Problems viewing? Click here VBites, more than just a Restaurant! Six months on from our summer launch down at Hove Lagoon, VBites is well and truly established as the innovative new vegan community favourite. We're welcoming young and old, families on a day out looking for a delicious meal, couples relaxing together over an evening meal, and those just popping in for coffee and cake. VBites has become the place to hang out in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere with exceptional food and special entertainment all delivered with first class service. And we haven't forgotten all those seafront dog walkers battling against the wind and the rain for the love of their four-legged friend. You're more than welcome in VBites (as long as your dog is friendly and well-behaved). One of our biggest attractions is the island-dining experience with your Fair-trade tea or coffee and cake transported round to you on a futuristic travelator. Very satisfying for the big kid in all of us! And the choice of cake is equally satisfying: plump muffins oozing fresh fruit, tempting chocolate cake that melts on the tongue, and heavenly cheesecake - to name just a few. Got things to do? At the fibre optic bar you can listen to cool music, and access the free internet service. But, if you're coming in to unwind, relax in the fabulous dining area and let us entertain you with a classic black and white movie playing on a projector while you dine. And now Christmas is upon us, we're really looking forward to celebrating with you. We've a full line up of entertainment for the holiday season, and can't wait to ring in the New Year with all the friends we've made over the past six months. Read more about the launch VBites Kids' Klub - now every Saturday and Sunday Great news with the school Christmas holidays coming up. Due to popular demand, VBites Kids' Klub has been extended to every Saturday and Sunday morning. There's fun and games to keep everyone happy including cartoons in the play area. From 10.30 through to 12.30 every Saturday and Sunday, VBites is the perfect place for your kids to have some fun and make new friends. And we've thought of everything you might need with pushchair and wheelchair access, and baby-changing facilities. Christmas is coming! Heather and Claudio, our head chef, have being working hard to create a delicious Vegan Christmas menu with plenty of festive cheer. Get your work-do or party with friends started with a glass of bubbly before being seated for your choice of starter, main course and dessert. Finish off with our very own mince pies and your choice of Fair-trade coffee or tea. Tables will be decorated with complimentary Christmas crackers and decorations. At only £19.95 per head, book early to avoid disappointment. Click here to check our Christmas Menu Try Heather's Aubergine and Cauliflower Bake this Christmas - featured in December's Cook Vegetarian Serves 6 For the stuffed aubergines 3 large aubergines 2 medium cauliflowers For the cheese sauce 4 tbsp soya margarine 4 tbsp plain flour 600ml soya milk Soya cream (optional) 1 block Melting Mozzarella-style Cheezly 1 tsp mustard (optional) White Cheddar-style Cheezly (optional) Method Cut the aubergines in half and scoop out the insides leaving a shell of a round 1 cm flesh and creating a nice hollow area in the middle. Boil in water until almost tender, then drain. Do not overcook! Cut the cauliflower into florets. Boil for five minutes (you don't want them too tender) then drain. Push enough cauliflower florets inside the hollow aubergine to fill it half way. Jeep the remaining cauliflower aside. Place the semi-stuffed aubergines into a baking dish and turn the oven on to heat (180C/350F/Gas4). Now make the vegan cheese sauce. Melt the soya margarine in a pan, take off the heat and stir in the 2 tbsp plain flour. Return to the heat and slowly add the soya milk (and mustard if liked). Keep stirring the sauce constantly so it doesn't go lumpy, until it thickens nicely. Once the sauce has thickened, stir in the soya cream (if desired) and a handful of the VBites melting mozzarella Pour around half of the cheese sauce into the aubergines. Now fill the aubergines with the rest of the cauliflower florets so they slightly pop out of the top, then pour the remaining cheese sauce over the aubergine. Bake in the oven until the sauce is bubbling and crispy. For a crispy topping, sprinkle grated cheddar-style Cheezly on top and grill briefly. More yummy, healthy recipes Start the weekend early Don't wait until Friday. Thursday night is entertainment night at VBites. Come down for a relaxed evening and make your choice from our superb wine menu. It's not a raucous night, so you'll get through the next day at work okay. Refer a Friend Sign up for Refer a Friend, and get up to 50 per cent off your bill when your friends come in to dine. Next time you're visiting, we can give you all the details. Dinner2Go If you're planning a takeaway, we've got great news for you. VBites is now available from the dinner2go service. Simply go to the dinner2go website, where you can see the VBites menu, or call on 01273 608 526. Make your order and have your favourite dishes from VBites delivered straight to your door. It doesn't get much easier than that! www.dinner2go.co.uk The word is out - what people are saying about VBites Dear VBites, Having just visited today for the 1st time with my children, I felt compelled to write to you to say what a lovely meal we had. My son said the cake was best he had ever had which believe me is high praise indeed. It has been an overdue addition to the Brighton and Hove restaurants and well worth the wait. I've been a vegetarian for 25 years and was thrilled to now have a vegan restaurant 10 minutes from my house. The attention to detail was excellent with the food, decor, and entertainment for the children and even a welcome for the dog. You have left no stone unturned and I will look forward to coming to many of your events as will my children and many of the friends I will be advising to come down and see for themselves. All the very best for the future. C. Lugton Breakfast or ten minutes more in bed? The mornings are dark, it's snug under your duvet, and you just know if you stick a toe out you're going to get frostbite. The temptation is to miss breakfast, have an extra ten minutes in bed, get dressed under the covers and rush out the door to work. There is a better answer. Breakfast warms you up, and gives you energy to face the day. Not forgetting, the importance of giving your body the vitamins and minerals it needs to ward off winter illnesses. On the dullest of winter mornings, nothing will get you off to a better start than porridge. Transform it with blueberries, raisins and banana. If porridge isn't your thing, wholegrain cereal with fruit is also good. If you're a fry-up kind of a person, ditch the frying pan and throw VBites meat-free rashers under the grill with tomatoes and mushrooms. Mornings sounding better already?