Where to eat - ALL NEW!

This must be a record: FIVE new all-vegetarian places opened in the past month! Try some new culinary delights and welcome these new additions to Toronto's vibrant veg community.

Wild Seed Food bar (4031 Fairview St., Burlington, theseedfoodbar.blogspot.com ) has opened! They are an all vegan cafe located in a yoga studio. Their description: "Raw/cooked vegan food bar in Burlington. Located at 4031 Fairview St. Unit 103, situated in Kula yoga studio. Wild Seed serves organic juices, smoothies, salads, raw/cooked sandwiches, wraps, desserts, tonics, teas, coffees and way much more."

Loving Hut (953 Eglinton Ave W, West of Bathurst, www.lovinghut.ca/toronto.html , 416-916-0880) has just opened in December 2009.  They are a vegan restaurant that's part of an international chain founded by spiritual group Supreme Master Ching Hai. Their description:  "Loving Hut chain restaurants are newly opening around the world. It is an invitation to gourmet cuisine made with wholesome vegan ingredients, offering an accessible starting point for those making the noble transition to a plant-based diet."

Swagruhas (2970 Drew Road, Airport & Derry, Mississauga, 905-673-2244) has just opened.  They are a South Indian vegetarian restaurant in Malton. A visitor writes: "Veg restaurant offering South Indian specialities with Hyderabadi taste. Their Paneer (Cottage Cheese) Masala Dosas are just out of the world. Neat clean family run place - a must try for those looking for spicy vegan food." Closed Tuesday.

Teatree Cafe and Eatery (867 Danforth Ave, e. of Jones, www.teatreecafe.com , 416-901-9089) has just opened. They are a vegetarian casual dining cafe on the Danforth. Their description: "Vegetarian and vegan sandwiches on homemade vegan breads, gluten free quiche, vegan chili with vegan cornbread, soup, salad, and desserts. Vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, organic options. Loose leaf tea and espresso coffee." Open mornings and for lunch (8am-6pm)

Where to eat - updates

Bo De Duyen (186 Spadina Ave, n. of Queen St W, 416-703-1247) now has three  freezers full of mock meats.  Fresh lunches are made each morning for take out or eat in at bar seating. They are  a small cafe serving hot tea, bubble tea, cold soy milk served from a fountain machine, and frozen mock meats to take home.

Graceful Vegetarian Restaurant (7131 Kennedy Rd, www.agveg.ca,  Markham, 905-479-8381) is now offering ALL DAY dim sum. They are an elegant 150 seat Hong Kong Chinese vegetarian restaurant. A visitor reports: “Graceful does all day dim sum now. You have to ask for the dim sum menu and the server will warn you that not all of it is available. However, everything I ordered was!"

Help needed at Directory restaurants

Camros Organic Eatery is  hiring for their North York branch (inside the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine), at Sheppard and Leslie. Looking for a warm, friendly, hard working, experienced and honest customer service representative. Click here for application instructions . Immediate timeline (position needs to be filled in the next two weeks).

Hot Yam! (http://hotyam.blogspot.com ) is in need of an accountant to prepare a Review Engagement Report. They write: "We are currently unfunded. Each week we attempt to make enough money through our meal sales to pay for the week after, as well as cover rent and equipment costs. We are in the process of applying for funding from the university. We have been conditionally accepted pending production of a Review Engagement Report completed by a chartered accountant. This volunteer job posting is for a chartered accountant to work with us to prepare this document. We need it completed by January 18, 2010." More information here.

Online Shopping

Simply British Foods (www.simplybritishfoods.com , 905-666-2650) is an online store carrying British foods based out of Whitby, Ontario. Use search box for "vegan" or "vegetarian" to see just those items. Their description: "All our 'suitable for vegetarians and vegan' products are labeled accordingly. Only those products that are labeled as such are highlighted on our website – including: biscuits, sweets, crisps, groceries and cakes! Most major food manufacturers in the UK recognize the need to make their products suitable for vegetarian and vegan consumers. We also offer a '2 or more pricing policy to save you 15%."

And the award goes to...

One Love Vegetarian for being named #3 on Blog TO's Best New Cheap Eats in Toronto, 2009!