Toronto Vegetarian Association

The Toronto Vegetarian Patio Guide is now available!

Tue, 15 May 2012 05:48:51 +0100

�The list has been updated with many new locations to go with your old favourites! Enjoy some great veggie fare with friends en plein d'air!

www.veg.ca/patios

Podcast 253: Keep Your Fish Out Of My Smoothie

Sat, 12 May 2012 12:05:28 +0100

This week Liam and Sarah discuss nutrition and getting in your smoothies and salads, and the common misconception that fish can be included in a vegan diet. This was included in the anti-review of Tosca Reno's latest cookbook which makes the vegetarian claim but includes a chapter of recipes that include fish.

There are also several events and volunteer opportunities coming up in May and June including Why I'm Veg Week June 2nd - 9th which features the Veggie Pride Parade, a YouTube video contest, a vegetarian talent show and the Raw / Vegan festival. Details can be found at www.veg.ca/vegweek .

Be sure to check out the May updates to the Directory which include the lovemuffin bakery, Green Zebra Meal delivery, Green Vegetatrian Market (the Vegetarian Food store) and Freshly Thai .

Lastly, please check out Liz Rice's EnviroHealth presentations. She is avaiable to do presentations for elementary and high school students as well as corporate audiences. More� information can be found at www.LizRice.ca/Presentations .

We hope everyone is out enjoying this beautiful May weekend!�

This week's podcast is a fish-free 26 minutes.

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Enter our Why I'm Veg video contest to win

Mon, 07 May 2012 14:07:00 +0100

This June, the Toronto Vegetarian Association will launch our first-ever Why I'm Veg Week featuring "Why I'm Veg" videos from vegetarians of all shapes and sizes including the famous, the expert and the soon-to-be discovered!

Help us celebrate Why I'm Veg Week by creating a video of your own by the end of May for a chance to win great prizes!

Visit veg.ca/videocontest for full details

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Vegetarian Directory Updates - May 2012

Sun, 06 May 2012 19:25:47 +0100

�

�lovemuffin's very berry muffin:photo

Baked Goods

Were you lucky enough to sample the lovemuffin bakery’s treats at our World Wide Vegan Bake Sale last month? They went fast! Don’t miss out on their muffins, cookies and squares. They are all vegan and have gluten-free options. Some flavours include; Carrot-Orange Ginger muffins and Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup cookies. Devine! Oh, and delivery is free to a large area of Toronto!

Vegetarian Food Store

Jay writes: “Our family operates a small store� which sells mainly frozen vegetarian food and some organic dried goods. Our business has been in operation for more than 10 years and we now sell more than 100 products.” Visit Green Vegetarian Market at 4350 Steeles Ave. E., Markham. (Inside Pacific Mall, Unit B9.) 905 940-0729.

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�Green Zebra: photo source

Meal Delivery

Green Zebra has been listing in the Vegetarian Directory for a few years, if you haven't checked them out yet, I urge you to! We’ve been sending them some good traffic and Green Zebra wanted to thank us, so they sent us food. Lots of food. Everything was so delicious! Each generous serving was bursting with different textures and flavours. Comfort food, zingy kale salads, chocolate chip lavender cookies!� I was blown away! (Everything is vegan!)
Barbi writes: "Their food was quickly devoured at the TVA volunteer thank you party during National Volunteer Week. Volunteers were impressed with their cream-filled ginger cookies and decadent chocolate brownies, as well as the refreshing spring rolls with peanut dipping sauce and savoury flavoured nuts. People were in shock upon finding out their pizza was actually entirely raw - the topping was completely reminiscent of melted cheese and the crust was soft. Their food was literally the topic of the evening, people were so impressed they raved about it all night.”

�Freshly Thai by Angela Del Buono

Restaurants/ Cafes/ Tea!

Freshly Thai (48 Queen St. W., Brampton. 905-453-1515) Angela says: “My parents live in Brampton and when I saw the flyer for Freshly Thai that said “We are vegan friendly”, so the whole family took a trip over. Thai food usually contains fish sauce in the base sauces, but when I spoke with Freshly Thai, they said they only use veg sauce.� Any dish can be made vegan as you have the choice of “meat” which can mean tofu!� My toddler and my parents all loved their dishes. Something for everyone! They offer party trays and catering. They are located Downtown Brampton right by the GO station, Rose Theatre and Four Corners."

Kao San Road� (326 Adelaide W., 647-352-5773) We first mentioned Kao San Road last year and they contacted us that their vegan menu is ready to go! “Chef Nuit has taken many of her original recipes and reworked them to come up with, what we believe, an equally delicious vegan version. She is particularly proud of the new vegan khao soi that's beautifully rich and bursts with flavour that will have you traveling back to Chiang Mai.” You can view the menu online here or come on down and check it out in person.

�Organic Oven Cafe: photo source

Organic Oven Cafe writes: “We have new vegetarian lunch options to our Toronto cafe's menu! The first is a vegetarian alternative to our tuna and chicken salad: The eggplant salad sandwich. Sauteed eggplants, chopped organic celery, parsley and green onions, mixed with soy-free mayonnaise, sandwiched between a gluten-free bun with organic lettuce and cucumbers. The second — an instant hit — is the California-style grilled veggie sandwich: Grilled sweet peppers, zucchini, mushrooms, onions and eggplants, topped with feta cheese and grilled between a gluten-free bun. Also the vegan magic muffin. A great mix of organic coconut, raisins, apples and carrots, this muffin is already a new favourite! It's completely dairy-free, eggless, nut-free, and of course, it's 100% gluten-free!"

Love tea? Love cookies? Stop by Tealish (728 Queen St W., 416-203-3301) for your looseleaf teas and enjoy some vegan cookies. They are the best gluten-free, soy-free tea-infused, refined sugar free cookie sandwiches yet. There are currently 3 varieties of cookies to try... and more to come! Butterdream Sweets is making them and they are a very new company (website to launch soon!) They do cupcakes, cookies, cookie sandwiches, brownies, donuts, and all can be tea flavoured! They are open to catering jobs and special orders.

Podcast 252: Vegan Big Stones or Basil vs. Basil

Sat, 05 May 2012 12:05:28 +0100

John and Colleen start off this Cinco de Mayo podcast with a little Spanish back and forth before getting down to conversational business. Things get off to a rousing start with the big reveal about Liam's favourite saxophone solo and discussion of Toronto super-chef Doug McNish's new book, Eat Raw, Eat Well which is now for sale in the TVA resource centre.

Not surprisingly, kale figures prominently in this episode as Colleen is growing two kinds of the lovely stuff--Dinosaur and Red Russian--in her apartment; they discuss growing kale and, of course, eating it and John provides a new recipe for kale salad which makes both hosts' mouths water.

John and Colleen eat a lot of kale to fuel them through their various physical activities, which include John running to work every day like the champion he is. Colleen needs kale to keep her moving fast on her bicycle, including for an upcoming bicycle skills course put on by the City of Toronto.�

John and Colleen bow before the toughness of the super-tough podcast-founder Jason, however, who's doing that insane Tough Mudder thing in August. Nobody knows what electrical shocks and fire have to do with vegetarianism but they're not *not* vegetarian. Your hosts propose a vegan challenge of a similar nature, but with more kale and less pain, called Vegan Big Stones.

John and Colleen also discuss the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale held at TVA two Saturdays ago--a huge success, lots of people came out, almost everything was sold, and a fair chunk of change was raised for TVA. There'll definitely be another one here next year!

Speaking of the future, upcoming events include an open house at Wishing Well Sanctuary in Bradford, the Toronto Raw/Vegan Festival, and nutrition training for TVA volunteers.

Tangents include: whether or not soy is healthy, why tofu isn't made from beans other than soy, and how to count calories for healthy reasons.

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Coming this June... Why I'm Veg Week

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 21:00:00 +0100

This June, the Toronto Vegetarian Association will celebrate the many benefits of plant-based eating through our first-ever Why I'm Veg Week.

This week-long campaign will feature videos from local veg celebrities, Toronto's own vegetarian community and more, asking them to tell their story about why they're veg. Through this social media campaign, our goal is to inspire thousands of others to consider issues like sustainability, healthy eating and compassion for animals for the first time.

The week will kick off on Saturday, June 2 with the Toronto Veggie Pride Parade & Niagara Veg Fest, and will finish the weekend of June 9-10 with the Raw/Vegan Festival in Toronto. We're also planning a special "Vegetarians've Got Talent" event on Thursday, June 7 at Rancho Relaxo!

Why I'm Veg video contest

Why I'm Veg Week will feature "Why I'm Veg" videos from vegetarians of all shapes and sizes including the famous, the expert and the soon-to-be discovered! Help us celebrate the many benefits of plant-based eating by creating your own video for the contest.

Enter the Why I'm Veg video contest for your chance to win great prizes

Celebrate With us at the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale

Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:00:04 +0100

We're having a Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale to raise money, promote delicious, cruelty-free food, and be part of a fun, global event that helps people, animals and the planet!

Come by for delicious vegan goodies and support a good cause! All funds raised go to the Toronto Vegetarian Association.

This is an extra special sale thanks to Vegan Delights, Kupcakes Bake Shop and the lovemuffin bakery, who are all donating their fantastic vegan treats to the sale! This is your chance to try out their goodies at a discounted donation price.

You can also hold your own Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale during the week of April 21st to 29th to raise funds for the Toronto Vegetarian Association. Email volunteer@veg.ca for more information.

When?�

Saturday, April 21st from 1 to 4 pm

Where?

Out on the patio at the TVA Resource Centre, 17 Baldwin Street. Paid parking is available at hospital lots around the corner.

In the case of rain, we'll be up on the second floor which we regret is not wheelchair accessible.�

How much?

Suggested donation $1 for cookies, $2 for muffins/cupcakes.

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Click here for more info and to RSVP on Facebook.

Myq Kaplan Comedy Fundraiser

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 11:11:29 +0100

Within the past 3 years, Myq has performed on some of the largest shows on television: The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (2009), Late Night with David Letterman (2011), Conan on TBS (2012 & 2011), and the Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2012 & 2010).

Myq also placed 5th on the 2010 edition of NBC’s Last Comic Standing, and also recorded his own 30 minute special for Comedy Central Presents that same year. His 2010 CD Vegan Mind Meld, was a top 10 Seller on iTunes.

When?�

Friday, April 20th at 8 pm (doors at 7:30)

Where?

Comedy Bar (945 Bloor St., at Ossington)�

How much?

Tickets are $15, with $10 of every ticket being donated to TVA!

More info?

Click here to purchase tickets online, or tickets can also be purchased at the Comedy Bar box office from 6pm-11pm, Tuesday-Sunday.

Podcast 251: 1980's Saxophone Solo

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:04:59 +0100

Today John and Liam are really excited to learn about the apparent vegan explosion in the U.S.� Over the past two years the number of adults in the U.S. who are vegan has doubled according to the Vegetarian Resource Group.�� The number of vegans is reported to be 2.5% of the population and the number of vegetarians is 5%. This is great news, obviously.� Liam and John talk about how some studies can be skewed, however there is no skewing the fact that the number of vegetarian and vegan options in grocery stores has increased drastically over the past few years and this leads them to believe that the number of vegetarians and vegans is definitely growing.

TVA is excited to be a participant in the upcoming Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale.� TVA will be hosting its version of the Vegan Bake Sale on Saturday, April 21^st from 1:00 to 4:00 PM.� The Vegan Bake Sale will be taking place outside of the TVA office (17 Baldwin) on the patio of Vegetarian Haven.�

John also talks about his great experience at Marni Wasserman’s.� John had the opportunity to try a wide variety of food, learn some culinary techniques, and ask lots of questions regarding nutrition.� The experience caused John to finally give in and buy a Vitamix.� A night at Marni’s is a great gift for the vegetarian/vegan who has everything.

On a sad note, a great TVA volunteer has recently passed away.� Agnes had been involved with TVA for a long time in a number of capacities.� She helped TVA by volunteering at the Food Festival, at TVA outreach events, and she worked on doctor outreach packages.� This is incredibly sad news for anyone who has been touched by Agnes; Greg, our thoughts are with you.

This week’s episode is 37 minutes long and is dedicated to Agnes.

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Vegetarian Directory Updates - April 2012

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:57:14 +0100

Vegans love baked goods don’t they?

�Kupcakes Photo Credit

Kupcakes Bakeshop offers FREE DELIVERY of vegan cupcakes to those who live in the GTA. For Easter, they even have a Creme Egg Cupcake! It’s a moist chocolate cupcake topped with a light, chocolate mousse and filled with a rich vegan creme egg filling. Enjoy creative cupcakes like: Orange-Cardamon Almond Cupcake, Almond Cupcake with a Zesty Orange Buttercream, Lightly Scented with Cardamon and the Ultimate Peanut Butter and Jam Cupcake, Extremely Rich Double Dark Chocolate Cupcake Topped with a Homemade Seasonal Berry Jam and a Decadent Peanut Butter Buttercream. Three flavours of cupcakes were brought to the RC and were reviewed on a recent Toronto Vegetarian Podcast. Have a listen and see some pictures!

Tori’s Bakeshop is great for those who live in the East end or just love the 501 streetcar. It’s worth the trip out to the Beach! The decor is simple and sweet with comfy seating. Enjoy specialty coffees made with Natur-a Almond milk and pick up a sampling of treats. There are many to choose from! Donuts, “cheese” biscuits, cookies, butter tarts, cinnamon rolls, chocolates and, my favourite, a dense chewy brownie, with cookie crumble in the icing.

New Discoveries

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Lola's Kitchen: Photo Credit

Lola’s Kitchen. We don’t have too much listed in this neighbourhood (Bloor & Church), so when Lola’s contacted us, we were very pleased! Their online menu even says: “ask your server about making your meal vegetarian,” which is always a welcome sight! They serve breakfast and lunch during the week and brunches on the weekends until 3pm. �Some options include: “Vegan All Day: Organic tofu, caramelized onion, spinach & herb scramble with Lola’s tomatoes, potatoes & multigrain toast and Lola’s Gluten Free Granola: �Toasted Organic oats, sunflower, flax & pumpkin seeds with plain yogurt, Ontario apples, dried cranberries & pure maple syrup.” yum!

Bi Bim Bap (950 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-787-7423)
Don writes: “I had a great experience at Bi Bim Bap. The food was terrific and the owner went out of his way to explain what was vegan on the menu. He has made a deliberate effort to include lots of vegan and healthy options. I think probably six of the eight appetizers and four of the eight entrees were vegan. (The menu changes regularly so the proportion of vegan items may change.) All the sauces are vegan too, so you don't have to worry about hidden animal products. It's a great place to go if you need to accommodate vegans and meat-eaters at the same meal or if you want to try Korean food as a vegan/vegetarian without worrying about hidden animal products. I recommend Bi Bim Bap highly and will go back again.”

Veg & Vegan Kids Stuff

Photo: Angela Yukiko Shintani

TVA is very pleased to have a new group called Toronto Veg Families and I'm so pleased to be a part of it with my own little vegan. Join us and get to know families who are also vegan, vegetarian or planning to make the big change in the Greater Toronto Area.� Email vegfamilies@veg.ca to join or go to Facebook or Meetup. We hit up the Windsor Arms Hotel for brunch and took up the whole back table!

�At Udupi Palace

Udupi Palace is a great place to take little kids; they have about 8 high chairs, a kids menu and a little play area to keep them busy while you wait for your food...or for while the parents digest their delicious South Indian Cuisine. Vegetarian Discount Card holders save 10%!

From the TVA office: A woman phoned today to let us know about Waterfront Montessori Children's Centre on the Toronto Islands, that also has a daycare, that serves only vegetarian food! �(view the weekly menu online) They offer full year programming and summer camp, and it’s convenient for parents; you just drop them off at the ferry and they are escorted over. �“The school's program has focused on learning about nature, and teaching the children to care for the environment."

New Vegetarian Discount Card participants

TVA has been in pursuit of great places to add to our Vegetarian Discount Card program, here are our latest additions! For only $20 on top of your membership, you can save too! Get your card here! See full list of discounts here!
Please click on the company name to be taken to their page to read all about them and if they have any conditions on their discount. As usual, discounts only apply to vegetarian foods and may exclude alcohol.�

Closed

Lik’s Vegetarian Kitchen in Scarborough has closed.

Laila at 553 Bloor has also closed, and is no longer in our Discount Card program.

�Photos by TVA if otherwise not credited.

Podcast 250: The Next Guestisode

Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:03:36 +0100

Today's epidsode features podcast superstars past and present reunited to celebrate the 250th Toronto Vegetarian Podcast!! Current Saturday regulars John, Liam, and Colleen are joined by podcast originators Jason and Angela (and their silent, but entirely real) mini-podcaster Dax. Barbi, TVA's Donor and Volunteer Resources Coordinator is in the house as well.� We like hanging out here but we were all bribed to show up by John buying everyone pizza.

Our 250th episode is defined by 1) no show notes or plan; 2) a variety of clever triple entendres; 3) lots of laughter; and 4) discussion of various veg issues and events.

We discuss the honey issue (to eat, or not to eat), upcoming volunteer opportunities at the Green Living Show and Total Health Show, our upcoming participation in the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale (Saturday, April 21). (Details here on how to host your own). On the Vegetarian Directory front: Vegetarian Brunch Guide, and new additions to the Vegetarian Discount card program.

This milestone podcast is 37 minutes long and can't be found in the classifieds of NOW Magazine.

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Vegan Easter specials in the GTA

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:13:28 +0100

Easter is on the way, which for a segment of the TVA population means celebrating, and for a segment of that segment means

�Live On Chocolate delights!

chocolate.

Warning: 4 out of 5 dentists will get fabulously wealthy if you read this post!

Live On Chocolate brings you organic, Fair-Trade treats that are sweetened with agave and yacon nectars. Did we mention they were handmade with raw vegan ingredients? They have for you:

Coconut "Cream" eggs
Solid Bunny

All treats will be available at The Sweet Potato, The Beet, The Big Carrot, Organic Garage right now, and� Baldwin Naturals after 1pm on Tuesday April 3rd.

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�Bunner's Bake Sho

�

Bunner's Bake Shop offers all vegan and all gluten-free goods. They posted on their Facebook page:
"We will start taking orders on April 2nd� for the following:

Easter Cake: Lemon Cake/Frosting with a fresh organic raspberry filling.
Easter Cupcakes: Lemon Cake/Frosting with a purple rose on top (similar to the cake decoration)
Strawberry-Rhubarb Pie *Agave-sweetened! (feeds 8-10)
Creme Eggs!

IMPORTANT NOTE!
We will only be taking orders until THURSDAY evening, and pick-ups for Easter goodies (excluding eggs because we have them every day) will ONLY be Friday-Sunday. Our hours will be regular operating hours Friday, Saturday & Sunday! (We will be closed on Monday).
If you don't place your order on time, we'll be making extras but they're first come, first served!"

Kupcakes Bakeshop� offers free shipping in the GTA of their all-vegan cupcakes! Sit back and have these treats find their way to your door!�

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Kupcake 's Cream Egg Cupcake

�Easter Creme Egg Cupcake. Completely Vegan And Delicious! Moist Chocolate Cupcake topped with a light, chocolate mousse and filled with a Rich vegan creme egg filling.
Citrus Poppy-Seed Cupcake. For the Month of April Refresh yourself with our poppy-seed cupcake containing a blend of fresh citrus zest and juice, topped with a velvety cream cheese frosting.

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Food for Life Cooking Workshops - April 2012

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 21:00:00 +0100

April 14th 10 am to 2 pm, April 15th 2 pm to 6 pm

Join Andrea Hacquoil in exploring how a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, grains and legumes can enhance your health and support your wellness goals.

LEARN the latest nutritional information. ENJOY cooking demonstrations, TASTE healthy, delicious dishes, and SHARE your experiences in a supportive group setting.

The Food for Life Nutrition and Cooking Class Series was launched in 2001 by the Cancer Project to help cancer survivors take advantage of the healing power of foods. The Cancer Project is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cancer prevention and survival through nutritional education and research.

Designed by physicians, nutritional experts, and registered dietitians, each class includes information about how certain foods and nutrients work to promote or discourage cancer growth, along with cooking demonstrations of simple and healthy recipes that can easily be recreated at home. The goal of this program is to empower cancer survivors, their friends, and their family members with easy-to-implement cooking skills that turn every meal into a delicious dose of healthy nutrition.

The two day workshop is divided into four lessons. The topics are:

1. Introduction to How Foods Fight Cancer

2. Fueling Up on Low-Fat, High-Fibre Foods

3. Discovery of Dairy and Meat Alternatives

4. Cancer-Fighting Compounds and Weight Control

Where? 4 Bowood Avenue (Yonge and Lawrence)

How Much? $150 for the full two day workshop. Includes food samples.

Registration? Payment must be made in advance! Payment can be made by phoning the TVA office at 416-544-9800 (credit card payments), or by cash, cheque, credit, or debit in person during Resource Centre hours (Wednesdays 6 to 9 pm, Saturdays 1 to 4 pm). Our resource centre is located at 17 Baldwin Street on the 2nd floor in downtown Toronto.

Maximum capacity: 20! So reserve your spot today.

Please enquire about recipe specifics if you have food allergies. Email admin@veg.ca or phone 416-544-9800 if you have further questions.

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Where to go for vegetarian or vegan brunch

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:34:06 +0100

Vegan Crepes by Hibiscus

It is always a treat to go out on the town for a relaxing breakfast or brunch. Fortunately, there are vegetarian and vegan restaurants that open early and serve delicious, healthy and often creative dishes. Such places are a welcome alternative to the mainstream brunch spots that rely heavily on eggs and bacon.

See our 2012 Toronto Vegetarian Brunch & Breakfast Guide for a complete list of Toronto places that serve brunch or breakfast. The guide includes locations, phone numbers, descriptions and hours.

Make your own – See our breakfast and brunch page for recipes and tips.

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Podcast 249: Travelling Kupcakes

Sat, 24 Mar 2012 12:03:52 +0100

Today John and Sue are lucky enough to have a whole slew of treats left for them. One of the benefits of volunteering in the Resource Centre is that there tends to be a lot of good food kicking around and today is no exception.� There are leftovers from a vegan bake sale and there are samples from Kupcakes Bakeshop.� Kupcakes Bakeshop is a new all vegan bakeshop that offers free shipping in the G.T.A. and have gluten-free options.� For the rest of the month of March you can also save the tax!

There's also some travel news on today's show.� John recently got back from Panama and Costa Rica and reports that good eating can be had even in countries/places where vegetarianism and veganism is a foreign concept.� John enjoyed eating at Loving Hut in Panama City and tortillas and beans became a staple, not out of desperation, but because in Costa Rica they are exceptionally tasty.� Also, with regards to travel, Lisa O. is presently in China and detailing her eating and non-eating experiences on her blog.� It sounds like she's having a great time.

Sue recently ate at a very vegan friendly restaurant, Cocoa Latte, and she reports that the vegan bean burrito deserves two thumbs up.� It seems that John isn't the only one who quite enjoys a hefty dose of beans.

Lastly, John is very excited to be going to a Marni Wasserman cooking class/dinner next Saturday.� A full report will be giving the next time he podcasts.� The invitation to this dinner is a present he received from a family member - a great gift for the vegetarian/vegan who has everything.

This episode is a sweet 'n sour 12 minutes. �

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