Today John and a recently engaged Liam have a lot to talk about.  Liam wants podcast listeners to voice their opinions on how he can appease the bride's family (who is Filipino) by having traditional dishes at the reception which are vegetarian.  In other words, if you know of any caterers who can produce vegetarian/vegan Filipino dishes please email tvp@veg.ca. 

The two podcasters also discuss the upcoming Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair (September 11 - 13 at the Harbourfront Centre).  There is a lot going on that weekend - please check here for the schedule.

John is happy to announce that he has joined the Toronto Vegetarian Team for this year's Toronto Waterfront Marathon.  He was also surprised and delighted when he discovered that he had been sponsored by a member of TVA (Thank you!).  If you are interested in sponsoring John, the Toronto Vegetarian Team, or any member you can do so here. 

Other tidbits from this week's podcast: the Dreena Burton cookbook giveaway is still going on, the Totally Fabulous Vegan Bakeoff is taking place on October 3rd, praiseworthy dishes from Veganomicon and Millenium, and a raw desserts wrap up.

This week's show is a Mexican avocado 32 minutes. 

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Lisa attended Vegetarian Summerfest 2009 hosted by the North American Vegetarian Association and had the opportunity to capture a couple of interviews on the spy device. Check out her interviews with Yvonne Smith, the Traveling Vegetarian, who travels the world trying vegetarian dishes and creates videos to share with the masses. Lisa also had the chance to chance with nutritionist, cooking instructor and corporate chef, Maribeth Abrams. In the interview Maribeth shares some fantastic recipes from her upcoming book, the 4-ingredient Vegan. Terry Hope Romero and Lisa chat about Terry's busy recipe creation schedule, her soon to be released cookbooks and her demos at the Toronto Vegetarian Food Fair. The podcast ends with the dulcet tones of Kyle Vincent singing a song during a tree planting event at Summerfest presented by the World Orchard Project. Save your pennies and you might just find yourself in Johnstown next summer.    

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Today John and Colleen have a very short and newsy podcast.   Today's highlights:

- John mentions the Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake-off is coming up (October 3rd); check the blog for more info. 

- If you want to find a DVD copy of Earthlings please go to veganslovelava.ca. 

- The raw desserts recipe sharing is taking place next Saturday in the Resource Centre between 1 and 4 p.m.; come on in and get some free raw dessert samples. 

- Keep your eye on the Dreena Burton cookbook giveaway. 

This episode is a seriously abbreviated 6 minutes.

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John and Colleen are extremely earnest for a little while, while discussing the day's visitors to the Resource Centre and some of the great books they purchased and borrowed from the library. They're also quite serious about the respective awesomenesses that are Isa Moskowitz and Dreena Burton, Isa having opened a vegan cooking school in Portland, Oregon and Dreena, having been interviewed for TVP #154, being part of a giveaway of one of her fabulous books.

In Toronto restaurant news, John and Colleen discuss John's recent visit to Simon's Wok, Colleen's recent pancake feast at Fresh, and Rancho Relaxo deciding to do the right thing and take shark off their menu.

They also discuss cool upcoming events in Toronto, including the free raw vegan desserts giveaway at the RC and Moon Over Mumbai, both on Aug 22.

Discussing an interesting looking book John discovered in the RC today, Ben Shaberman's The Vegan Monologues, Colleen asks the question of the week: What would be the title of your monologue in the live version of The Vegan Monologues? Silliness ensues.

This podcast is a you said the v-word 40 minutes long.

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Lisa has the opportunity to interview the (un)disputed vegan cookbook champion of the world Dreena Burton in this podcast episode.  If you have not been properly exposed to Dreena's recipes you are really missing out, but click here to find out about how you can win yourself one of Dreena's cookbooks.

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On today's podcast, John and Colleen give Happy Cow the love it deserves, discussing the amazing resource it is for vegetarians generally and specifically how it's helped them out in various ways as they've travelled the globe. As John points out, Happy Cow is a great resource for getting to know your own city's veg options better too, and they discuss Hibiscus and the Calico Cafe, the latter of which is a new veg restaurant recently opened near Bloor St. West and Dufferin.

Keeping things internationally focused at the same time that they celebrate the local, John and Colleen also recommend you check out Moon Over Mumbai, which will be occur on August 22, 2009. Moon Over Mumbai will form a sort of pre-celebration for this year's annual vegetarian food fair (Sept.11-13); there will be dancing, delicious veg eats, and an auction - be sure to wear your Bollywood gear.  Call 416.544.9800 for your tickets.

Another cool veg event going on this year in the GTA is the first annual Durham Vegetarian Festival, to be held in Whitby on Sunday, August 9, from 11-4. Speakers there will include Nimisha Raja, Erika Sullivan, and David Alexander.

Because John and Colleen are generally obsessed with food, as you know, they also discuss John's summer basil extravaganzas and Colleen's recent resolution to try eating savoury breakfasts. Feel free to send your favourite basil and savoury vegan breakfast ideas and recipes to us at tvp@veg.ca

Finally, Colleen is feeling even sillier than usual and recites her 7 favourite rejected write-ups about the TVP for the 2010 Veg Directory (to be unveiled at the food fair in September).

The Resource Centre will be closed and there will be no podcast on Saturday, August 1.

This podcast is a terrifying rotating sammich 30 minutes long.

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This week, sun kissed Lisa joins John and Liam to recount her experiences at Summerfest in the southern state of Pennsylvania. If Liam didn't eat such a huge meal from Vegetarian Haven he might have gone back for some "decadent" which combines vegan cake, ice cream and soy milk in glass. John joined Colleen in his praise of the ice cream at Hibiscus in Kensington Market where unlike the gluttons at the spicy dosa eating contest, he had only one serving. Lisa is looking for a location to host this year's Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake Off - suggestions for a location are appreciated (please email them here). Additionally, John offers some running tips to Mindy and all of the others who are part of Team Vegetarian or others who are training for this year's races at the Scotiabank Marathon. Lastly, Liam gets his hate on for the fast food giants.

You got what I need.

This week's podcast is a marathon approaching 38 minutes.

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Today, John and Colleen gear up for next weekend's Festival of India by interviewing Krishna, who's been involved in organizing this event for 10 years now. As a precursor to the Festival of India, be sure to check out the Spicy Dosa Eating Contest, to take place Monday, July 13 at Yonge Dundas Square; the spiciness is going to be off the charts.

Because food is their number one priority, John and Colleen also discuss Colleen's mixed results with cooking from Vegan Brunch, as well as the three new recipes John tried this week (Super Charge Me Cookies and vegan mac & cheese from Dreena Burton's website, and Mexican Millet from Veganomicon).

Speaking of food, when John and Liam write their vegan cookbook for herbivores with man-sized appetites, they might use one of the following ten titles, created by John, Colleen, and Jason:

10. Manly Vegan Meals: There ain't no pork in these beans
9. Manly Vegan Meals: Sausage schmossage
8. Manly Vegan Meals: Let's consume in excess of 5000 calories per day
7. Manly Vegan Meals: Milk is for babies
6. Manly Vegan Meals: Meals that rock me like a hurricane when I'm hungry like the wolf
5. Manly Vegan Meals: Two chickpeas at the same time
4. Manly Vegan Meals: Veggie burgers and a punch in the face
3. Manly Vegan Meals: For those who don't prance around in a dewy meadow wearing a sundress
2. Manly Vegan Meals: Eat more tofu, bitches!
1. Manly Vegan Meals: Tastetosterone

John and Colleen also address this week's emails, which discuss TVA's presence in this year Veg News awards voting, non-vegan vegan meat and dairy analogues in LA restaurants, and how Value Village is not, in fact, owned by Walmart.

Lastly if you're interested in volunteering at this year's Vegetarian Food Fair please click here.

This podcast is a more optimistic even than Radiohead 32 minutes long.

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Today Liam and John have a lot to discuss.  The two start off with a discussion about a recent ad posted on the TTC by a pro-vegetarian group.  Both of the podcasters are impressed with the message being sent.

There is also talk about the upcoming Calgary Stampede and the Humane Society of Canada's attempts to stop CBC from broadcasting the ongoings at this annual event.

Other events coming up:  spicy dosa eating contest on July 13th at Dundas Square, Free Food Events at the TVA Resource Centre (July 25th is Cool Summer Drinks and August 22nd is Raw Desserts), and the Festival of India on July 18th and 19th.

Other topics mentioned in today's show: sexy vegetarians over fifty, a huge success at Guelph's vegan bake sale, and everybody wants to know what Jason's having for dinner.

This podcast is a creative juices are dry 36 minutes.

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In this special episode of the TVP, Lisa and Colleen engage in a total gush-fest because they get to interview Colleen Patrick-Goudreau of Compassionate Cooks. Besides founding Compassionate Cooks, Colleen P-G is the author of old-school sweet-fest The Joy of Vegan Baking and dinner party planner extraordinaire The Vegan Table.

Lisa and TVP Colleen got to talk to Colleen P-G about her podcast, her cooking classes, her favourite recipes, and what she’ll be talking about at this year’s TVA annual food fair (Sept. 11-13, 2009 – mark your calendars!).

This podcast is an old school apple pie 27 minutes long.  

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John and Colleen are in a time warp this week and are joined by podcast originals Jason and AngelA for a fun filled half hour of banter.

The four of them were very happy with the community feeling that today's vegan bake sale created.  There were lots of great treats sold (lemon bars, caramel pecan bars, truffles, raw cheese cake, spiced truffles, and much more).  Thanks to everyone who came out in spite of the rain.  Extra special thanks to everyone who donated baked goods to assist with this wonderful event.  Pictures of the bake sale will be posted here.

The podcast team is very excited about the upcoming spicy dosa eating contest taking place at Dundas Square on July 13th at 5:30 p.m. - please contact Udupi Palace for more information. 

Other topics from this episode: a variety of coffee experiences, more news on Vitamin D, Ethiopian food, the Joy of Vegan Baking, "healthy" vs. "healthy looking".

This podcast is a ripe avocado 34 minutes.

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Lisa and John have the chance to interview Ani Phyo. Ani's raw food books are wonderful for anyone who is interested in experimenting with living foods.

Ani's raw food dessert book has just been released.

This podcast is a three ingredient recipe 24 minutes.

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Today John has company in the form of a very excited Colleen.  She is very happy due to some fancy vegan ice cream at Hibiscus Cafe in the Kensington Market.  Colleen particularly likes their homemade coconut raspberry.

Colleen also talks about two different types of veggie bacon available at Sadie's Diner - one is vegetarian and the other is vegan.  If you're vegan make sure you request the vegan version.

Vegan baking news abounds.  There is still time to participate in next Saturday's vegan bake sale (June 20th).  You can contribute your baked goods to the sale (ideally submit your recipe here by Sunday, June 14th) or you can simply come to the patio of Vegetarian Haven (17 Baldwin Street) between 12 and 2 p.m.  Things are also in the works for the 2nd Annual Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake Off.  There will also be a vegan bake sale in Guelph on Saturday, June the 27th (for more information please contact Kelly).

Other noteworthy news on this week's podcast:  John gives his rendition of being attacked by redwing blackbirds , there will be a podcast with Ani Phyo this week, podcast listener Mindy has a great vegan pizza recipe, TVA is an official charity in this year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the Durham Vegetarian Festival is taking place on August the 9th (mark your calendars).   

The resource centre will be closed on Saturday, June 27th and Wednesday, July 1st for Canada Day. 

This podcast is a rounded tablespoon of Jermaine Jackson 27 minutes.

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Lisa and Colleen have the chance to interview Isa Moskowitz.  Isa has brought us the following cookbooks: Vegan Brunch, Veganomicon, Vegan with a Vengeance, and Vegan Cupcakes take over the World.

Isa will have Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar released later this year.

This podcast is a seitanic 28 minutes.

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Today’s podcast is a celebration of vegan ice cream and there were a lot of visitors who came into the Resource Centre to try out some of the samples.  There were five flavours in total (ginger beer sorbet, chocolate, vanilla chocolate chip, cookies and cream, and pumpkin oat).  A delicious time was had by all.

There are also other sweet things on the plate.  Namely vegan cheesecake from a company called Living Sweets.  You can find these at Noah’s (Spadina/Bloor).  You will also be able to find pictures and a description of the cheesecake on the Resource Centre blog.

Mindy writes in that she would like to know John’s whole wheat bread recipe as he was bragging about it on podcast 140.  Here it is:
1 1/8 cup water
1 ½ tbsp oil
3 tbsp some liquid sweetener (John uses agave)
3 tbsp maple syrup
1/3 tsp salt
3 cups hard whole wheat flour
1 ½ to 3 tbsp gluten
1 ½ tsp yeast
Place the ingredients in your bread maker in the above order and set to the whole wheat cycle.

Saturday, June 20th is the Vegan Bake Sale taking place on the patio of Vegetarian Haven (17 Baldwin Street) between the hours of 12 and 2 p.m.  If you are interested in donating some vegan baked goods to this sale or getting more information please write to torontoveganbakesale@gmail.com.  TVA is proud to be a part of the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale.

The Toronto Vegetarian Association is now a registered charity with the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.  There will be more information forthcoming about how you can help to support TVA through this wonderful race.  

Lisa spills the beans on who is coming to the Vegetarian Food Fair in September.  The list includes: Brenda Davis, Gene Baur, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, and Terry Hope Romero.

This week's podcast is a ice creamy 21 minutes

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