Join the Toronto Vegetarian Association

With holiday feasts just around the corner, what better time to inspire people to opt for healthier, greener, more peaceful food choices when celebrating with friends and family.

Your generous contributions to the Toronto Vegetarian Association have already begun educating and supporting thousands of people in the greater Toronto area, with more than 1000 people taking the Veggie Challenge in 2008 alone! Thank you for your support!

With a fresh new Board of Directors, a new Special Events and Sponsorship Coordinator and new programs planned for 2009, the Toronto Vegetarian Association is building momentum towards a truly food-savvy city. We hope you’ll make a donation to TVA this holiday season so that we can keep this momentum going in the new year!

We’ve got plenty of ideas for 2009 – such as a candlelit Earth Hour Dinner, a comprehensive Diabetes Education Program and celebration plans for the 25th Annual Vegetarian Food Fair! But we need your support to turn these dreams into reality.

Please consider making a gift to the Toronto Vegetarian Association this holiday season, on behalf of farm animals, the environment and your own personal health. We thank you for your donations and your efforts towards inspiring people to choose a healthier, greener and more peaceful lifestyle.

Today John's flying solo for the podcast, but that doesn't mean that there's not a lot to talk about.

There's a new documentary which has been recently published called "A Delicate Balance - The Truth" which focuses on human health (or lackthereof) and how people can restore their health through the foods they eat and how our food choices impact upon our environment. The film links animal agriculture to climate change. You can view the trailer here. There's a long list of individuals connected to the vegetarian movement in this film. You can watch the full documentary on-line for $4.95 (U.S. Dollars)

There are some products that you may consider picking up in the not-too-distant future. If you've got a health-conscious active individual to buy a present for consider picking up Brendan Brazier's new book Thrive: The Vegan Nutrition Guide. If that person's a little smelly after their workouts consider buying Organic Grooming by Herban Cowboy Dusk Deodorant - Angeline strongly recommends it. Angeline also wants to plug Nature's Gate Organics Lavender and Aloe Deodorant (for the ladies). There are also some hair products that are apparently a sure fire hit (Live Clean Green Earth and orgnx) both of which will make you feel real purty (pretty) while also appealing to your animal welfare ethics.

Lastly it should be mentioned that it's time to get out that old world chilli recipe and veganize it. The Left Feet vegan chilli cook-off is just around the corner. Here's a little reminder of what this is all about from last year's festivities.

The next podcast will be posted on January 10, 2009. Have a great holiday!

This podcast is a short and sweet 12 minutes.

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Below are some of the latest vegetarian-friendly discoveries and updates.

New vegetarian restaurants

Rainbow Tree Healthy Deli (925 Yonge St, n. of Davenport, 647-427-4758) serves quick and healthy vegetarian meals to go including Asian and western-style deli sandwiches with mock meats, salad rolls, salads, bagels with tofu cream "cheese", hot combo specials, etc. Breakfast items are served all day including omelet sandwiches (vegan version available), spelt muffins, scones, spanakopeta, croissants, apple walnut turnovers and more. They also sell mock meats from a freezer. Everything is egg-free and mostly vegan. Take-out only, but they do have a couple of stools if you ask. Biodegradable take-out containers and cutlery. Very friendly service.

The Jasmine Garden (10 Meadowglen Dr, Unit #2, Whitby, 905-493-1967) offers an international parade of curry, stir-fry, and pasta dishes. Most entrees are vegan and many are gluten-free. A separate lunch menu features quick items.

Khalsa Pizza (470 Chrysler Dr, Unit 7, Brampton, www.khalsapizza.com, 905-799-1800) is a 100% vegetarian pizza place with rennet-free cheese and vegan options. Delivery, take-out and eat-in counter.

Restaurant renovations

Camros Organic Eatery (25 Hayden St, www.camroseatery.com, 416-960-0723) has doubled in size. There are now several tables to eat at. They have also opened a second location at Sheppard and Leslie. See Camros at CCNM.

King’s Cafe (192 Augusta Ave, s. of Baldwin, 416-591-1340) is closed for renovations and will reopen with a brand new design around Christmas or early January.

Toronto's first all-vegan store

Panacea (588 Bloor St W, w. of Bathurst, 647-350-3269 www.panaceaecoshop.com) offers a completely vegan grocery section including refrigerated and frozen products. The store also carries vegan snacks (such as marshmallows and smores), cosmetics, fair trade clothing, environmental products, ArkII's animal rights merchandise and more. There is no need to read ingredient labels when shopping here!

Year-round farmers' markets

The Green Barn Farmers’ Market (76 Wychwood, s. of St Clair at Christie) is now open year-round (Saturdays 9am-noon) in the new Artscape Wychwood Barns project. This former TTC maintainance barn has become a multifaceted community centre with arts and culture, environmental leadership, a year-round greenhouse and affordable housing. The market features fresh produce, honey, artisan cheese, prepared foods, mushrooms, wild foods and more. There is also music, children's play areas, hot lunch food made from market ingredients, and food demonstrations, all in a historical setting.

Other year-round farmers' markets include Dufferin Grove (Thursday 3-7pm),
St. Lawrence Market (Saturday mornings) and The Village Market in Thornhill (Saturdays 8:30am-1:30pm). See our farmers’ markets page for details.

New cooking class

Fully Nourished (Near Bayview and York Mills, www.fullynourished.ca, 416-449-4476) offers natural, organic and whole foods cooking classes. Held on weeknights between 6:30 and 9:30pm, each $80 class includes eight recipes and dinner.

Planet Organic Market has two new locations

This natural food store chain now has locations in Thornhill (8190 Bayview Ave, s. of 407, 905-886-0045) and Vaughan (8020 Bathurst St, s. of 407, 905-707-5303). They offer packaged and bulk foods and a deli. Open daily.

Raw food supplies

877MyJuicer.com (www.877myjuicer.com, 877-695-8423) sells juicers, blenders, food dehydrators, wheatgrass juicers, grain mills, air purifiers and more.

New discount offers

Rainbow Tree Healthy Deli is offering 5% off (10% with min. $10 purchase) and Fully Nourished Cooking Classes is offering discount cardholders 20% off. See descriptions above.

Prerna (790 Broadview Ave, at Danforth, 416-800-3004) is Magic Oven’s new Indian restaurant. They offer a full dinner menu that is mostly vegetarian with vegan options. 10% discount for cardholders. Tony writes: “The food is simple and wholesome (no grease floating around), and we use many locally-grown ingredients – we are committed to offering LFP certified produce. We have some great lunch specials starting from $7.“

LPK’s Culinary Groove (718 Queen St E, at Broadview, 416-461-6440) is a new bakery with organic cakes, pastries and chocolates. Vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free desserts are available. 10% discount for cardholders.

The Green Barn Farmers’ Market
76 Wychwood (s. of St Clair at Christie)
greenbarnfarmersmarket.org

The Green Barn Farmers’ Market is now open year-round (Saturdays May-Oct 8am-noon outside, Nov-Apr 9am-noon indoors) in the new Artscape Wychwood Barns project. This former TTC maintainance barn has become a multifaceted community centre with arts and culture, environmental leadership, a year-round greenhouse and affordable housing. The local and mostly-organic market features fresh produce, honey, artisan cheese, prepared foods, mushrooms, wild foods and more.

Continue reading for more photos and information.

In connection to the launch of the new book, The Raw Food Revolution Diet: Feast, Lose Weight, Gain Energy, Feel Younger (by Davis, Melina and Soria), two events have been announced in Toronto and London this week!

A raw foods evening will take place on Thursday November 27th in London, Ontario that will include tips about raw diets, as well as a cooking demonstration.

A one-day workshop will take place this Sunday November 30 in Toronto that will include practical information and guidance about becoming raw or simply introducing more raw foods into your diet, including dozens of culinary presentations. 

View their flyer (1.1 mb pdf) for more information.

Khalsa Pizza
470 Chrysler Dr, Unit 7, Brampton, 905-799-1800
www.khalsapizza.com

A new vegetarian pizza place has opened in Brampton with rennet-free cheese and vegan options. They offer delivery, take-out and an eat-in counter. The place is family-owned and offers lots of fresh toppings including various veggies, olives, tofu, paneer, hot peppers, veggie pepperoni, veggie ground beef, etc. Free toppings include coriander, ginger, garlic, chili flakes and more. Choice of crusts include classic, thin and stuffed. A whole wheat crust is $2 extra. Specials are available.
~~Hours: Sun-Wed 10:30am-11pm, Thu-Sat 11am-midnight.

Today, Colleen, Angelina and I (John) welcome Liam to the podcast. He has a lot to offer to today's show, including his restaurant visits in New York City and his story about why he went vegetarian/vegan. We discuss some of our favourite places in New York including: Tiengarden Vegan Restaurant, Mooshoes and Candle 79 where Liam had the Porcini Crusted Tofu on a bed of garlic mashed potatoes.

There is some discussion about a couple of guests who recently visited our Resource Centre. Rose is a teacher who came in last week to get resources for some vegetarian students who want to start an animal rights club. We also had a visitor who went vegetarian after visiting a TVA table at an outreach event.

Colleen provides this week's question of the week: What's your favourite non-vegetarian Toronto restaurant to get a vegetarian/vegan meal?

Our picks included almost any Ethiopian restaurant, but especially Rendez Vous, India Palace because of their friendly waitstaff and $11 veg thali (ask for non-dairy if you are vegan), Sultan's Tent for their great atmosphere and couscous dish, and Prince of Egypt near the Big Carrot for their roasted-veggies-stuffed-with-rice dish.

There was also some fan mail from Mindy. Mindy likes the show and all, but misses Lisa. Lisa has participated in the podcast a few times, and she will be back on the night of November the 27th to join Colleen podcasting from the TVA Annual General Meeting.

Angelina talks about her favourite places in Toronto to get tabbouleh (also spelt tabouleh or tabouli). She has gone so far as to rank her top 10 places! Here they are:

1. Jasmine Shawarma (now closed) that was near Yonge and Wellesley.

2. Naz's Falafel House at 118 John St near Queen, 416-593-7386. "Super tasty."

3. Ghazale at 504 Bloor St (east of Bathurst) and 661 College St.

4. Sarah's Shawarma & Falafal at 487 Bloor St.

5. Falafel House at 760 Yonge St.

6. RABBA 24 Hours (inside deli) at 24 Wellesley. "Super fresh taste."

7. Laila at 553 Bloor St (east of Bathurst). Part of our vegetarian discount card program.

8. Atlas One Cafe at 820 St Clair West, 416-656-4817. "Tomato dominant."

9. Jerusalem at 955 Eglinton West, 416-783-6494.

10. Wrap & Grab at 618 Yonge St, 416-598-0505. "Large bulgar and distinct flavour."

Tabbouleh can also be made at home. Here are some recipes, but Angelina says it is a lot of work removing the parsley stems and it is difficult to get an authentic taste.

Angelina may be excited about tabbouleh, but Colleen is happy to hear that smoked tofu is back in Toronto. After a brief hiatus due to Canada's smoked tofu producers changing plants, it is now back in stores. Smoked tofu lovers, rejoice!

Lastly, Kelly wrote in with regards to last week's questions about how to make the 25th Annual Vegetarian Food Fair in September 2009 an unforgettable event. Her reply won her the grand prize (truth belt wrist band, a t-shirt, and gluten free crackers).

This podcast is a tabbouleh-licious 33 minutes.

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Jen and I (John) have the opportunity to speak with Sarah Kramer about her newest cookbook creation Vegan A Go-Go! Sarah was in Toronto a couple of weeks ago and some of her local fans were given the chance to meet her at Left Feet/Heart On Your Sleeve.

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Today, Jen and I (John) welcome Colleen back to the podcast and what a show it is! There is an email from a listener (Elizabeth) in response to last week's show where we discuss Panacea (the new vegan store in Toronto). Elizabeth writes in to let us know that Kitchener also has a vegan store named Green Door Vegan Variety.

I discuss my experience volunteering at a non-vegetarian soup kitchen and Colleen mentions her meal at Lettuce Eatery. She wasn't impressed. Their rice bowls had plenty of rice but not enough sauce, veggies and tofu.

We also discuss our favourite toppings on salads and sandwiches. I'm not going to give away all of the answers, but it seems as though pumpkin seeds and raisins are the favourites.

Colleen is on a restricted diet where she can't eat garlic, onions or even ginger as it is too spicy. This is a drag because she loves these flavours and can't find, among her cookbook collection, a recipe for soup that doesn't rely on garlic and onions. So she is wondering what to eat. I suggest some of Toronto's Buddhist restaurants such as Vegetarian Haven for ideas. [Steve suggests using things like miso, sesame seeds, mushrooms and cilantro as flavourings. RecipeZaar finds 17 vegan soup recipes without garlic and onions. Also see our Basic Vegetarian Meals page for soup ideas.]

This week's question of the week: What is the most anti-vegetarian thing anybody has said to you?

Colleen had a run-in with someone who thinks turkeys deserve to die. A few years ago, I had a problem with a catering company that claimed to know nothing about veganism. I ended up with a lettuce salad. Jen was told by a rude waiter that there was nothing vegan that she could eat at Southern Accent, even though there was.

The Toronto Vegetarian Podcast has a new contest: Answer the following questions regarding the 25th Annual Vegetarian Food Fair taking place in September 2009:

1) How can we commemorate/celebrate the 25th anniversary?
2) Who would you like to see present a talk or cooking demonstration?
3) How can we incorporate a health focus at the fair? 2009 will be the year Toronto Vegetarian Association emphasizes vegetarianism as the gateway to good health.
4) What would be some family-friendly activities to have there?
5) What do you think would make the Vegetarian Food Fair appeal to a wider audience?

Submissions are due by noon on Nov 15, 2008. Send to tvp@veg.ca . Lucky winners will receive a Truth Belt wrist band.

This podcast is a Colleen's-not-dead 31 minutes.

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Today, Angelina and I (John) talk about World Vegan Day. There are events going on around the globe - including a Vegan Sausage Eating Party in New Zealand.  While both Angelina and I feel that it is an interesting concept, we are not entirely comfortable with the notion of "competitive eating."

In Toronto, Lush is celebrating World Vegan Day by handing out free literature and vegan treats, and they have asked their staff to go vegan for at least 24 hours. They are also giving away a free vegan bath bomb (KABOOM!) when you order more than $55 worth of product through their online store.  Three-quarters of Lush's products are vegan so you're bound to get a good selection. To find a location near you check their website or follow your nose – you can smell a Lush store from two blocks away.

	Ken behind the cash at the first all-vegan store in Toronto.

Every day is vegan day at one new store in Toronto called Panacea. Located at 588 Bloor St W, west of Bathurst, they offer a completely vegan grocery section including refrigerated and frozen products. The store also carries vegan snacks, cosmetics, fair trade clothing, ARKII's animal rights merchandise and more. A resource centre is planned for the basement. There is no need to read ingredient labels when shopping here!

As for our World Vegan Day plans, Angelina will be attending a party with both omnivores and vegans and sharing a meal (sounds like a perfect time to convert people) and I'll be eating a pesto/portabello mushroom pizza made with fresh dough straight from my awesome bread-making machine. 

This week's question of the week: What recipe have you been putting off making, but are dying to create?  Angelina wants to try a raw zucchini noodle dish with pesto sauce (from the "beautiful" cookbook Raw) and I am excited about a vegan "cheese" fondue recipe from The Uncheese Cookbook, a cookbook with 17 variations on vegan fondue!

I discuss St. Anne's spa that I attended this week. It is located in Cobourg, Ontario and the chef is "pesco-vegetarian," but he sure can make a mean vegan meal (including vegan desserts).  Give the place a try if you're up to treating yourself. Not to let the chef off too easily, we discuss the many problems with eating fish.

This podcast is a bath-bombed 24 minutes.

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Today, Jen and I (John) discuss our experiences with those who question our vegan diets/lifestyles. If you have been vegetarian/vegan for even a short period of time you know that people can sometimes be rude with their responses to our choices. Jen responds by trying to be as civil as possible, but feels it is important to realize that there are times when the person is simply trying to annoy you. I usually try to ignore the questions once the questioner shows that they are more interested in attacking my dietary choices. For more information on how to deal with these situations see Diplomacy: Family, Friends and Social Situations.

This coming Wednesday the podcast team will have a chance to speak with Sarah Kramer at her book launch for Vegan A Go-Go! – a cookbook and survival manual for vegans on the road. She will be at Left Feet (Nassau St & Bellevue Ave) from 7pm to 9pm. Sarah is famous for her cookbooks and my copy of How It All Vegan was the first vegan cookbook I used; it definitely has its share of food splatter marks on it.

Jen reports that she visited Hot Yam this week and ate very well. She got tomato soup, stir fried kale with garlic, roasted sweet potatoes and apple crisp – all for only $4. If I didn't work on Wednesday afternoons I would certainly be a regular visitor to Hot Yam – they are located at the International Student Centre at the University of Toronto and they have two seatings on Wednesdays (12pm and 1pm).

If you're interested in getting involved in supporting eating locally, Jen and I strongly recommend Not Far From The Tree. This Toronto organization harvests fruit from urban trees and donates much of it to shelters. Lisa is an active volunteer, and after one of the picks her share amounted to 15 pounds of apples. That is a lot of apples!

Also up for discussion was the Toronto Vegetarian Association's Annual General Meeting which takes place on Thursday, November the 27th at the Kensington Market Lofts from 6:30pm to 9:30pm. This is a great way to find out more about TVA and you're very likely going to eat some good food too. If you would like to attend, let us know using our contact us form.

Lastly, Shawn (a dedicated listener) sends in word that (not shockingly) another study suggests that eating more fruits and vegetables and less meat and dairy improves one's health. More specifically, the McMaster University study shows that eating a more plant-based diet decreases one's chance of getting a heart attack by at least 35%. There have been so many studies like this that it seems as obvious to me as the sky being blue.

This podcast is a World-Vegan-Day-celebrating 24 minutes.

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