Places to eat

Akram's Middle Eastern Restaurant (191 Baldwin St, e. of Augusta, 416-979-3116)  As you may have heard on our Toronto Vegetarian Podcast, we are very pleased to announce Akrams re-opening after 3 years! They serve  a huge range of take-home hummus, $3 falafels & other sandwiches. "Vegan" items are marked as such on their menu.  Feinan writes: "Many of their Levantine sweet treats are vegan (their baklava, sadly, is not). The owners are also super nice, the food is super cheap, the place is open until late everyday, and just generally a great place to eat in Toronto! "

Poutini’s House of Poutine (1112 Queen St W, w. of Dovercourt, 647-342-3732) is a cafe serving poutine offering homemade vegetarian gravy, gluten free/vegan gravy and Daiya vegan cheese! Their cheese curd states on the label that it contains "microbial enzymes and/or rennet". Thankfully all their containers are 100% biodegradable and compostable. Open past midnight Thursday - Saturday for your late-night cravings!

CJ Lunchbox (409 Richmond Street W at Spadina, 416-913-9264)
Joan wrote to us "I have not been there myself but I saw a recent web post stating that CJ Lunch Box had several vegan options."  We asked the twitterverse  for reviews and @langela writes "I eat at CJ's Lunchbox regularly! I'd say they have 3 (or 4) kinds of veg sushi, 3 salads, soup. Tasty, cheap, cheerful." and @ammie_ tweets "yes it is - the service is AMAZING... food is ALWAYS fresh, cheap, healthy & quick for lunch- BEST veggie gyoza!" and @Our_Green_Home wrote "CJ Lunch Box is right across the street from our offices - yes it is Directory worthy. Good eats, reasonable prices!" CJ Lunchbox is a small sushi cafe with very limited seating, specializing in take-out meals.

Discount Update

Noah's Natural Foods  has launched their own loyalty program, because of this most locations will no longer be honouring the Vegetarian Discount Card as of  July 1st 2010. We are happy to report that the Bloor and Spadina location will be honouring the card for 5% off.

New at Farmers' Markets & Baking Classes

LPK’s Culinary Groove (718 Queen St E, at Broadview, 416-461-6440) is going to the market!  Pick up some yummy vegan and/or gluten-free goodies at Withrow Park (9am-1pm) and The Brick Works (8am-1pm) farmers' markets on Saturdays. In other news: in addition to their two most popular classes "Introduction to Raw Desserts"and "Introduction to Gluten-free Baking", LPK's is now offering their brand new "Vegan Baking Basics" class. Sign-up on their website. LPK's is a bakery with organic cakes, pastries and chocolates. Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free desserts.

Summer Vacation Ideas

Active Veggie Tours (613-779-5794) is a  new travel consultant company specializing in active veggie group tours worldwide. The description: "Active Veggie Tours are fully escorted first class tours leaving from all major gateways worldwide to exciting destinations around the world. These veggie vacations are run by experienced tour operators. All tours feature an active component such as walking, hiking, yoga or swimming as part of the day’s itinerary along with vegetarian meals."

New Catering

Mesey Ethopian Vegetarian Catering  ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 416-335-5067)
They are an all vegetarian Ethiopian catering service. Mesey writes: "I am providing 12 different kinds of vegetarian dishes. Please contact me at least 5 days in advance."

Tales of Caution

"Fellow Veg" wrote to us words of warning about Cafe Diplomatico. "While this restaurant isn't listed as veg-friendly in the directory (for good reason!), I wanted to send out a cautionary warning to other vegetarians who may be pulled by friends to eat there. I was dining at the Diplomatico two weeks ago and ordered a small veggie pizza with tomatoes and hot peppers.  When it arrived at the table, the pizza was covered in pepperoni! I told the server that I was a vegetarian and had ordered the meat-free pizza for that reason.  She took it back and said she would have another one made up for me.... I got three quarters through a very sloppy pizza before noticing a half crescent of pepperoni tucked underneath some cheese.  It was obvious that the kitchen had simply picked (most of!) the meat off and then topped the dish with tomatoes before sending the same pizza back! The unapologetic server rolled her eyes and took the plate away saying only that I wouldn't have to pay.  I took my outrage to have a conversation with the Manager and ended up going home with a free dessert but the fact that it even happened is completely unacceptable.  I will not be back!"

 Today's episode presents Liam, Lisa-O and Hyein. We congratulate Angela and Jason for their cute newborn baby, Dax! Angela told us about a vegan poutine at Poutini's . Lisa and Hyein ask Sweets From the Earth to sell vanilla vegan cheesecakes in grocery stores (write them an email!). Lisa really likes Organic Works vegan sweets, especially their 540kcal cinnamon buns and chocolate cookies. Liam had South Indian buffet for breakfast at Saravana Bhavan in Mississauga. Liam and Lisa are lasagna specialists! Apparently, No Frills all-purpose flour is not vegan. Please check the ingredients for L-Cysteine. LPK's Culinary Groove's vegan baked goods are in farmer's markets like Brickworks (try the mango bar!). Lastly, Liam found a nice vegan tie from Stockhomme .

This episode is a delicioius 32 minutes.

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	Tweet if you love TVA! Come follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/torontoveg We’re on Facebook Join the Toronto Vegetarian Association Facebook Group to receive invitations to events and more! Want even more news? Want even more news? TVA members are entitled to a free customized version of VegE-News. Find out more.

The heat is on! Summer has arrived and that means it's a time of anticipation. With our first ever Compassion Week behind us, we're now moving into the Vegetarian Food Fair preparation mode, so keep your eyes and ears tuned for updates throughout the summer. 

We're also gearing up for the November Toronto election, and we've got some tips for how you can get involved in your community and get your local candidates thinking about Meatless Mondays.

If for you summer means time to get out and get active, you'll probably be looking for something nutritious to keep your energy levels up, and we've got just the thing with a spotlight on lentils and a great recipe to go along with it. Or, find out even more about cooking with lentils in Nimisha's upcoming Healthy Vegan Indian cooking class! 

There are still spots left in Nimisha Raja's two remaining cooking classes at Whole Foods, plus her newly announced Healthy Vegan Indian class and TVA's Special General Meeting will take place on June 23rd. Find out more in the TVA in Action section or on Facebook.

This week Hyein and Lisa O. discussed Lisa's trip to Muskoka and the difficulty of finding vegan vittles there. They talked about vegan twinkies in the movie Zombieland. Find the recipe for vegan twinkies from Jennifer McCann's website by clicking here.

They also discussed that you can you can get excellent food and dessert items at Akram in Kensington Market, buy yummy baked goods and even vegan dog and cat food at the Vegan Danish Bakery , and feed your brain by reading Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer.

 Today's podcast is a twinkie-filled 23 minutes.

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This weekend marks two exciting firsts for Toronto:

Saturday – Veggies take to the streets for the inaugural Toronto Veggie Pride Parade. Organized by a proud group of veggie activists, the parade begins at 11:30am on Asquith Ave @ Yonge St - visit veggieprideparade.ca for details.

Sunday – The Toronto Vegetarian Association's first-ever Compassion Marketplace takes over the Artscape Wychwood Barns from 11am to 7pm with cupcakes, volleyball, music, food and more

Compassion Marketplace to celebrate with food, art & ideas

Toronto’s first-ever Compassion Week marketplace of food, entertainment and ideas is set to take place this Sunday, June 6 at Artscape Wychwood Barns, located at 601 Christie St from 11am to 7pm.

11am – More than Breathing (myspace.com/morethanbreathing)

12pm – jae steele discusses her new book, Ripe From Around Here (domesticaffair.blogspot.com)

1pm – The Peek-a-boo Puppets Musical

1:30 to 2:45pm – Volleyball: V*gan Adventures & Socials in Toronto vs The Public

3pm – Animal ethicist David Sztybel

5pm – Sheri Delaney describes her work at Story Book Farm Primate Sanctuary (storybookfarmprimatesanctuary.com)

Organized by the Toronto Vegetarian Association, this free marketplace marks the conclusion of Compassion Week – a series of events exploring the role that animals play in our lives and encouraging people to explore compassionate alternatives.

About the films

• field trip from Karol Orzechowski takes the viewer through a typical day at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair's Education Ring, where thousands of children per year are conditioned to accept a corporate-sponsored and increasingly mechanized system of intensive animal agriculture. The film was shot entirely on location at the Fair over the course of one day of presentations.
• Canadian Coalition for Farm Animals takes you inside a battery-cage operation. Nongraphic video footage shows small, cramped “battery” cages where chickens are unable to perform natural behaviours.
• The Toronto Vegetarian Association visits Roosters Inn and Snooters Farm Animal Sanctuary where we meet individuals who have committed their lives to the care of rescued farm animals. Join us on our tour as we meet inspiring people, chickens, pigs and more.

About Compassion Week

Today Hyein and Liam talk a lot about their favourite topic: FOOD. Hyein recalls her recent adventure to Sadie's where they now serve the incredibly melty Daiya vegan cheese. She enjoyed a vegan Huevos Rancheros. Liam compares her experience to the let down he had when he found out Utopia no longer has vegan cheese for their nachos.

Other great eateries they discuss are Lotus Pond and Graceful Vegetarian which are both in the North East part of the city, Zen Gardens which is in Mississauga and Food Swings which is alll the way in Brooklyn, NY.

Liam and Hyein are also excited by the new vegan delivery options they have discovered. Tiffinday delivers vegan lunches in Toronto and Viva Granola - a Canadian based company-  delivers vegan supplies across Canada.

The hosts also discuss vegan events in Ottawa and Los Angeles.

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TVA hosts city-wide events to showcase compassionate films, food, and alternatives

Toronto’s first-ever Compassion Week festival – an exploration of compassion for animals through discussion, food and the arts – is set to take place throughout the city on May 28 through June 6, 2010.

Organized by the Toronto Vegetarian Association, Compassion Week will start a conversation about the role animals play in our lives and encourage people to explore compassionate alternatives. There will be fun, thought-provoking events including a head-to-head cook-off event with distinguished Toronto chefs and an all day marketplace with compassionate food, clothing and entertainment.

The following events to take place across the City of Toronto:

The Latest in Nutrition (on facebook)

• Friday, May 28 – An address from physician, author, and internationally recognized professional speaker Dr. Michael Greger, Director of Public Health & Animal Agriculture for Humane Society US at Lillian H Smith Library (239 College St) – 6pm, $8 at the door ($5 for students)

Open Doors at the Resource Centre

• Saturday, May 29 from 12 to 4pm – Stop in for information about the Toronto Vegetarian Association and Compassion Week or for sales on compassion-themed books at the TVA bookstore – FREE

Compassion in Motion (on facebook)

• Monday, May 31 – Witness the lives of animals through three short films and discussion at the Revue Cinema (400 Rancesvalles Ave) – 7pm, $8 at the door

Cook Like You Give a Damn

• 

  POSTPONED – Join two accomplished Toronto chefs who prove it is possible to celebrate your culinary passion and still live a life of compassion. Doug McNish (Raw Aura) and Joshna Maharaj (ROM’s Food Studio) at St. Lawrence Market Kitchen (93 Front St, South Market) – 7pm, $25 advance

Compassion Marketplace (on facebook)

• Sunday, June 6 – A one-day festival with compassionate food, clothing, entertainment and ideas at Artscape Wychwood Barns (601 Christie St) – 11am to 7pm, FREE

New places to eat

Cafe Novo's Cupcakes

Cafe Novo (1986 Bloor St W, w. of Quebec Ave, 647-350-3538) has recently opened in the High Park Area. They are an organic coffee  house with lots of vegan baked goods. Their description: Cafe Novo is a locally engaged organic & fair-trade coffee house. Offering press coffee, espresso, tea & homemade baked goods including a rotating selection of delicious vegan muffins, cupcakes, cookies, biscotti + more! Closed Mondays.

kindfood (399 John St, n. of Lakeshore, Burlington, 905-637-2700) has just opened in Burlington. They are a  vegan cafe with organic foods, bakery and a juice bar. Their description: Organic Natural Foods, Cafe, Gluten-Free Bakery, Organic Juice Bar all in one! The cafe is all natural foods, dairy and animal free. The baked good are fabulous with no refined sugars, dairy or Gluten. Juices/smoothies are real fruit and vegetables.

Village of Punjab: Sweet and Restaurant (1515 Birchmount Rd., s. of Ellesmere, 416-757-1997) is the new name of the former Village of India Sweets & Restaurant. They serve eat-in and take-out and are 100% vegetarian, but only a few vegan items. "$7.99 lunch and dinner. Open until 10 pm. Large selection of salads, about 8 hot entrees, majority of them have paneer or are yogurt-based and includes nan bread and half a dozen types of ice-cream." writes Min Min.

Wass Ethiopian Restaurant (207 James St. South (at Forest Ave), Hamilton, 289-389-5294) Peter writes: "We had very delicious and inexpensive vegan food at the Wass Ethiopian Restaurant.  The owner plans to have gluten-free injera bread in the near future. It is not a vegetarian restaurant, but they did welcome vegans and vegetarians. The vegetarian dishes were all vegan and they were delicious and very cheap. The owner spoke with us and told us the doctors from the nearby hospital visit and they have the vegetarian food as they know it is healthy for them. "

New Catering and Meal Delivery

Alligator Pear Catering (416-546-5482) are a catering and meal delivery service with vegetarian options. Their description: We offer organic, custom catering to any diet. We have a wide variety of vegetarian dinners, hors d'oeuvres and platter. And try our personal meal plan delivery service. All your meals, portioned, home made and delivered fresh to your door.

No I Can't, Yes I Can! baked goods (37 Haviland Dr, Port Union & 401, Scarborough) offers healthy and allergy conscious baked goods and have many vegan options available by delivery or pick-up. Their description: We also have a line of Gluten Free products.  Product descriptions are available on the website.

Tiffinday Inc. ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , 416-200-3663) has launched vegan meal delivery servicing downtown Toronto using their reusable containers. Their description: Delicious vegan lunches delivered right to your office. Made to be gentle on the planet, your individual lunch is delivered in a stainless steel container, the tiffin, which is collected back the next day. Our menu features a mosaic of world foods. No minimums and no long term commitments. Delivery is to Spadina/Queen and slowly expanding out in a circle from there. We plan to serve all of downtown Toronto within 6 - 8 months.

Menu & Product Updates

Buddha's Vegetarian Restaurant (666 Dundas St W, e. of Bathurst, 416-603-3811)  Daci writes: "We recently discovered that the E-fu noodles at Buddha's are egg noodles. One other type of their noodles is also egg noodles. Their flat rice noodles and vermicelli noodles do not contain eggs." (This has been confirmed by phone.) They serve Chinese cuisine - gluten, noodles, rice, etc. Inexpensive, generous portions. Closed Tuesday.

Pulp Kitchen Juicebar & Eatery (1129 Queen St E, e. of Pape) has new commitments to purchase produce locally through 100 mile Markets as well as eliminating genetically modified organisms from their food ingredients.  They are a full service vegetarian restaurant and juice bar. Wraps, veggie burgers, salads, all day breakfast and much more.

Viva Granola Vegan Store (418-803-3915)  Can't make it downtown for all your vegan treats and needs?
Don't want to deal with cross-boarder shipping? Shop with Viva! Their description: Canadian Vegan Web Store for Cruelty-free and Compassionate Shopping. It's easy to shop cruelty-free products, like Daiya, Vegan Marshmallows, Vegan White Chocolate, Vegan Jerky, Vegan beauty products and more! Efficient and Friendly Customer Service since 2007! Visit Canada's Vegan Shop today!

Closures

Excellent Cafe & Restaurant
2542 St Clair Ave W (e. of Jane)
reported closed May 2010.

Today Hyein and John speak with Krishma about a new TVA initiative.  Compassion Week is an exploration of compassion for animals through discussion, food and the arts. Compassion Week is TVA's attempt to start a conversation about the role animals play in our lives and to encourage people to explore compassionate alternatives.  Compassion Week takes place from May 28 through June 6 at venues across Toronto.     

Other News:
- John talks about literally running into Brendan Brazier this week
- Hyein speaks about visiting Chinese Traditional Buns
- John visits Udupi Palace and Sadie's Diner in the same evening
- Urban Edge Yoga has a cool initiative
- The Veggie Pride Parade is Saturday, June 5th

Today's episode is a compassionate 21 minutes.

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 The list has been updated with many new locations to go with your old favourites! Enjoy some great veggie fare with friends en plein d'air!

www.veg.ca/patios

There is also a printer-friendly PDF version to carry with you everywhere.

Today John and Lisa O. are joined by Colleen via phone interview.  Colleen is overjoyed to report that Akram's has re-opened in the Kensington Market.  Colleen reports that she and Jason were so excited by this news that they both had a falafel from Akram's even though it was only ten o'clock in the morning.  Falafel...it's not just for breakfast anymore.

John and Lisa also discuss the return of the cupcake; this conversation is inspired by last week's vegan bake sale where both co-hosts were extremely impressed by the product that came from Cupcaketionery.  It seems that cupcakes are now more popular than ever and vegan cupcakes can be readily found in a wide variety of coffee shops in Toronto, and Lisa reports on the vegan treats that can be discovered in L.A.'s coffee houses.  

In other news:
- Becel has a vegan margarine
- Brendan Brazier will be doing a mini-tour of southern Ontario this week
- The TVA reading group is restarting. Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it for details
- Lisa reports about her experiences with fostering a cat from Toronto Cat Rescue
- 2 vegans bike across Canada

This episode is a spreadable vegan margarine 22 minutes. 

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