vegan Slovak dishes, and fantastic vegan burgers. I was really impressed, especially as it isn’t a vegan or even vegetarian place.
I usually use the HappyCow App, TripAdvisor and Google reviews to decide on places to eat, whilst also seeing if there are any recommendations in local vegan Facebook groups.
Q: What are some of the must-try vegan meals you’d recommend and the best places to have them?
There are so many! I think the ones that stand out would be the vegan tasting menu at Hotel Raphael in Rome, and the vegan risotto at the Ca’ Sagredo Hotel in Venice. Italian food really suits my taste palate, and the beautiful Mediterranean flavours used are just exquisite!
Q: Where are you heading to in 2018?
As I write this I’m currently in Lisbon, Portugal which has a fantastic vegan scene. For a place that is famous for its fish, I’ve been genuinely surprised to see vegetarian options pretty much everywhere, and a great deal of vegan places and vegan items on standard menus.
I spent a couple of days in Venice back in January, and plan to explore more of Italy, France, Spain and hopefully North Africa this year. I feel like last year was focused on capital cities, and this year I would like to get to see a different side of these countries.
Q: What advice do you have for vegan travellers and aspiring travellers out there?
Be positive and don’t base your travel purely on food. It’s brilliant to visit the cities that cater well for vegans, but travel is about so much more that just food. Create memories and experiences that will shape your future and expand your mind. It’s also wise to remember that in some countries they won’t know all about veganism, or perhaps won’t fully understand it, so be polite and gracious – even if it may take a while to sort out your meal. Learn the basic words of the local language, embrace the culture and do your research before. Most importantly, enjoy yourself!
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Rachida Brocklehurst is founder of Green V PR & Creative Agency, providing digital marketing expertise for luxury, sustainable and animal-friendly brands. You can also find her blogging over at TheGreenV.com or lurking about on Twitter - @thegreenvonline.
