Exciting new brunch menus!

It's January, which means lots of people make resolutions like "have breakfast every day," and then they find out that breakfast happens in the morning, and it all breaks down.  Never fear, that exactly why people invented brunch!

Brunch at Teatree Cafe

New Live interior

The fine folks at Teatree Café and Eatery (867 Danforth Avenue (e. of Jones), 416-901-9089) have new brunch offerings including a vegan cornmeal flapjack with homemade raspberry jam and pure maple syrup, along with a rum-raisin french toast with oatmeal bread and orange slices.

Live Organic Food Bar (264 Dupont St at Spadina, 416-515-2002) is also featuring brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 11-3, with a menu including donuts, omelets, French toast, burritos and waffles on the cooked side and on the raw side French toast, crepes, quiche, tacos and more.  They've also got some great new cocktails including something called the Scottish Kaiser.  If you can't get out of bed in time for Brunch, or even Sunday, Live can still hook you up: TVA members get 10% off from 4pm onwards Monday to Wednesday, excluding liquor.

New Locations

Last month we asked our readers about the new Urban Herbivore location, and we got feedback from two of you!  Brandy writes "the new Urban Herbivore is opening at College and Dovercourt, inside the new Octopus Yoga building, just west of the YMCA. i went by it yesterday and it looks ready to go. A server at Fressen last night said opening was happening this Sunday." Shawn writes "The secret new location is in the yoga studio Octopuses' Garden.  They've moved from the Annex to a new spot on College St just West of Dovercourt.  Urban Herbivore have been working on the new restaurant space in the yoga studio but still not open." ** Update! We called the Augusta location and they said the new location is OPEN at 967 College Street, inside Octopus Garden Yoga Centre

Save the date!

Here's a heads up that one special night in February there will be the annual Chocolate Party at Panacea. What is a chocolate party? Boardwalk Chocolates sets out samples - that you eat for free. Yep that's it. No strings! More details as we get closer to the howling winds of February. For now, just circle the entire month in your calendar.

EarthMade desserts

Waaaaaay up there

Since the new Toronto mayor's plan to extend subway service is bound to include Barrie, let's just go ahead and include that city in our updates, shall we?  People, it's a vegan bakery, you'll make the trip, trust me, and they're willing to arrange delivery for a fee, so check out EarthMade, which, well, here's what they had to say: "at EarthMade, we specialize in vegan baked goods. All products are 100% natural, vegan (free from dairy, eggs or other animal by-products), preservative free, free from artificial colours and flavours and free from refined sugars and flours. Organic ingredients are used whenever possible. We also make gluten-free, nut-free and sugar free treats, to suit your dietary needs. HandMade, HomeMade, EarthMade."  Orders can be placed by phone at 705-716-5733 or by emailing info@earth-made.ca .

And if Barrie's too local for you, how about North Bay?  Veg Out Organic Beverage Bar uses only healthy, whole, organic ingredients to create beverages such as fresh fruit smoothies and freshly-made juices. They also prepare light lunch items, raw desserts and healthy snacks.  You can find them at 207 Ferguson Street, 705-495-0020.  Or just, you know, head North.

In the News

Vegetarian Haven's head chef Jack Li was featured in the Toronto Star's Chef's Showcase, which included a recipe for Shanghai Noodles.

The Globe and Mail ran a profile of vegan meal delivery service Tiffinday this month, including a huge photo gallery. Tiffinday specializes in vegan lunch deliveries right to your office.

T.O.F.U. magazine has a new issue out!  To promote the issue, editor Ryan Patey has been profiling a number of Toronto-based advertisers and contributors, including Toronto's own Sweets From the Earth, Boardwalk Chocolates, and Zoe Rasputin from Veg*n Adventures and Socials in Toronto.

A new hotspot - with a veg menu!

Barbi pointed out some of the buzz around Woodlot, which features a separate vegetarian menu and is apparently so busy you need to make a reservation a week or so in advance!  We can't find the link, but the Toronto Star compared the two menus last month and we're told the veg options won out on almost all of the dishes.  Woodlot is at 293 Palmerson (at College) and Michelle posted some nice comments about the menu options over on Yelp .

Findings on Twitter

te aro storefront

Te Aro (983 Queen East) tweeted "Delicious vegan baked goods from @BunnersBakeShop have arrived.....yuuuuummmmmm!!!" As we noted last month, Bunner's has their own location at 3054 Dundas St W if you want togo straight to the source, but Te Aro has a lot of great vegan options for those of you on that side of the city!

W Burger Bar (10 College St) reached out to us with this tweet: "Come check out our homemade veggie burgers! They're vegan and delicious!!" so we checked in with them for more info. The burgers are made from carrot, green pepper, red pepper, canola oil, veggie grind, tofu, veggie base, garlic, flour and oatmeal.  The buns are baked in house but are brushed with egg whites, so if you want a fully vegan option you can order the burger in a lettice wrap.  They also have a portobello mushroom burger that is egg and dairy free (again, minus the bun) and feature a variety of vegetarian soups.
 
Finally, Facebook's the same thing as Twitter, right?  Anyway, TVA got this message from Deena: "I have been enjoying the restaurant: Cool Hand of a Girl. It's on Dundas St. West in Toronto, just east of Keele St. and it's open for lunch. Try their grilled tofu sandwich with organic coleslaw side with pumpkin seeds. Very satisfying." You can find them at 2804 Dundas Street West, (416) 832-1076.