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December Social Group Events

Vegetarians of High Park Celebrate the holidays with a vegan potluck at Bloor and Jane (exact address to be given to RSVPs) on Friday, December 6th from 6 to 8:30 pm. Bring a vegan dish to share (don’t worry if you’re not confident in your cooking skills, you can always bring a drink or store-bought hummus and crackers!), along with any serving utensils required for your dish. RSVP to highpark@veg.ca by December 3rd. Vegan Baking Group The annual vegan cookie exchange is back! Mark your calendar for Sunday, December 22nd from 10 am to 12:30 pm at a condo in the Fort York area (exact address will be given to those who RSVP). Email baking@veg.ca or visit their Facebook group for more details and to send in your RSVP.    … Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Uncategorised

Veg Guide Updates: November

Who says November is a dreary month? Not us! Not with all these delicious new restaurants to try! Big Poppa’s Burgers 454 Bloor Street W, inside Eva’s Original Chimneys Now open inside the Bloor Street W location of Eva’s Original Chimneys is this all-vegan, all Beyond Meat, burger pop-up. Featuring six different burgers, such as the Big Pun: with chilli, avocado sour cream, sautéed mushrooms, provolone, and Poppa’s Sauce. We can’t wait to try all of them, and you can too! It’s open daily after 6 pm. Pick up an ice cream when you’re done too! Heart Clean Eats 13 Fort York Blvd Dishes are vegan by default at this new cafe at Citiplace, though you can choose to add veg or non-veg proteins to many of the bowls, sandwiches, salads and wraps.   Kupfert & Kim Bistro 100 Bloor St. W While it’s been open for awhile, the K&K in Yorkville has gotten a makeover and is now offering a bistro menu, with new offerings and old favourites. Along with table service, you can now also have a beer, wine, or cocktail with your bowl!   LosCo Vegan 111 Richmond St. Read More

Filed under: Food and Restaurant News News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Uncategorised Veg Directory Updates

Raio: A Life Lived in the Moment

“Raio was graceful, full of peace and love right to the end. As she lay dying, I wept, and she comforted and consoled me, assuring me that it was alright. Then she was gone.” Many people will recognize Raio and her sister Maia as longtime mascots of Veg Food Fest and ambassadors for compassion and veganism. This is her story. Article care of Kenneth Butland It’s a sunny summer day in Nova Scotia, and Emre Uzun is enjoying a drive in the countryside with his new best friend, a one-year-old Golden Retriever named Raio. The year is 2005, and his heavy fog of depression—after many years of struggle and with Raio’s help—has finally lifted. A song by Nellie McKay comes on the radio: Yeah, it’s just me and my dog Catchin some sun We can’t go wrong “Raio looked out the window, soaking it all in, totally in the moment,” Emre recalls. His eyes well up as he recounts what happened next: “As the song played, I was filled with a profound sense of peace. I felt so alive and connected. It’s difficult to explain.” Emre also credits Raio with inspiring his decision to go vegan and become an animal… Read More

Filed under: Animal Profile Front page post News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Toronto Veg Blog Uncategorised

November Social Groups

Dinner Social Group Meet up for dinner and good conversation at Copper Branch (410 Bathurst location) on November 21st from 7 to 9 pm. RSVP to tvadinner@veg.ca by November 19th. Veggies of Hamilton-Burlington Check out the brand new Rise Above Pizza and Wings in Hamilton (274 James Street) on Sunday, December 1st at 6 pm. Can anyone have too much pizza?! If you are not up for pizza, you won’t be disappointed in their other menu options! RSVP to hamiltonburlington@veg.ca for more details and directions. Vegetarians of High Park Celebrate the holidays with a vegan potluck at Bloor and Jane (exact address to be given to RSVPs) on Friday, December 6th from 6 to 8:30 pm. Bring a vegan dish to share (don’t worry if you’re not confident in your cooking skills, you can always bring a drink or store-bought hummus and crackers!), along with any serving utensils required for your dish. RSVP to highpark@veg.ca by Monday, December 2nd. … Read More

Filed under: News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Uncategorised

Food & Recipe of the Month: Pumpkin Ravioli

Care of Andrea Howe of glowingongreens.com  I bet you thought pumpkin season was over, but not yet! Pumpkins are such a versatile vegetable and are packed full of beneficial nutrients. They are a great fall staple to incorporate into your diet. Pumpkins are known for their rich orange colour. This comes from the powerful antioxidant beta-carotene which our body converts into vitamin A. This antioxidant is able to stabilize free radicals from damaging our cells. Free radicals are toxins found in our environment from pollution, smoking, alcohol, and more. Free radical damage can cause advanced aging as well as certain diseases and cancers. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for our bodies. It is known for maintaining adequate vision, as well as strengthening our immune system. Studies show that high amounts of vitamin A in our body can reduce risk for certain cancers including lung, bladder, and cervical. Additionally, pumpkins are rich in vitamin C, another powerhouse antioxidant. Vitamin C is known to increase white blood cell protection, strengthening our immune system as well as aiding in skin and bone repair. Pumpkins just may be the perfect food to give you all the nutrients needed to fight… Read More

Filed under: elifelines Food of the Month News News from the Toronto Vegetarian Association Nutrition Uncategorised Vegan & Vegetarian Recipes

Discount Profile: Hibiscus Restaurant

Hibiscus is a cozy restaurant tucked into Augusta Street in Kensington Market. While they offer delicious crepes (sweet and savoury!) and house-made ice cream; the item that members get for a discount is the soup and salad combo. The soup arrives in a mug, and it’s super cute! The flavour changes daily and seasonally. The day we visited it was sweet potato coconut. I’m not usually a fan of sweet potato, but I really enjoyed this soup, the coconut gave it a nice creaminess and it was pleasantly thick. The salad comes with a raw cracker, which is delicious on its own, but I also liked dipping it in the soup. Speaking of the salad–it’s gigantic! Hibiscus says that there are 42 ingredients in the salad, and I can definitely say that it’s not an everyday salad. Mine came with no kelp — I don’t like it– but the salad was flavourful, packed, and really more like a bowl than a salad with all the different ingredients. My favourite was the tofu, and the berries–they were so sweet!   We followed up this healthy plant-based lunch with a scoop of their house-made ice cream; the flavour… Read More

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

Join Us at Our 2019 Annual General Meeting

The Toronto Vegetarian Association’s Annual General Meeting is taking place Sunday, December 1st at 1:00 pm. This is your chance to hear what the organization has accomplished in the past year, give suggestions for future growth and help set the direction in the years moving forward by electing our 2019-2020 Board of Directors. Light refreshments will be served. Please note: The Toronto Vegetarian Association’s Annual General Meeting is a private function open to TVA members only. Non-members who wish to attend will be required to join as members of the TVA and only members in good standing 30 days prior to the election are eligible to vote. When? Sunday, December 1st from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. (Meet ‘n greet from 1:00 to 1:30, meeting called to order at 1:30 pm). Where? CSI Annex (720 Bathurst Street, south of Bloor) in the “Garage” room. Read More

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Thanksgiving and Autumn goodies from the Veg Guide!

It would be hard to believe that it’s October already if it wasn’t for that chill in the air, and the leaves beginning to change. If you’ve got a craving for some nice autumny specials, you’re in the right place, as we’ve got plenty of great things to talk about in this month’s update! Read on for all the Thanksgiving and Autumn specials from Veg Guide businesses, and make sure you place your orders for the big meal! Better Cookies.ca “BetterCookies.ca has many personalized thank-you gifts available for ordering on-line. For Thanksgiving this year, we are offering the Giving Thanks Edible Cookie Arrangement. This gift comes with 12-24 freshly baked and very delicious gourmet cookies. This giving thanks cookie bouquet is carefully packaged in a flower box with tissue paper, cellophane and tied with a ribbon. Each gift order includes your own free personal inscription message, photo/logo and other special touches. To order online please see https://www.bettercookies.ca/gift/601-giving-thanks-edible-cookie-arrangement”   Big Carrot The Big Carrot is giving thanks this season with the classic vegan holiday special: Tofurkey! They’re all on sale at the following prices: Roast SAVE $5 NOW $13.99. Feast SAVE $10 NOW $29.99. Gravy SAVE $2 NOW $4.99… Read More

Filed under: Featured Post Front page post Restaurant Guides Uncategorised Veg Directory Updates

Food and Recipe of the Month: Tahini Dill Dressing

Care of Amy Symington of ameliaeats.com  Contrary to popular belief, tahini isn’t solely used for making hummus or just topping falafels. Its rich and creamy texture lends itself to both savoury and sweet recipes. Use it in noodle bowls, stir-fries, dressings, marinades, sauces, dips, on toast with fresh figs or in cakes, muffins, or cheesecakes! Even though it is simply just ground up sesame seeds, its flavour is quite complex. It has a mildly sweet, yet slightly bitter taste and is often used in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern dishes. It is rich in protein, healthy fats, and vitamin E and is a source of calcium. It also contains anti-inflammatory properties helping to minimize inflammation in the body and consequently reducing the risk of chronic diseases like heart disease and cancer. Try the below creamy and dreamy tahini dressing as a fun and flavourful way to reinvent those winter root vegetables whether they are roasted, spiralized or just straight up raw! Recipe and photograph by Darren Kemper are shared from Chef Amy’s cookbook “The Long Table Cookbook: Plant-based recipes for optimal health” available for preorder online here. All author… Read More

Filed under: elifelines Food of the Month Nutrition Uncategorised Vegan & Vegetarian Recipes

October 2019 Social Group Events

NEW TVA Social Group: Vegan Crafters! A group for vegans/vegetarians who knit, sew, quilt, cross-stitch, or anything else! Come to a meetup, bring your project, and hang out with fellow veg crafters! Find them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/vegancrafters or email crafters@veg.ca to find out about their first event. Vegan Baking Group: Halloween Vegan Bake-Luck Celebrate Halloween with the Vegan Baking Group on Saturday, October 26th from 6:30 to 11 pm at the Cabbagetown Arts and Music Centre (422 Parliament Street). Dress up in costume if you like! Music and dancing will happen too. More details on Facebook. Please note this event has a $5 cover charge. Veggies of Hamilton-Burlington and Veggies of Halton-Peel  On Saturday, October 26th Veggies of Hamilton-Burlington and Halton-Peel are having a joint meet-up. Start with a hike at 2:30 and finish with dinner at Blaze Pizza at 5:30. Email hamiltonburlington@veg.ca for more details and to RSVP. Dinner Social Group Meet up for dinner and good conversation at Greens Vegetarian Restaurant on October 17th from 7 to 9 pm. RSVP to tvadinner@veg.ca by October 16th.  … Read More

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