The raw food diet isn’t yet very wide spread in Toronto. There are only a handful of restaurants and chefs here catering to this diet/philosophy. But the appeal of this seemingly restrictive way of eating may increase with the infusion of gourmet raw cuisine into the city’s dining scene, particularly at the sweet end of the spectrum.

Raw food culinary artist Jessica Acs is hoping that the appeal of flavour and excitement will lead folks to try a healthy alternative to traditional cooking.

Continue reading The Sweet Raw Truth »

Jean’s Vegetarian Kitchen
1262 Danforth Avenue
416-778-1388
Dinner for two with all taxes, tip and pot of tea: $38

My eating mates and I are not high-brow but we do have high expectations for vegetarian cuisine. Reviews on the website Chowhound allude to delicious grub at Jean’s Vegetarian Kitchen. With comments such as, “the menu is more adventurous than before”, “awesome Thai”, or even, “The William Shatner of Toronto’s dining scene. Just when you think they’re gone for good, they pop up again in an even more delicious context”, reviews more or less glow. Many a vegetarian top-ten holds the name, Jean’s Veggie.

Continue reading Fresh Isn’t Always Enough »

Hibiscus
238 Augusta Avenue
416-364-6183
Dinner for two with all taxes, tip and coffee: $30

Despite what I consider reasonably solid skills of observation, it took me two-and-a-half years to notice Hibiscus. Thirty months while walking into Kensington Market – in the same direction, south down Augusta then back again – I was oblivious to the meatless, wheat-less dining spot that sat near my preferred fruit market.

But, sure enough, there it is nestled into a small, graffiti-laced enclave right on Augusta. Once inside, it becomes clear how I might have missed it all this time. It is a bright, serene setting that offers sanctuary from the often boisterous street outside. It doesn’t seem to seek customers; it waits for them to discover it. Once inside, it’s easy to give in to the relaxed, near-meditative atmosphere. No lunch will be freer of stress than one taken at Hibiscus, a true hidden gem.

Continue reading Killing Stress Softly »

Café 668
668 Dundas Street West
Dinner for two, including taxes, tip, and pop or fruit juice: $45

Three major signs that Café 668 is genuinely family-run: 1) it is decorated with domestic foliage; mostly spider plants, 2) it is staffed by two shy teenaged servers who call “Mom? MOM!” into the kitchen and 3) a glass jar filled with complimentary candy waits for customers after they pay their bill.

I peered into this much-lauded spot soon after it had opened at 12:30pm. For a place that invariably receives high praise from other reviewers, it was starkly empty during the lunch hour. The construction on Dundas Street may be to blame - Buddha’s Vegetarian next door was closed completely until the scheduled completion of the road repair.

Continue reading Six Six Ate »

Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant
3838 Midland Avenue
416-412-3140
Dinner for two with all taxes and tip: $40

When I first went to Lotus Pond I was told the restaurant had been around since I first landed in this country, almost twenty years ago, and to me that’s time immemorial. Learning the restaurant was wholly vegetarian was an even bigger excitement. That’s why I groaned inwardly upon seeing the place; it looked unassuming from the front entrance and even more forlorn on the inside. There were only a few regulars eating at the time, and judging by the way they acted and how they got along with the restaurant staff, it also seemed like the restaurant was quite dependent on them to survive.

Continue reading A Wilting Lotus of Former Glory »

Fressen
478 Queen Street West
416-504-5127
Dinner for two with all taxes, tip, and a glass of wine: $45; Brunch for two with all taxes, tip, and juice or coffee: $30

My readers will have to forgive my punning. In reality, I was unsure of what I thought of Fressen until recently. My first two visits to the renowned vegan restaurant had resulted in a lukewarm impression. The first occasion was a light dinner, starting with avocado and spinach blinis ($9). The corn salsa stood out amidst the other flavours, but made for a poor contrast to the soft depth of the spinach patties. The barley and potato gnocchi ($9) somehow ended up tasting like sourdough bread, which actually went rather well with the understated pesto. The chunks of asparagus were a good addition, firm and not overpowering, but nothing in particular stood out about the meal. From the portions (small) and the presentation (decorative), I had expected more.

Continue reading Waffling Over Fressen »

King’s Café
192 Augusta Avenue
416-591-1340
Dinner for two with all taxes and tip: $35 (Note: No liquor sold)

There are burrito joints, Middle Eastern take-away restaurants, seafood stores, bakeries, nut-and-seeds houses, cheese shops, and corner markets. But nothing stands out from the scene in the heart of Kensington – right there at the corner of Augusta and Baldwin – more than King’s Café.

At the back of this spacious, open restaurant is a shop beneath the sign “Perfect Vegetarian.” Uniqueness begins there. You can find all manner of meat in the freezers, shrink-wrapped and ready to take home. Except it isn’t meat at all, but surprisingly sly vegetarian fare posing as their meat counterparts.

Continue reading Kensington’s Best-Tasting Food »

Annapurna
1085 Bathurst Street
416-537-8513
Dinner for two, including all taxes, tip, and tea: $35

How to describe Annapurna? “You just have to see it” is a cop-out, but the closest combination I can think of is an afternoon tea crossed with a meditation centre. Baby blue walls and motion-activated chirping birds stood alongside tabletop fountains of Hindu figures on laminated tablecloths, again in baby blue. If nothing else, it spurred an amused half-grin from this newcomer.

Continue reading Annapurna »

Urban Herbivore
64 Oxford Street
416-927-1231
Lunch for two with all taxes tip and fresh-squeezed juices: $25

While Urban Herbivore does not quite scream out its values, it certainly does declare them clearly. It is not so much nestled in the heart of Kensington Market as it is plunked into the upper torso. You can recognize it by the sign outside declaring “Yummy Vegan Food Inside,” “Hmm…Vegans Make Better Lovers” and, recently, “The Guy Who Writes Our Clever Signs is on Vacation.” The register is decorated with PETAkids stickers, and a table of alternative health-related flyers is situated in one corner.

The philosophy of Urban Herbivore is explained in greater detail by the yellow signs posted on the walls- Vegan, Local, and Organic is the theme here. In addition, the cups are reusable, the juice containers are made from 100% corn, the take-out packaging is recyclable cardboard, and even the napkins are post-consumer recycled and made in Canada. Furthermore, the prepared foods packaged in glass have a $1 refundable deposit; this place doesn’t mess around with its morals, nor are its ethics just for show.

Continue reading Stuffed Vegans Served Daily at Urb Herb »

Ginger “Taste of Health”
521 Bloor Street West
416-536-3131
Lunch for two with all taxes, tip and bubble tea: $35

I never liked this location when it was Juice for Life. I found the place cramped and loud and terribly claustrophobic, the chance for any type of conversation that didn’t involve screaming an impossibility over the noise of the juice blenders. So when we stuck our heads in the door while cruising Bloor Street for a place to eat, the décor won us over immediately. Shiny white tables actually had space between them, walls of orange light panels gave the place a warm glow and futuristic ceiling fixtures made this once stuffy room feel sleek and spacious and clean.

Despite the weird name - what exactly does “health” taste like? - we were hoping for the same from the food.

I’d never been to one of Ginger’s other locations before, although the original Yonge Street noodle joint has spawned locations on Parliament Street and at Church and Wellesley. This annex location is fairly new, but in a neighbourhood where the student clientèle want their food fast and cheap, it will likely do quite well.

With an odd combination of counter and table service – you order at the cash register, but the food is brought to your table – we were a bit confused at first, but the number of vegetarian dishes on this pseudo-Vietnamese menu left us pleasantly surprised and we rattled off our choices.

Continue reading Ginger - Is This What Health Tastes Like? »

Pop quiz hot shot. It’s 1am, and the club is lame, you just had four shots of Jack and you’re in for a hangover tomorrow. What do you do? What do you do?

We, the many and proud, of the megalopolis that is Toronto, know that we can get just about anything at anytime. And, all dirty thoughts aside, that means there is always some good food waiting to satisfy those late night cravings.

Living in this city for just over a year and a half now, I can honestly say that I have a list of regularly attended late night eateries approaching the thirties. Of course, I am of the opinion that going to a bar on the weekend is really just an excuse to go eat after. Most normal people tend to have a list of 5 or so restos that make up their last resort food fixes.

Continue reading In Search of the Late Night Nosh »

Graceful Vegetarian Restaurant
4396 Steeles Avenue, East Unit E8
905-479-8381
lunch for two, including tax and tip: $40

In my years as a vegetarian and vegan, fake meats were never a huge part of my diet. Tofu dogs and veggie burgers were usually the extent of my meat analogues. I had been a picky kid anyway, turning up my nose (or rather, making “Gross!” faces) at fish, seafood, anything outside my normal diet. So when I entered Graceful Vegetarian Restaurant up at the northern end of the Pacific Mall-Market Village plaza, I quickly realized I was out of my depth and beyond my range of experience. My first thought had been vague amusement at the implication that other vegetarian restaurants were somehow clumsy. My internal focus was quickly overwhelmed by the bright colours of the Chinese New Year decorations. Two streamer-dragons started at opposite ends of the room and met each other with fierce, cheerful faces almost directly over our table. The incandescent bulbs placed at regular intervals on a high ceiling reminded me of large lecture halls, except not as, you know, dreadful.

Continue reading My Fake Meat Adventure »

Narula’s
1438 Gerrard Street East
(Entrance on Ashdale Avenue)
416-466-0434
Dinner for Two: $20 ($15 on Tuesdays)

When people hear that I’m vegetarian, they often comment, “Boy, it sure must be hard finding something eat to when you’re out!” I couldn’t disagree with them more. Living in a city as deliciously culturally diverse as Toronto opens up countless culinary options to herbivores and carnivores alike. Each neighbourhood has its own flavour, literally and figuratively, featuring shops, grocers and restaurants reflecting their international heritage.

I’m lucky enough to live within walking distance of the Gerrard India Bazaar, a.k.a. Little India. Since a number of Indian sects embrace vegetarianism as a lifestyle, this area is a haven for veggie-lovers. One of the treasured gems of Little India is Narula’s, a family-run restaurant serving up splendid South Indian vegetarian delights. Owner Raj greets diners at the front with a warm smile and his wife always asks regulars what’s new, as she flits around like a butterfly in the open kitchen. And in a shining example of family devotion, their 6-month-pregnant daughter often helps out in the evenings, after a full day of work elsewhere. Their restaurant is truly a labour of love and diners are made to feel like they’ve been welcomed into the owner’s home.

Continue reading Tikka Loves the Tiki! »

Live Organic Food Bar
264 Dupont Street
(416) 515-2002
Dinner for Two: $45

To me, there are few edible aromas that are more stimulating than that of caramelized onions. Their highly concentrated sweetness, deep golden translucence and melt-in-your-mouth texture put them at the top of my favourite foods list. As a vegetarian who is happiest cooking for the ones I love, there is nary a vegetable that I haven’t sautéed, roasted, braised, caramelized or baked to bring out its fully intensified flavour. In fact, I’ve become quite the “anti-salad” gal over the years, believing that if I’m eating a diet of predominantly vegetables, that those veggies must be expertly cooked to bring out all their tastiness.

Recently, I decided it was time to bite the spinach-covered bullet and experience one of the coolest new trends in dining: Raw Food.

Apparently, whenever Woody Harrelson is in town, he is an enthusiastically regular staple at Live Organic Food Bar, so I figured it was the ideal place for my virgin voyage into raw vegan vittles.

Continue reading Flavour Sans Flame »