Around High Park

This area includes several neighbourhoods around Toronto’s largest urban park: Roncesvalles Village to the east, Parkdale to the south-east along Queen Street West and Bloor West Village. To the north is the Junction.

Roncesvalles Village

Roncesvalles is the main shopping street for the area and boasts lots of fruit and vegetable markets, trendy stores and restaurants. It has traditionally been a Polish neighbourhood.

Alternative Grounds Coffeehouse & Roastery – k o ç
333 Roncesvalles Ave (at Grenadier), 416-534-5543
www.alternativegrounds.com
~~Laid-back cafe with organic fair trade coffees and teas. Light lunches and desserts. Shady backyard patio.
››› For over 14 years we have been roasting only certified fairtrade and certified organic coffees. We also offer a variety of vegetarian fare, desserts and snacks with gluten-free and vegan options. Open 7 days a week and boasting a lovely back patio. Call or check our website for times.(www.alternativegrounds.com) Wholesale and mail orders for fund-raising, personal and business use are available through the roastery.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon-Fri 7am-7pm, Sat 8am-8pm, Sun 8am-7pm.

Butler’s Pantry Cafe – k c
371 Roncesvalles Ave (s. of Dundas W), 416-537-7750
www.butlerspantry.ca
~~Popular neighbourhood spot with a good variety of vegetarian options – spinach nut pie, vegetarian lasagna, zucchini pancakes, & veggie curry pie. There are also two vegan entrees. Amazing selection of desserts (most contain dairy).
~~Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-midnight, Sat 10am-late, Sun 10am-11pm.

Tinto – k O L
89 Roncesvalles Ave, 416-530-5885
www.tinto.ca
~~A Latin American coffee house and restaurant a few blocks north of Queen. Fair Trade, organic, local, and almost entirely vegetarian.
››› Altiplano Wrap (Ahl-tee-plah-noh)
    Organic black bean spread with chipotle, organic sharp cheddar cheese and avocado, topped with fresh organic cilantro & organic green onions. Served with pico de gallo
    
    Inga Pirca Salad (In-gah Peer-kah)
    Organic quinoa, organic bulgur and organic lentils on a bed of mixed greens, served with fresh vegetable & a paprika and sun-dried tomatoes vinaigrette.
    
~~The menu consists of soup, substantial salads, wraps, sandwiches and all day breakfast. Everything is made from scratch.
     For example, try Inga Pirca Salad – organic quinoa, bulgur and lentils on a bed of mixed greens, served with fresh vegetables & a paprika and sun-dried tomatoes vinaigrette; or Altiplano Wrap – organic black bean spread with chipotle, organic sharp cheddar cheese and avocado. Served with pico de gallo and a side salad. Dairy is optional, and they also have soy milk as an option for tea or coffee.
     Desserts include organic carrot cake and a rich vegan chocolate cake. Wireless internet is available for those with laptops.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-5pm.

Evergreen Natural Foods – O d
161 Roncesvalles Ave (at Garden), 416-534-2684

Sorauren Farmers' Market – O
South end of Sorauren Park at Sorauren and Wabash, south of Dundas.
www.westendfood.coop
››› Our mandate is to support and promote local and urban sustainable agriculture, and educate the community in the foods they eat. As part of our commitment to local food, preference is given to Greenbelt farmers, and we actively promote new farmers and small, local and sustainable producers. We offer a full selection of local, organic, and sustainable vegetables, fruits, artisan cheeses, and flour/grain products, and more – with 20 vendors, more than half of which from the Greenbelt and GTA foodshed. There is also a selection of prepared foods made locally with locally grown and processed ingredients. We encourage walking, cycling or TTC to get to the Market. Volunteers welcome.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Monday 3pm-7pm, late May to Oct.

Active Yoga-Bikram Method-Hot! – d
2281 Dundas St W, 416-538-1628
activeyoga.ca
››› New to our studio? Try our weekly unlimited for $25 plus your first membership gives you 25% off.Bikram Yoga at its finest. 7 days a week with Certified instructors. Nestled near High Park and steps from the subway. We have a bike rack in our backyard, too. Come and get healthy with Active Yoga-Bikram Method-Hot!

By the Park Bed and Breakfast –
92 Indian Grove (s. of Bloor), 416-520-6102
www.bythepark.ca
~~Two large century homes located near High Park. Full vegetarian breakfast. They also offer guest rooms with access to a kitchen.
~~And they suites that do not include breakfast. Keele subway station is located within a short 2 minute walk. Rated among the top 5% in "The Best Places To Bed & Breakfast in Ontario."

Parkdale

Bacchus Roti – L ç
1376 Queen St W (w. of Dufferin), 416-532-8191
~~Specializing in rotis, rice, curries, vegetables and channa. Casual, limited service restaurant.
~~Hours (9/17/2009): open late.

v M & B Yummy – Classic Ethiopian food! – L d
1263 Queen St W (at Brock), 416-516-2798
www.mbyummy.com
~~Traditional Ethiopian dishes like Missir Wot (lentils) Shiro Wot (chickpeas), Gomen (greens) and Ethiopian vegan "eggs" (butucha, made with chickpea flour) for breakfast! Several vegan desserts.
~~They serve traditional Ethiopian cuisine made fresh to order. House specialties include vegan "beef" and vegan "chicken". The "beef" combo is $10, and the "vegetarian combo" is $9 (prices include taxes). Sunday Brunch is a huge amount of food for only $12, tax and beverage included. Stop by anytime for vegan soft-serve ice cream (Tofutti), sundaes and banana split, as well as delicious vegan cakes (sweets from the earth).
     M&B Yummy does serve cow's milk as an option for coffee, and some non-vegan cakes, cookies and breads that are made elsewhere, but everything on the menu is vegan.
     According to a NOW review in January: "To find Ethiopian food this fresh and this good is revelatory. ...the welcome's genuine, the rattan chairs comfortable and the food ... often dazzling."
     Update (Nov 2007): The place has been entirely renovated and feels a lot more like a restaurant now. The walls are adorned with artwork from Ethiopia. If you have a vegetarian discount card, you can get 15% off cakes (the discount on meals is still 10%).
~~Hours (9/17/2009): Mon noon-10pm, Wed-Thu noon-10pm, Fri-Sat noon-12pm, Sun 11am-9pm. Closed Tue, and for one hour on weekdays between 3pm and 5pm.

Magic Oven – o d (not on map)
127 Jefferson Ave (Liberty Village), 416-539-0555
www.magicoven.com
~~Gourmet pizza and pasta for take-out, delivery or eat-in. Many veg and vegan options.
››› Award-winning Toronto-based restaurant chain that serves alternative pizza with fresh, local and organic ingredients, free of additives and preservatives. The pizzas, pastas, salads and sandwiches can be made to accommodate a variety of dietary concerns for wheat and gluten free diets and those with vegan and lactose-free diets. The food looks good, tastes good and nourishes your body. Organic and craft beer and wine is also available.
    www.MagicOven.com
    
~~Hours: Mon-Sat 11am-11pm, Sun 4pm-10pm, Holidays 4pm-10pm.

In the Park

Goody's Natural Market – O
Inside the park, beside Grenadier Restaurant,
~~Outdoor organic fruit and veggie market.
~~Under new management for 2009. Barbi writes early May: "It is all organic as far as I could tell, their sign says Organic and Local Produce at Discount Prices. But, right now a lot of it is not local. She said that in the summer the focus will definitely be local." Note: they are not a market of farmers – more like a seasonal produce store.
~~Hours: Fri 12pm-7pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 10am-6pm, May to Oct.

Bloor West Village

Foods for Life
2184-E Bloor St W (e. of Runnymede), 416-762-5590
~~Good selection of specialty vegetarian items, bulk bin products and eco-friendly cleaning products all offered at competitive prices.
~~Barbi reports that they they sell bulk whole foods and all the usuals like tofurky products, earth balance, nayonaise,etc. "From the front of the street, it looks like one of those "natural food stores" that in reality is just a vitamin store. But when you walk in and head to the back, it's actually got tonnes of food products at great prices, relative to other health food stores."

Peachtree Health Foods – d
2239 Bloor St W (w. of Runnymede), 416-913-4466
››› Peachtree Health foods offers: Fresh smoothies, wheat and gluten free foods, raw foods, homeopathic remedies, ecological cleaning products, organic baby foods, bleach free diapers and pads, organic cosmetics and shampoo, Omega juicers, Haven fresh air cleaners