News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association

Discount Profile: Valiant’s Modern Plant-Based Eatery

If you are ever in the Barrie area, or even relatively close by, a great place to stop by for a wonderful meal and some special treats is Valiant’s Modern Plant-Based Eatery. My partner and I were on our way back to Toronto from Muskoka one afternoon and had been looking forward to this stopover for quite some time. Valiant’s certainly did not disappoint! Being in the downtown area, near the waterfront and Heritage Park, makes it the perfect location for an after-meal stroll. The interior space is relaxing, casual, and inviting. They had some great music playing in the background which really created a genuine ambience of friendliness and community. The menu itself was very large and in fact a bit overwhelming! Of course, this is a good thing, since there are so many awesome options to choose from. It all sounded and looked so good, gluten-free and non-gluten free alike! Although the pizza was tempting, we decided to go for the burgers including the bacun cheeze burger…. doubled! This, as it sounds, included 2 patties, 2 bacun strips and 2 cheeze slices. As you can imagine it was extremely filling and tasted… Read More

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Veg Out 482: Virtual Veg Food Fest

https://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/VegOut20200919.mp3 This year Veg Food Fest went virtual! Your friendly Veg Out hosts collectively watched nearly all of the online programming and have lots to share (in case you missed it, don’t worry: you can still catch all the online talks and panels at vegfoodfest.com for one more week). From the positive health impacts of a plant-based diet to building community through vegan social groups to youth activism, there are more possibilities than ever to bring veganism from the personal to the political and from your home to the broader community – whether that is virtual or in-person. Want to share your impressions, inspirations, and questions about Veg Food Fest programming? Did you host a Zoom viewing party with friends, fuelled by all your favourite vegan snacks? Tag us on Twitter or Instagram @TorontoVeg – we’d love to hear from you. Links Vegan Idioms TVA on Instagram TVA on Twitter Watch Veg Food Fest Content Credits Hosts: Steve, Sarah and Sweta Show Summary: Sarah Bradley Editing: Sweta Theme Music: Matt Judge… Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Centre Toronto Vegetarian Podcast

Veg Out 481: Fast Food

https://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/VegOut20200905.mp3 We’re just a week away from Veg Food Fest! Whet your appetite with this episode all about fast food from a vegan point of view. We are lucky to have a bevy of delicious (and sometimes nutritious) vegan fast food options in the GTA, but it’s not always easy to find them elsewhere, especially on road trips or in more rural communities (“cheese isn’t vegan?”). Hosts Sweta and Steve and special guest Barbi also share their thoughts on cross-contamination in restaurants, which is an interesting topic as more omnivore restaurants start to offer plant-centred meals. Plus, get a preview of what to expect at the virtual edition of Veg Food Fest, happening September 11-13. While it may not be quite the same as roaming around the Harbourfront Centre, we’ve planned quite the lineup of interactive events. Links Veg Fast Food Listing Animalkind, Ingrid Newkirk’s new book Veg Food Fest is coming soon – with a virtual twist. Mark your calendars for September 11 to 13 and get all the details on this year’s event! Credits Hosts: Steve, Sweta and Barbi Show Summary: Sarah Bradley Editing: Sweta Theme Music: Matt Judge… Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Centre Toronto Vegetarian Podcast

September Veg Guide Updates

Hi Everyone! Welcome to September, time for back to school, Veg Food Fest, sweaters, pumpkin spice, and open windows. It’s not exactly the same as normal, but like any other month, there’s a few great new vegan restaurants to check out! Abu hummus 199 Baldwin Street.  Kensington Market has a new hummus restaurant, and it looks great! Abu Hummus serves up hummus as a meal, loaded with toppings like cauliflower, falafel, fries, or mushrooms. Vegan options are clearly marked, and there’s a bunch of them, as you’d expect from a hummus restaurant.    Chay Viet Vegetarian Ghost Kitchen (delivery or pickup only from 380 Dundas W.)  This new Vietnamese spot is a ghost kitchen–a restaurant that operates on delivery platforms only inside another restaurant. But they make great Vietnamese food, if you live near Dundas and McCaul, or you want to have a picnic in Grange Park.    localEats.to Pizzeria Du, Parka, Mugi, and others have banded together to form their own food delivery service! Order from these businesses from localEats to help businesses keep a bigger cut… Read More

Filed under: Front page post News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Uncategorised Veg Directory Updates

Veg Out 480: Melissa James from Eastend Vegan

On this episode, Jeanette chats with Melissa James, the founder of Eastend Vegan. Melissa shares her vegan journey, how she crafts her almond cheese, being vegan in Scarborough, and previews some exciting new products that will be debuting at the Virtual Veg Food Fest. https://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Veg-Out-East-End-Vegan.mp3 Check out Eastend Vegan on their website, Instagram or on Facebook. Virtual Veg Food Fest will be happening from September 11 to 13 at vegfoodfest.com.      … Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Centre Toronto Vegetarian Podcast

Veg Out 479: Virtual Veg Fest Preview with Ana!

This week, Steve and Jeanette welcome former host and RC volunteer Ana back to the show! Steve gives us a review of La Bartola, Jeanette shouts out two east side vegan businesses that have reopened, and Ana discovers a new vegan cheese. We also get an update from Ana on being vegan in Guelph, and all three preview the virtual Virtual Veg Food Fest. https://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Veg-Out-Aug-23-Virtual-Veg-Food-Fest.mp3   Mentioned on the podcast: La Bartola Lettie’s Vegan Fine Foods (new vegan cheese alert!) Animal Liberation Kitchen Tori’s Bakeshop Eastend Vegan Withrow Park Farmers’ Market Guelph Vegan Socials Crazy Carrot Nora Cooks… Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Centre Toronto Vegetarian Podcast

Veg Out 478: TVA History, with Peter McQueen

Veg Fest is just over a month away: what better time to dive into some key moments in the TVA’s history? On this episode, Sweta and Steve chat with Peter McQueen, who has been instrumental to the TVA since 1983. Get inspired by his journey to ethical veganism and hear how the Veg Food Fest has evolved from its humble beginnings as the Vegetarian Information Fair (no, the TVA did not have a marketing expert at the time) to the weekend-long vegan extravaganza at the Harbourfront Centre that you’ve come to love. Plus: hear fun facts about being part of the TVA, including rubbing shoulders with international vegan celebs during Veg Food Fest! https://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/VegOut20200808.mp3 Links Check out the TVA’s new fitness and fundraising initiative Steppin’ to the Beet and share your own fitness experiences during the pandemic. Veg Food Fest is coming soon – with a virtual twist. Mark your calendars for September 11 to 13 and get all the details on this year’s event! Credits Hosts: Steve and Sweta Guest: Peter McQueen Show Summary: Sarah Bradley Editing: Sweta Theme Music: Matt Judge… Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Centre Toronto Vegetarian Podcast

Veg Out 477: Catching up with Lisa Le, The Viet Vegan

Lisa Le is a nerdy, feminist, intersectional vegan blogger and food photographer. She runs The Viet Vegan blog and Youtube channel, and you may remember her as a former Veg Out host and Resource Centre volunteer. Lisa joined us virtually to talk about her sourdough journey, propagating house plants, and discovering the new plant based Becel butter bricks and using them to invent vegan matcha-lime sticky buns (pictured above). We also talk about TVA’s new fitness and fundraising initiative Steppin’ to the Beet and share our own fitness experiences during the pandemic. https://veg.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Veg-Out-Lisa-Le-July-25.mp3 Also featured in this episode: Earthling Ed’s recent video about why vegans don’t eat honey La Bartola Taco Shop and Mexican restaurant opens in Toronto Former butcher shop to become vegan deli in Toronto’s east end  … Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Centre Toronto Vegetarian Podcast

Veg Out 476: One Love Veg

On this sweltering hot weekend, who better to chat with than Ikeila Wright from One Love Vegetarian – purveyor of delicious meals with just the right amount of spice? From corn soup to roti to callalloo, One Love offers a variety of nourishing Carribbean creole dishes made with care and love. On this episode, Sweta and Steve talk to Ikeira about Ital* food, Rastafarian culture, and finding community here in Toronto. Since One Love offers plant-based cuisine infused with Caribbean flavours, Ikeila emphasized the importance of sourcing Indigenous foods from the islands like collard greens, Jamaican sweet potato, and herbs like thyme. Listen in to find out how One Love evolved from selling delicious corn soup at festivals and concerts around the city, branching out to cook more dishes and offer catering, then opening the beloved green storefront. Plus: raising five kids on a plant-based diet! Did you know? One Love is one of the longest-standing vendors at the Veg Food Fest (speaking of that – stay tuned for announcements about how this year’s virtual festival is taking shape). Visit One Love at 854 Bathurst Street in Toronto’s Annex neighbourhood. *In the Caribbean, Ital refers to food from Indigenous crops… Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Resource Centre Toronto Vegetarian Podcast

July Veg Guide Updates

Hello everyone! Welcome to the strangest July on record. We’re happy to announce that despite the weirdness and uncertainty we’ve been experiencing, there are a lot of new restaurants for you to check out in this months update! Read on to see what’s new!   Dolled Up Desserts 142 James St N, in Hamilton Dolled Up Desserts now has a storefront location in Hamilton! Find all your gluten-free favourites from veg fests, including their amazing potato chip rice krispies, as well as soft-serve ice cream, savouries, and more! We can’t wait to visit.   Eat Nabati 160 Baldwin St. Torontonians have long wished that Dar Nabati in Oakville was closer. And now it is… sort of! Eat Nabati is the Toronto location of this great Middle-Eastern food spot. Expect to find great pita wraps and platters, as well as desserts in this takeout spot. Take your food to Bellevue Square Park and enjoy great food in the sun!    La Dolce Vita gelato 22 Lakeshore Rd. W, Oakville Gelato shops usually have a few flavours that are vegan friendly. But this gelato… Read More

Filed under: Front page post News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Restaurant Guides Veg Directory Updates