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What's new?

If you know of any new places or a place that has made a significant change, please let us know at directory@veg.ca . If you are a business, you can apply for a listing.

— Jan. 25, 2007 —

Two new vegetarian restaurants have opened.
Sadie's serves breakfast and lunch while Jean's is dinner only.

Sadie's Diner & Juice Bar – day o
504 Adelaide St. W. (e. of Bathurst), 416-777-2343
   New veggie brunch and lunch spot open since January 2007. All-day brunch menu includes organic free-range eggs, tofu scramble, Yves veggie “bacon" or "sausages”, organic buckwheat waffles and pancakes, breakfast burrito, cereal with soy milk or organic 2%, and fair trade organic coffee and tea. Lunch menu features samosas, a vegan soup, chili, substantial salads, and more. Dinner will be coming soon. Moreen reports that the place has a “retro vibe – very funky decor with arborite tables etc. Staff are friendly.” Currently open daily 8am to around 5 or 6pm, but the kitchen closes at 3pm.

Jean's Vegetarian Kitchen – c
1262 Danforth Ave (at Greenwood), 416-778-1388
   This new Thai-Malay vegetarian restaurant is a welcome addition to the meat-centric Danforth. NOW magazine rates them NNNN (out of five) in a recent review. They recommend the spring rolls, Szechuan hot and sour soup (”virtuous veggie broth, crunchy Chinese 'shrooms, silky tofu”), pad thai, Pad Kee Mau (pad thai plus “crisp cauliflower and broccoli flowerets, Thai-basil-scented sesame oil and surprisingly convincing faux shrimp”), and green curry with "duck" (”a dizzying mix of ersatz bird, baby bok choy and cubed bell pepper in light coconut broth”). Note: all the faux meats contain whey.
  Colleen enjoyed the Malaysian Curry ("really really good") and the Tom Kha Thai soup made with lemon grass, coconut milk and veggies.
  Egg and nut alert – most of the noodle dishes contain egg, and some dishes are garnished with cashews and crushed peanuts. The kitchen will gladly leave them out if requested.
  Open for dinner only Tue-Sun 5-10pm. Closed Monday, holidays. Cash only.

— Jan. 13, 2007 —

Queen Street Commons
43 Queen St. S., Kitchener, Karin at 519-743-1151 ext. 244
www.theworkingcentre.org/ct/mk/mk.html
This volunteer-run café offers a local, natural, vegetarian menu, community events, music nights, and a unique gift shop. The café & kitchen are an extension of their Urban Agriculture Program, which aims to reconnect city folks with the local food system. If you wish to volunteer at the café, please contact Margaret at 749-9177 ext. 232.
   The café offers seasonal vegetarian fare, including dips, pizzas, soups, salads, and daily lunch specials. The wide assortment of freshly baked cookies, muffins, squares & cakes includes dairy, wheat & sugar-free options, as well as more decadent choices. Fair trade coffees and organic herbal teas served.
  Open Mon 8:30am-5pm, Tue-Fri 8:30am-8pm (to 9pm on Tue), Sat 10am-4pm. Closed Sun.

Soul Dance (meal delivery) – O
 www.souldance.ca
We offer a seasonal, rotating menu of organic vegan and vegetarian meals delivered to your door! Each week, we offer a meal package of 6 different meals for $100 per person plus PST. Local deliveries are included in the price and take place Tuesday evening between 4 and 6pm. Delivery charges apply to orders outside of the local Orangeville and surrounding area.
  Each week there will be one smooth soup, one chunky soup, one healing stew, one entrée for rice, one entrée for noodles, and one entrée for the oven. For most people this is more then enough food per meal, and we have never heard any complaints about having leftovers!
   Meals are packed in high quality reusable containers and kept insulated for delivery in a cooler bag with an ice pack. Meals packages can be delivered to a home or office.

Upaya Naturals (online store)
416-617-3096, www.upayanatuals.com
Raw, organic, whole food, vegan health store. Nature’s First Law products, living foods, superfoods, whole food supplements, blenders, juicers, dehydrators, water/shower filters and more.
   They don’t have a retail store, but you may arrange to pick up items at their Toronto location on Lakeshore Blvd just west of the Humber river.

— Jan. 8, 2007 —

M & B Yummy - Classic Ethiopian food!
1263 Queen St W. (at Brock) in Parkdale, 416-516-2798
  While this is not a vegetarian restaurant, traditional Ethiopian cuisine has many vegan dishes. The owner has put together a Full Vegan Menu that is delicious and very affordable.
  Everything on the menu is identified in green if it is vegan. The restaurant is open everyday from 10am to 10pm and serves all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner. The vegan dishes include soups, sandwiches, traditional Ethiopian dishes like Missir Wot (lentils) Shiro Wot (chickpeas), Gomen (greens) and many more (including Ethiopian vegan "eggs" for breakfast!)
  The Full Vegan Plate – with all the vegan mains and injera bread (which is a huge meal) is only $7 (tax included)! The chef uses a separate chopping board, pots, and utensils for the preparation of the vegan dishes.

The Friendly Thai – L
500 Queen St. W. (e. of Bathurst), 416-366-1221
   Warning: Allison reports that the owners of The Friendly Thai "do not believe fish to be non-vegetarian" and have thus chosen to label as "vegetarian" several dishes which do indeed contain fish sauce, oyster sauce, etc. "Just so this note is not entirely negative, we were informed that the tofu satay with peanut sauce is vegan and there is also a coconut milk stir fry with cashews that can be made vegan upon request. Anything with a pre-prepared sauce, such as any of the curries and some of the pad thais, we were told, contains a fish sauce base even if labeled vegetarian on the menu and cannot be altered."

— Dec. 16, 2006 —

Note: Many restaurants will be closed on certain days over the holidays – it is best to call ahead. See the side bar of our Vegetarians & the holiday season page for special offers at restaurants and stores. The page also has meal ideas, gift suggestions, e-card links, dinner tips and recipe sites.

— Dec. 14, 2006 —

Organiclicious – Closed
258 Dupont St. (e. of Spadina)
As of Dec. 2006 they are closed, but you can find many of their products at LIVE, a few doors west.

Le Cafe Vert – O L d
946 Queen St. E. (w. of Carlaw), 416-778-1313
www.lecafevert.com
   Bistro, bakery & restaurant in Leslieville. Popular weekend brunch. Update: They have now joined our discount program by offering 10% off excluding alcohol. See map and full description.

Gaia School Daycare
http://gaiaschool.googlepages.com
A parent-run, not-for-profit school located in a home near Queen and Broadview.
"Gaia school fosters imagination and creativity through music, art, storytelling, and play – inspired by the Waldorf pedagogy. There is no pressure to learn reading, writing and numbers, for example. Learning is through play."
The school teaches five children each day, Mon-Wed 9:30am-3pm.
   Parents pack the lunches but there is a "vegetarian only" rule for lunch. Once a week there's also a communal veggie soup lunch where the kids bring a vegetable and they all make soup.

Wanigan
www.wanigan.com
Shawn emailed to let us know about this organic delivery service located in Brampton that delivers to Toronto.
   "They have different types boxes and the best part is they have one called local harvest that is made up of local produce for $25. Nothing beats local organic produce in my opinion."

— Dec. 10, 2006 —

v Boom Shiva – late o L c
1180 Queen St. W. (e. of Dufferin), 416-538-1300
   Tapas menu with a selection of 15 appetizers – 12 are wheat-free. Dinner specials plus chili and veggie burgers.
   Open for weekend brunch and Tue-Sun for dinner 6pm to midnight, bar till 2am. Closed Monday and holidays.
  Update: Menu is now entirely vegan and they have started serving a weekend brunch again. Starting in the new year, they plan on opening for lunch. They now use less organic ingredients, but are still focused on being seasonal. See map and full description.

v Happy Buddha Vegetarian – L
2366 Yonge St., 416-544-0330
Chinese and Vietnamese cuisine. There is no MSG, onions or garlic. All dishes are now egg-free, and there are ten new items. This makes them vegan except for a milkshake that can also be made with soy. Open Sun-Thu 11am-10pm, Fri and Sat 11am-11pm. See map and full description.

Mela Italian Vegetarian Cafe (formerly Wanda’s) – early O c
7A Yorkville Ave. (at Yonge), 416-916-0619
   What used to be Wanda's Pie in the Sky is now an Italian eatery. Everything is fresh made daily. There is no set menu – they work with seasonal ingredients, about 60% of which are organic. Steve ordered a "very delicious stuffed green pepper." Jenny tried a, “very tasty tofu sandwich. The organic tofu was coated in nutritional yeast, then fried with oregano. Yum!” They are still supplying Wanda's pies. See map and full description.
  You can still reach Wanda’s by calling their bakery at 416-236-7585 or see www.wandaspieinthesky.com.

v Urban Herbivore – early O
256 Augusta Ave., 416-927-1231
   They have recently added some new additions to the menu including a hot soup and a variety of vegan pizza slices. Two of the flavours are potato-olive and tofu-pineapple-red pepper. They still serve grilled sandwiches on fresh baked bread, an array of green salads, fresh squeezed juices and baked goodies, including oversized vegan muffins. Open daily 9am-7pm. See map and full description.

Richmond Hill
Shan informs us that Graceful Vegetarian Restaurant in Richmond Hill is closing after Saturday December 16, 2006. "They decided not to renew their lease as they were not getting the business they expected. Their Markham location remains open. Very sad as there aren't a whole lot of veg options in Richmond Hill, especially dim sum. Gourmet Vegetarian on Beaver Creek just doesn't compare."

Peterborough
We now have a new page for Peterborough, a small city north-east of Toronto. There are several restaurants and stores with good vegetarian and vegan food options.

— Nov. 21, 2006 —

v Full Moon Vegetarian Restaurant – k L ç d
638 Dundas St. W. (at Denison), 416-203-1210
   They now give Vegetarian Discount Cardholders 5% off with a $10 minimum purchase.
   The menu features over 80 items written in both English and Chinese. Most dishes include mock meat, mock fish, or bean curd (tofu). Lunch special is $5. Open Sun-Thu 11am-9:30pm, Fri and Sat 11am-10:30pm. They serve beer, but no wine.

Siddhartha Pure Vegetarian Cuisine (formerly Kissan) – late
1411 Gerrard St. E. (w. of Coxwell), 416-466-9777
   Open since Feb. 2006 under the name Kissan, this vegetarian restaurant has changed its name to Siddhartha to match the name of the owner's original non-vegetarian location across the street. They serve a combination of South and North Indian cuisine including: dosas, roti, naan, curries, basmati rice dishes, paneer, etc. There is also a $9 lunch buffet and a $11 dinner buffet. Open daily 11:30-2:30 for lunch and 4:30-10:30 for dinner.

— Nov. 9, 2006 –

VEDA - Healthy Indian Takeout
874 Yonge St (n. of Bloor), 416-840-3132
www.vedatakeout.com
   Veda means ‘knowledge’ in the Indian scriptural language of Sanskrit. To this end, they focus on a healthy, low-fat menu made with authentic Indian spices. In fact, most dishes contain NO added oil. Half the menu selections are vegetarian (including Butter Tofu) and vegan (including Mixed Vegetable Curry, Chickpea Curry, Red Lentils). The Monthly Feature Item and Daily Soup are always vegetarian as well, and are often vegan.
  Veda has initiated an extensive recycling program whereby 80-90% of their waste is either recycled or composted as organics. For example, the combo containers are made of a microwavable and recyclable aluminum.
  Dine-in, take-out and delivery available. Located two blocks north of Bloor between Yorkville Ave. and Davenport Rd. Open Mon-Fri 11:30am-9pm, Sat-Sun 12noon-8pm.

— Nov. 8, 2006 – Stratford section added to West of Toronto page —

v Veg Out – O
24 Erie St. (at Ontario), 519-272-1320
Veg Out is Stratford's only vegan restaurant. Freshly made daily soups, salads, sandwiches, baked goods and fresh squeezed fruit/veggie juices. Popular menu items include: "fish" and chips, "chicken" Caesar salad, and sesame soba noodle salad. Daily specials are also available such as "shrimp" fettuccine alfredo and spanakopita. Open for breakfast Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday. Relax on their patio, eat-in, or take-out.
   Winter hours are Tue 11:30am-3pm, Wed/Thu 8am-3pm, Fri/Sat 11:30am-7pm, and Sun 8am-1pm. Closed Mon. Summer hours are Tue-Thurs 11:30am-7pm and Fri/Sat 11:30am-8. Closed Sun and Mon.

The Gentle Rain – O
30 Rebecca St. (at Waterloo St.), 519-271-0388
Veg Out says that this is "an amazing natural food store."

— Nov. 4, 2006 – Organic market update —

Several markets close for the winter. For details see our organics page. We have some updates for the following places:

Dufferin Grove Organic Farmers’ Market – O
Every Thursday from 3 to 7 pm. Dufferin Grove Park.
   One vendor now sells a delicious vegan chili (cheese on top is optional). The weather has been chilly lately, but there is an outdoor camp fire surrounded by benches where you can warm up. The market goes all year, and will move indoors as the weather gets colder.

High Park Organic Market – O
Grenadier Restaurant, 416-882-5140
   For winter they will have a small space in the back of Grenadier restaurant. Most produce will be imported from the US, but come next Spring, local veggies and fruits will return. Winter hours are: Saturday and Sunday 10am-6pm.

The Riverdale Farmers' Market comes to Parliament Street – O
Tuesdays Nov 7 to Dec 19, 2006 from 3-7pm.
   Fans of the Riverdale Farmers' Market can enjoy an extended season in November and December. Fifteen farmers and vendors have matched up with nine Parliament Street businesses to offer their produce for an extra two months before Christmas. Here is a list of vendors and their locations on Parliament Street.

Riverdale Winter Market – O
The outdoor Farm Farmer's Market at Riverdale Farm closes for the winter, but a separate market will open again this year starting Monday Nov. 6. It will be held every Monday 3-7pm until May at Bain Co-op Community Centre. Sparkhall Ave, west of Logan Ave, near Withrow Park.

— Oct. 27, 2006 —

Le Cafe Vert – O L
946 Queen St. E. (w. of Carlaw), 416-778-1313
www.lecafevert.com
   Bistro, bakery & restaurant and they do catering & take-out. Popular weekend brunch. They are also licensed as an organic wine bar, serving only organic wine. Five star rating from Now magazine. Open Mon-Tue 11am-4pm, Wed-Fri 11am-9pm, Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-4pm. Weekend brunch.
  “Owner Sasha treats cooking like another kind of art. She opened this tiny mainly vegetarian/organic café to showcase her food/art and her belief that organic is more of a living attitude rather than just consuming organic food” –Toronto Star.
  “The atmosphere is very lively and contemporary with artists' installations on the walls, yet small and cozy with coloured cushions and books available for use while visiting. They have symbols on their menu for vegetarian, vegan and wheat-free (although I noticed that some items were vegan and didn't have the symbol). They've got a lunch, dinner and brunch menu (including Ambrosial organic maple coconut quinoa porridge). I had their roasted sweet potato wedges with a roasted red pepper salsa (normally comes with a non-vegan dip, but they made this special for me). I also had a roasted veggie & hummus wrap with a side salad of mixed baby greens and balsamic dressing. I tasted my friend's tomato vegetable soup (of the day) and it was out of this world! I believe that it had coconut oil in there that gave it a delicious and exotic sweet flavour.” –Kera.

Toronto Sprouts (formerly Super Sprouts) – O
720 Bathurst St. (s. of Bloor), 416-535-3111
www.torontosprouts.com
Update: They now serve fresh soup (made by Fressen), sandwiches, and sprout salad. There is also a fair-trade chocolate bar set up serving South American chocolate products including creative hot chocolate drinks, bars and raw and roasted coco beans.

— Oct. 19, 2006 —

Rice Bar – O L c
319 Augusta Ave (s. of College), 416-922-7423
www.ricebar.ca
Create your own Rice Bowl. They offer many vegetarian options – cooked fresh and fast. They tell us that they have a "funky & casual atmosphere, good for dates and parents!" Their menu allows for all diets and allergies to be accommodated. All the grains, legumes, and about 50% the produce used in their food is organic. They also have biodegradable takeout containers and use eco-cleaners.

Pickle Barrel – L
Nine locations in the Toronto area. www.picklebarrel.ca
Dwayne emailed to say that they serve a veggie burger. They also have a vegetarian pasta and stir fry, but otherwise the menu is quite meaty.

Blue Jay B&B – O
5 Presley Ave. (near Victoria Park subway), 416-701-0108
Near Toronto’s scenic Beach neighbourhood and five minutes from Victoria Park subway. They describe it as a "Spacious, quiet suite within a modern home on a ravine. Runners paradise! Hi-speed internet. Vegetarian continental breakfast. Gay+, no smoking, no pets, no children under 8. Minimum 2 night stay."

In Mississauga, Chiu Chiu Vegetarian Food has closed. They were at
1550 South Gateway Rd (Dixie Park Centre).

— Oct. 5, 2006 —

NOW's veggie issue
The October 5-11 issue of NOW Magazine features a guide to eating vegetarian in Toronto.
• They rate the 25 best vegetarian restaurants. Café 668, Live Organic Food Bar and Fressen receive top honours. A few notable places such as Fresh and Le Commensal were left off the list, perhaps due to individual preferences at NOW.
• The ultimate veggie burger challenge. Lick's, Vegetarian Haven, Utopia and Queen Mother/Rivoli come out on top. Worst: Harvey's and Burger King. Review includes ingredients and cooking method.
• Faux turkey fixin’s. "The selection isn’t exactly huge, but there are a few ways to save the turkeys this Thanksgiving season."
• My vegan adventures. Can random eateries prepare a meal without a trace of animal products?

— Sept. 27, 2006 —

Two new businesses that make vegetarian dog treats:

Arthur's Appetizers – Gourmet Dog Treats –
416-908-2334 www.arthursappetizers.com
"Natural vegetarian and vegan dog treats made with organic fruits and vegetables with no preservatives."

Temple Treats – for your Pampered Pooch – v
416-915-0080 ext.100 www.templetreats.com
"Healthy and great tasting treats made especially for your pampered pooch in my vegetarian kitchen. All juices, broths and peanut/nut butters are made from scratch and only chemical-free, human-grade quality ingredients are selected."

— Sept. 25, 2006 —

Graceful Vegetarian Restaurant – late k ç
670 Highway 7 East, Richmond Hill, 905-886-8816 www.gveg.ca
   New second location open since June 2006 serving the same menu as their Markham branch. Hong Kong Chinese vegetarian restaurant with excellent food and a good choice of items on the menu. Dim Sum is available until 4pm. Nightly specials. Open everyday 11am till 10pm.

Happy Buddha
2366 Yonge St. (n. of Eglinton)
   Hand written sign on door says that they are closed. Update: They have reopened.

Hibiscus – O
238 Augusta Ave. (s. of College), 416-364-6183
   This small organic store and cafe in Kensington Market has an elegant decor. Soup and several cold salads such as quinoa tabouli, pasta, potato, and others. For dessert there is an excellent selection of vegan cookies and brownies along with coffee and tea. The food is mainly for take out but there are two small tables and some benches. Fancy oils and gourmet products, bulk rice and grains are tastefully arranged on the walls. Open daily 11am-8pm.
   Update: They now offer delicious homemade coconut, mango and chocolate soy ice cream. They also serve crepes, the same ones that were offered by the sidewalk in the summer. They are entirely organic and include a vegan buckwheat option. For fillings there are 20 ingredients to choose from, including seasonal fruit.

Organiclicious – day O
258 Dupont St. (e. of Spadina), 416-513-0479
Organiclicious has been open for a few months, but they are now completely vegetarian. Quick take out organic juices and smoothies. Specializing in some raw gourmet entrees, as well as savoury sandwiches and seasonal hearty salads. Focus on gluten-free baked goodies. Catering available.
   Mostly take-out but they do have three bench seats for eating in. Owned by and located near Live Organic Food Bar (right in spot where Live used to be). Open Mon-Fri 10am to 6pm.

Pulp Kitchen Juicebar & Eatery – day k O c d
898 Queen St. E (at Logan Ave.), 416-461-4612
www.pulpkitchen.ca
   This healthy vegan eatery and juicebar is also a full service vegetarian restaurant. Over 30 juice blends are available as well as organic coffee, lattes and espresso; vegan treats and loose leaf teas. The decor is open and airy. . Vegan breakfast menu includes homemade granola, muesli, oatmeal, toasted sandwiches, jasmine rice and more. Open Mon-Fri 8am-5pm and Sat-Sun 10am-4pm for a delicious vegan brunch.
Update: Pulp Kitchen now has new owners. Everything is the same except they are no longer open on Thursday evenings.

Radical Roots
33 St. George St. (at College)
Closed possibly forever. They were not able to renew the space that they were using. They were a meat-egg-dairy-free, worker-run, not-for-profit cafe.

High Park Organic Market – O
Beside Grenadier Restaurant, 416-882-5140
   Large selection of veggies and fruits under a tented area on the west side of Grenadier Restaurant in the middle of High Park. There are no farmers present, but the owner deals directly with 10 local farms and estimates that about 90% is organic (or transitional), and as much as possible is local but this depends on seasonal availability. They like to have a complete range of produce so some items are imported. They are working on a website and signage to show place/farm of origin. Open Fri noon-7pm, Sat and Sun 8am-7pm but may close earlier depending on the weather. Goes till the end of October and may go all winter using a covered tent and gas heaters.

Organic Garage – O
579 Kerr St. (s. of QEW, Oakville), 905-849-1648
www.organicgarage.ca
This Canadian-owned supermarket's motto is “Healthier food…for less!” Open: Mon-Wed 9am-8pm, Thurs and Fri 9am-9pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 10am-5pm. Located in the place where Alternatives used to be.

Ayurveda Vegetarian Cooking – v O
North York, 416-434-0180
"Whatever style and kind of food you like – apply the principles of Ayurveda to the way you cook and eat. Ayurveda, the Science of Life, is a complete wellness system." Call them for a schedule of introductory class events and six session courses. See our cooking class page for more details.

Beverley Edwards-Miller, BASc, Nutritionist –
Available to speak to your corporate, school or church group about nutrition for a healthy lifestyle. 416-203-0451 or jbmiller sympatico.ca

— Sept. 12, 2006 —

The new 2007 Vegetarian Directory
The latest edition of the popular Vegetarian Directory was launched at the Annual Vegetarian Food Fair on September 8-10, 2006 where several thousand copies were picked up. The directories will also be available free in the Toronto Area at over 140 natural food stores, restaurants, bakeries, libraries, non-profit organizations, and from our own Resource Centre. We are currently in the process of distributing them. To keep up with demand, 48,000 copies (20% more than last year) have been printed. If you would like one of these pocket-sized directories and can't find one in your neighbourhood, send a self-addressed stamped regular envelope and we will mail one out to you.

The 2007 print version is also available on line as two PDF documents. You can download and print them from our Print Edition page. The full 2007 Web Edition, that includes expanded descriptions and more listings, will be posted soon.

— Aug. 22, 2006 —

Comondi
416-537-6817 www.comondi.com
   Comondi is an online vegan store selling compassionate alternatives to everyday items. Their products are environmentally responsible and involve no animal suffering. Local pick-up option for Toronto residents (save shipping costs). 5% of all sales go to organizations working to alleviate the suffering of animals.

PhytoAromatics
416-938-0421
www.phytoaromatics.com
"PhytoAromatics specializes in handcrafted personal care products made with top quality vegan ingredients. PhytoAromatics believes we deserve products that strive to keep to the essence of nature, are animal and cruelty free, and yet are safe to use on ourselves and those we love."

Earth Concerns Cleaning
416-535-9397
www.earthconcerns.com
Earth Concerns Cleaning provides an environmentally-friendly home cleaning service in downtown Toronto.

Toronto Sprouts (formerly Super Sprouts)
720 Bathurst St. (s. of Bloor), 416-535-3111
www.torontosprouts.com
Super Sprouts' location has been transformed into another indoor organic sprout farm. Sunflower, Buckwheat, Wheatgrass, Pea shoots, Alfalfa, Broccoli, Bean mix, and Ancient Eastern Blend harvested weekly, all year round. They also offer raw organic health products.
   Summer hours are 11am to 4pm, Mon to Fri. They are also at two organic farmers’ markets: Riverdale Farm Tuesday afternoon and Dufferin Grove Thursday afternoon.

— Aug. 17, 2006 —

Sugar Ridge – o d
Near Midland, 1-866-609-1793
www.sugarridge.ca
A new vegetarian bed and breakfast and retreat centre with a view of Georgian Bay. Liz wrote to say, “My husband and I, and our 3 year old son are all vegetarian. We bought an old farm last summer and are turning it into a retreat centre. It hasn’t been farmed for 25 years and we’re letting the forest reclaim a lot of it. We both teach yoga and regularly conduct retreats. We make our own maple syrup and hope to have organic veggies next year from the property. We only serve vegetarian meals and have pleasantly surprised a few diehard meat eaters!”
   Guest are invited to take yoga classes, use the pool or explore the several hiking and ski trails in the area. There is bus service to Wyebridge where they would be happy to pick people up. They have agreed to give Vegetarian Discount Cardholders 10% off on B&B accommodation and 5% off on retreats. Note: the photo is of the suger shack.

— Aug 16, 2006 —

Two new veggie restaurant discoveries in Brampton :

BRARS Buffet – k
8150 Dixie Rd (at Orenda), Brampton, 905-451-1686
   New second Brar location in Brampton focuses on serving a vegetarian East Indian buffet. Open 11am - 3:30pm for lunch and 5 - 9:30 pm for dinner. Open a half hour later on weekends.

Mirch Masala - Indian Bistro – k o ç
Jaipur Gore Plaza, The Gore Rd, Brampton, 905-794-0852
   New 100% vegetarian India Bistro that includes some Canadian cuisine. Gourmet burgers, curries, 21 varieties of stuffed Indian bread, and appetizers including spinach and cheese samosas. Open 11-9.30. Closed Tuesday.

— Aug 3, 2006 —

Spring Rolls launches vegan menu
Aug 3, 2006
Back in June, Doug alerted us that Spring Rolls’ menu included what appear to be vegetarian options listed as "vegetable and tofu" and "vegetarian". The problem was their definition of "vegetarian" included oyster sauce and chicken stock. We followed up with the owner and pressed for a solution. Good news: After several emails and a personal meeting, they added a pure vegetarian menu at all their locations in addition to their main menu. They followed our suggestion to use a vegetarian "oyster" sauce that relies on shiitake mushrooms in lieu of oyster, and the "dishes are cooked on a separate wok with separate oil so there is no contact with meat."
   Spring Rolls has several restaurant locations in Toronto including recently opened "EAST" across from City TV. The new menu can be viewed at www.springrolls.ca.

Hidden animal ingredients at other restaurants
After seeing our Spring Rolls story on the web, Jean-Guy wrote us to say: “The same is true (about non-vegetarian, veggie-identified food) for The Bowl, at Yonge and Grosvenor, the Green Mango (the fish salad dressing) and some of the items on the menu at Rollu Sushi at Bloor and Spadina. ...Ginger restaurants (at least the one on Church St.) actually DO get it. All their veggie-identified options are meat and fish free!” Golden Thai in Downtown Toronto is another good place to check out.
   In order to avoid hidden fish ingredients at restaurants that serve traditional east-Asian cuisine, it is best to clearly mention no fish, oyster, bonito, etc. Also try requesting “vegan”, since this word is clearer than “vegetarian” for some places. Also see our ingredients page for more information.

— July 23, 2006 —

Boom Shiva – late O L c
1180 Queen W. (e. of Dufferin), 416-538-1300
   This new restaurant/bar features a vegan inspired menu that is mostly organic and seasonal. A selection of 15 appetizers (tapas) includes 12 that are wheat-free. Pictured here are chilled rice paper rolls filled with arame, carrot, daikon, and snow peas with a tamarind dip.
  Update (Aug 2006): Menu now features only the tapas and several daily specials. There is no longer a brunch on weekends.
  They also have over 50 beers to select from mainly focusing on local, Canadian and overseas microbreweries. “Outstanding” review in Eye Weekly.
   Owner, Greg Moyer was one of the original founders of Juice for Life. The space is fairly small but includes several tables, bar seats and a makeshift stage for live music on weekends. Open Mon-Fri 2 pm-2 am (no food is served until 6:30 pm) and Sat-Sun. 11 am-2 am (food starts at 5 pm). The kitchen is open till midnight.

Komala's Restaurant
5651 Steeles Ave. E. Unit 1 (e. of McCowan), 416-913-5898
Quick-serve restaurant specializing in vegetarian southern Indian cuisine such as dosas, idly and vada.
   This is the first Canadian location of a popular chain based in India. They were recently featured in the Toronto Star where Sushma Khinvasara, who opened Komala's here last fall, is quoted as saying: "We're the McDonald's of India. The concept is the same. It's fast food for people on the go. The only difference is we're vegetarian and we don't use anything frozen. Everything is made fresh." The Star article also featured Saravana Bhavan and can be viewed for free until July 27.

Affinity Vegetarian Restaurant
87 John St. S. (s. of Main), Hamilton, 905-529-2598
Authentic Asian cuisine. Menu features soups, entrees, combination specials and more. Open weekdays 11am to 3pm, 5pm to 9pm. Weekends 4pm to 9pm.

Pulp Kitchen Juicebar & Eatery – hours vary k O c d
898 Queen St. E (at Logan Ave.), 416-461-4612
www.pulpkitchen.ca
   Owner, Marie reports that the business is for sale, but will remain open while they look for a buyer. The space itself is rented.

Mad Crepes in Kensington Market – O
Located in front of Hibiscus at 238 Augusta Ave. 647-668-7685
Jessica is running a new outdoor creperie that is entirely vegetarian and organic. Crepes include a vegan buckwheat, a sweet buckwheat made with egg, and a regular sweet one made with dairy and egg. For fillings there are 20 ingredients to choose from, including seasonal fruit. Open only till Sept. 1 from noon to 6:30 pm. Closed one day a week on Monday or Tuesday.