Today John has company in the form of a very excited Colleen.  She is very happy due to some fancy vegan ice cream at Hibiscus Cafe in the Kensington Market.  Colleen particularly likes their homemade coconut raspberry.

Colleen also talks about two different types of veggie bacon available at Sadie's Diner - one is vegetarian and the other is vegan.  If you're vegan make sure you request the vegan version.

Vegan baking news abounds.  There is still time to participate in next Saturday's vegan bake sale (June 20th).  You can contribute your baked goods to the sale (ideally submit your recipe here by Sunday, June 14th) or you can simply come to the patio of Vegetarian Haven (17 Baldwin Street) between 12 and 2 p.m.  Things are also in the works for the 2nd Annual Totally Fabulous Vegan Bake Off.  There will also be a vegan bake sale in Guelph on Saturday, June the 27th (for more information please contact Kelly).

Other noteworthy news on this week's podcast:  John gives his rendition of being attacked by redwing blackbirds , there will be a podcast with Ani Phyo this week, podcast listener Mindy has a great vegan pizza recipe, TVA is an official charity in this year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the Durham Vegetarian Festival is taking place on August the 9th (mark your calendars).   

The resource centre will be closed on Saturday, June 27th and Wednesday, July 1st for Canada Day. 

This podcast is a rounded tablespoon of Jermaine Jackson 27 minutes.

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Lisa and Colleen have the chance to interview Isa Moskowitz.  Isa has brought us the following cookbooks: Vegan Brunch, Veganomicon, Vegan with a Vengeance, and Vegan Cupcakes take over the World.

Isa will have Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar released later this year.

This podcast is a seitanic 28 minutes.

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June 2009 - Run, Eat, Learn and Speak with TVA

Welcome to the June edition of eLifelines. This is a month to welcome in the summer season with a number of great events, as our volunteers lead the way by hosting everything from a bake sale, to a greek-themed banquet, and even a raw BBQ! But the images of summer don't stop there - we've got some directory updates that will make you want to get outside and enjoy the sunshine.

Don't Miss These Upcoming Events!

TVA is a partner in the EcoSavvy Festival the weekend of June 19-20th, and we're taking part in the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale on June 20th as well! Plus, it's time to start training for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Register now and you'll be reimbursed for your registration fee! Find out more in the TVA in Action section or on facebook.

We invite you to join the first-ever Toronto Vegetarian Team at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and run or walk for the Toronto Vegetarian Association on Sunday, September 27th, 2009!

Why join the Toronto Vegetarian Team?

How can you get involved?

1. JOIN THE TORONTO VEGETARIAN TEAM: To join the Toronto Vegetarian Team or to find out more information, contact Barbi Lazarus at 416-544-9800 or blazarus@veg.ca. Once you decide whether it's the 5 km, Half-Marathon 21 km, or Full-Marathon 42km that you would like to run, you can start the 2-Step Sign Up Process.

The first 10 people to register and pledge to raise $150 or more will be able to register for the event for FREE, so sign up today!

If you choose not to run, you can still get involved!

Today’s podcast is a celebration of vegan ice cream and there were a lot of visitors who came into the Resource Centre to try out some of the samples.  There were five flavours in total (ginger beer sorbet, chocolate, vanilla chocolate chip, cookies and cream, and pumpkin oat).  A delicious time was had by all.

There are also other sweet things on the plate.  Namely vegan cheesecake from a company called Living Sweets.  You can find these at Noah’s (Spadina/Bloor).  You will also be able to find pictures and a description of the cheesecake on the Resource Centre blog.

Mindy writes in that she would like to know John’s whole wheat bread recipe as he was bragging about it on podcast 140.  Here it is:
1 1/8 cup water
1 ½ tbsp oil
3 tbsp some liquid sweetener (John uses agave)
3 tbsp maple syrup
1/3 tsp salt
3 cups hard whole wheat flour
1 ½ to 3 tbsp gluten
1 ½ tsp yeast
Place the ingredients in your bread maker in the above order and set to the whole wheat cycle.

Saturday, June 20th is the Vegan Bake Sale taking place on the patio of Vegetarian Haven (17 Baldwin Street) between the hours of 12 and 2 p.m.  If you are interested in donating some vegan baked goods to this sale or getting more information please write to torontoveganbakesale@gmail.com.  TVA is proud to be a part of the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale.

The Toronto Vegetarian Association is now a registered charity with the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon.  There will be more information forthcoming about how you can help to support TVA through this wonderful race.  

Lisa spills the beans on who is coming to the Vegetarian Food Fair in September.  The list includes: Brenda Davis, Gene Baur, Colleen Patrick-Goudreau, and Terry Hope Romero.

This week's podcast is a ice creamy 21 minutes

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Today Liam and John are sweating vitamin D and very excited over visitors, vitamin D, and vivacious vegan ice cream/baking.

Liam and John talk about podcast listeners and Resource Centre visitors Claude and Rochelle on today's episode (Hi Claude!).  Claude speaks with John and Liam about how being a podcast listener has resulted in him getting bigger servings of food at Karine's Vegan, Vegetarian & All-Day Breakfast .  Apparently being a listener has its perks.

The podcasters also discuss a new vegan restaurant opening at Bathurst just north of Bloor (854 Bathurst - 416-535-5683).  One Love Vegetarian was formerly at the long-running World Cafe food court at Harbourfront Centre, the owners of One Love Vegetarian now have their own restaurant.

Shawn also writes in with his report on vegan ice cream books.  There are a few on the market; the TVA Resource Centre also has the book Vice Cream for sale.  This comes just in time for next week's We All Scream For Vegan Ice Cream event next Saturday at the TVA Resource Centre between 1 and 4 p.m.  There will be an old fashioned chocolate ice cream along with some samples from Vegan Scoop (including a Ginger Beer ice cream). 

Liam gets the chance to respond to a letter written from a new MD (Reed) from Rochester, NY.  Reed addresses the issues surrounding B12 and Vitamin D.  Reed provides some helpful links that deal with these issues. 

The other big event coming up on June the 20th is the Vegan Bake Sale taking place on the patio of Vegetarian Haven between the hours of 12 and 2 p.m.  If you are interested in donating some vegan baked goods to this sale or getting more information please write to torontoveganbakesale@gmail.com.

Liam's question of the week can be found here.

To end this week's show Lisa enjoys interviewing Nate from the blog Vegan Dad. 

This week's podcast is a rung-out-sweaty-t-shirt 41 minutes.

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Most cities have restaurants and cafes where you can eat a nice vegetarian meal outside. Another option is to get take-out from your favourite veggie eatery and have a picnic.

Check out our updated Toronto Vegetarian Patio Guide: Where to find the best places to eat vegetarian food outside.

Vegetarian restaurants

Chat Hut - Indian Cuisine (7106 Airport Rd, n. of Derry, Mississauga, 905-672-2428) is a North Indian vegetarian restaurant located just north of the airport. It was brought to our attention by Kenneth who writes: "their sign says "100% Pure Vegetarian" by which they mean Northern Indian-style – no meat or eggs, but still using butter and yogurt in some dishes." Someone wrote online: "I love this restaurant, it is the best and the ugliest." They have been open for five years.

Hot Yam! (33 St George St, n. of College) serves all vegan, mostly local and organic lunches at the International Student Centre one day a week. During the summer it will be Thursdays. On May 28, for only $4, you too can enjoy: Lemony Lentil Salad, Roasted Asparagus, Gnocchi with Lemon Cashew Cream and Thyme Vinaigrette and Lemony Poppyseed Cupcakes. Volunteers welcome!

Pulp Kitchen Juicebar & Eatery (416-461-4612) is in transition to a new location at 1127 Queen St E, w. of Jones. Marie Crawford writes: "I am purchasing back Pulp Kitchen after a nearly 3 year hiatus... I'm excited to be back at the PK reins... We'll be moving as quickly as the building permit office will let us!!" Search for them on Facebook if you want to stay informed.

Vegetarian-friendly places to eat

Dukem Restaurant (950 Danforth Ave, w. of Donlands, 416-406-6342) serves authentic Ethiopian cuisine. They write: "There's no rush while you sample the Vegetarian Combo Platter accompanied by delicious injera bread."

Organic Oven Bakery and Cafe (3189 Yonge St, n. of Lawrence, 416-489-7777) has opened a second location. They are a organic bakery and cafe, specializing in gluten/wheat/yeast/sugar/dairy/egg-free breads, cakes, muffins, cookies, pies. Lots of vegan dairy and egg free items. Fair trade organic coffee and teas. Soon will be serving soups, sandwiches and salads. Also see Organic Oven (31 Melanie Drive, #7, Brampton, 905-459-2333) for their wholesale bakery location.

Vegan cat food

Darren emailed us: "I just wanted to let you know that Timmie Dog Outfitters at 1178 Queen East has the Ami Cat and Ami Dog products.  It is the only place inside Toronto that I have been able to find vegan cat food." See our Cats & Dogs page for more information.

More updates

Goody's Natural Market (formerly High Park Market) is an outdoor organic fruit and veggie market under new management. They are inside the park, beside Grenadier Restaurant. Barbi writes early May: "It is all organic as far as I could tell, their sign says Organic and Local Produce at Discount Prices. But, right now a lot of it is not local. She said that in the summer the focus will definitely be local." Note: they are not a market of farmers – more like a seasonal produce store.

Hellerwork Toronto (165 Avenue Rd, suite 302, at Davenport, 416-271-7188) is an advanced Rolfing Series directed to physically align the body by manipulating fascia (Connective Tissue). Hellerwork is about bringing ease to the body, improving posture and changing your life.

Lorraine F. wrote to let us know that Nature's Loft in Richmond Hill has gone out of business.

Healthy Eating for Diabetes: Introducing the Glycemic Index

May 26, 2009 from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

The Palmerston Theatre

Dr. David Jenkins, Professor and Canadian Research Chair at the University of Toronto will be discussing his research findings at the “Healthy Eating for Diabetes: Introducing the Glycemic Index” workshop hosted by Toronto Vegetarian Association. Dr. Jenkins will explain research findings that show lower diabetes prevalence among vegetarians as compared to omnivores due to the reduced intake of high-glycemic foods, reduced fat storage in cells and increase intake of fiber.

As the creator of the Glycemic Index, Jenkins will provide useful information regarding food and its impact on health, specifically Type-2 Diabetes. The Glycemic Index is a numerical Index that ranks carbohydrates based on their rate of glycemic response (i.e. their conversion to glucose within the human body). Individuals with diabetes have an inability to secrete or process insulin causing their blood sugar to rise too high, leading to medical problems. The theory behind the Glycemic Index is simply to minimize insulin-related problems by identifying and avoiding foods that have the greatest effect on blood sugar.

TO REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP, PLEASE CALL THE TVA OFFICE AT 416-544-9800 OR EMAIL BARBI LAZARUS AT blazarus@veg.ca 

Today Liam and John have some silliness bubbling over that they need to get out of their systems.  This comes in the form of discussing some of the odd things that they ate when they were children.

When they do get down to business they talk about the Ontario Vegetarian Food Bank and how TVA accepts donations for them in the form of non-perishable food items.

One perishable food item that is worthy of discussion is ice cream.  Specifically vegan ice cream.  A visitor this week mentions that there is a vegan ice cream shop in New York City.  John's research into this shows that there are in fact two vegan ice cream shops in New York City.  Liam is very excited about the talk of ice cream and mentions Toronto's own Soy-n-Joy.  While there is no promise that the TVA resource centre crew can compete with the pros they will be giving out free samples of vegan ice cream on June the 6th between 1 and 4 p.m.

Liam also discusses his recent (separate) experiences with vitamin D and a slow cooker.

As John promises during the show here's the link to the TVA resource centre blog.

This week's podcast is a chewing on a frozen mock-meat fish stick 34 minutes.

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May 2009

Welcome to the May edition of eLifelines. Spring has truly sprung, but believe it or not, we're already thinking about the fall! The Annual Vegetarian Food Fair is never far from our minds here at TVA. Read on to hear about what we've been up to in the past month, what our plans are for the future, the latest updates on the Annual Vegetarian Food Fair, and of course some tasty recipe ideas to keep you healthy through the month of May.

Don't Miss These Upcoming Events!

Do you know someone who is diabetic? Bring them to Healthy Eating for Diabetes: Introducing the Glycemic Index (May 26). Find out more in the TVA in Action section or on facebook.

Today Liam and John have the chance to talk with Gary from Compassion for Animals.  Gary is part of a team who is working on the Worldwide Vegan Bake Sale.  TVA will be a part of this and will have its Vegan Bake Sale from 12 to 2 p.m. on Saturday June the 20th on the patio of Vegetarian Haven (17 Baldwin Street).  You should really come by, or even better, help out by making your favourite baked good for us to sell - more information will be forthcoming.

The free cupcake event went so well a couple of weeks ago that there will be a part deux.  This time there'll be vegan ice cream.  On Saturday, June the 6th come to the Resource Centre between the hours of 1 and 4 p.m. to get your taste of homemade vegan ice cream.  Listen to future podcasts to get more details.

Liam spends some time this week discussing the seal hunt.  While Liam is appalled by this he feels that the atrocities done to farm animals are far greater.

John discusses the Ethiopian food experience he had this week while dining with a gaggle of omnivores.

This podcast is a Sidney-Crosby-free 32 minutes.

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