Judit Bartok : 269 Vegan

I'm not a vegan (at least not yet) but 269 Vegan is still one of my favourite places to eat and drink in Perthshire.  They do an absolutely amazing dairy-free turmeric latte that's packed full of ginger and great if you have a stuffy nose either due to hayfever or man-flu (or woman-flu). 

If you do have one I'd recommend that you pair it with a vegan brownie, which may not be guilt-free from a calorific viewpoint but is from an ethical one.  It's also a great place to grab something healthy to eat, they serve everything from a Perthshire pride inspired LGBT bagel (lettuce, garlic mayo, vegan bacon and tomato) to a hearty Autumn nourish bowl salad.

Judit Bartok, the subject of today's Workdays and Weekends, is the chef and owner at Vegan 269.  Judit draws from a wealth of experience, having managed both Henderson’s Vegan and Holy Cow in Edinburgh – the former being the first There are a number of factors in Judit's decision to become a vegan but her love for her pet was one of the main ones.  "Whenever I looked into my dog's eyes, I felt uncomfortable."  restaurant in Edinburgh to serve a fully vegan menu.

Prior to this, Judit learned her trade working five years in a vegetarian cafe in London.  There are a number of factors in Judit's decision to become a vegan but her love for her pet was one of the main ones.  "Whenever I looked into my dog's eyes, I felt uncomfortable."  

We caught up with Judit in this week's Workdays and Weekends.

Tell us the weirdest / funniest thing that has ever happened to you at work?

On my last birthday, a friend came into 269 with a bunch of flowers and sang 'Happy Birthday' to me in front of the entire cafe. All the customers were singing along and clapping!  It gave me social anxiety haha.

What signals the start of your days off?

Not days off, day off.  I like to sleep as much as possible because I am always sleep deprived but my dogs usually wake me up sooner than I would like, and my cats come for cuddles in bed. Then I have to have my coffee that I bring from 269.

I've got to ask, any relation to fellow Hungarian, the composer Bela Bartok?

Unfortunately not!  Bartok is a really common name in Hungary.

What might people be surprised to know about you?

I had long blonde dreadlocks for over a decade!

What is at the top of your bucket list? 

A week in New York in spring.  It's something I've wanted to do for years and years.

What is the worst job you’ve ever had?

I'd rather not!

Who or what inspires you?

The Dalai Lama, my husband, and my friends.

Who or what inspires you?

Any day during my trip to Tibet with my husband.

What’s the best part about your job?

Our regular and returning customers and to know that we have made someone`s day better by providing a nice environment and preparing and serving tasty vegan goodies.

Complete this sentence; the best things in life are:

Cruelty-free.