(coutesy Jen Neabel)
The guy at the next table orders four pieces of bacon, two slices of processed cheese wrapped between two battered, deep fried chicken breasts. It’s a heart attack in a mouthful. As the grease spreads through napkins and the ketchup stains his shirt, all the herbivores in the room wonder if the meal is as good going in as it is coming out.
Everyone’s always talking about where to go to eat the best burger, the spiciest wings or the thickest steak, but what about us herbivores who come in peace, looking to paint the town green? Toronto is a great city in which to be a vegetarian.
With the help of the Toronto Vegetarian Association, aiming to help people live a healthier lifestyle, there are now more animal-friendly restaurants than ever before. Associate Director of the Toronto Vegetarian Association, David Alexander, says a vegan or vegetarian diet prevents chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and lowers both blood cholesterol and pressure.
For both vegetarians and hardcore vegans, Toronto offers a wide variety of servings for breakfast, lunch and dinner. To quench your thirst, Pulp Kitchen, located at 1129 Queen Street East, has a bevy of smoothies among other things. This juice bar’s philosophy is “to nourish the body and eat pure food.” Owner Marie Crawford says the Red Blazer is a favourite among customers because of its fulfilling, creamy texture. It’s made with raspberries, orange juice and banana and costs $4.
“There are higher nutrients in the vegetable juices,” says Crawford. “The Rejuvenator is very energizing.” The drink consists of carrots, ginger, apple and parsley. Unlike other juice bars that use additives and other hidden ingredients, Pulp Kitchen’s drinks are made with nothing but fresh fruit and vegetables. Alexander says cutting down on animal products can reduce our carbon footprint and help with climate change.
“It takes seven times more land to feed a meat eater than a vegetarian,” says Alexander.
Due to late morning meetings, traffic on the highway or overall hectic work schedules, skipping out on a traditional breakfast is not unusual. That’s why Pulp Kitchen also includes a healthy lunch menu for those who want to stop by later in the day.
The French toast is worthy of a gold star. Not only is it whole wheat, and 100% vegan, but it’s also uniquely served with almond topping and fresh fruit. Alexander recommends whole wheat bread rather than white bread which is high in sugar and takes longer for the body to process.
“I recommend the mushroom burger. It’s soy based. We take a whole Portobello mushroom, marinate it and add organic baby spinach,” says Crawford.
If ethnic food is more up your alley, there are two underrated restaurants to visit without having to take out your passport. The first is Annapurna which specializes in South Indian cuisine. It’s the city’s oldest vegetarian restaurant. Located in the Annex at 1085 Bathurst St., it was open to the public in 1974. The restaurant was operated by students of a meditation teacher, Sri Chimnoy, who imgrated from India.
(Annapurna restaurant)
“It was probably the first non-smoking restaurant in Toronto and the first to serve Chai,” says current manager Deva Vira.
For the first time customer, Vira recommends the masala dosai – a rice and lentil crepe filled with potato curry and served with coconut chutney, for $6.95.
All dishes at Annapurna are dairy free. Alexander says a popular mistake new vegetarians make is replacing meat with eggs and dairy. It’s good to show resistance towards processed foods.
“Tofu isn’t processed so much,” says Alexander.
A popular dessert at Annapurna is the chocolate tofu pie for $3.95. It may have been around for decades but, currently, the restaurant is quite surprisingly slow.
Annapurna is a restaurant worth the time to check out, not only for the food but the bright and clean decor as well. Sitting at any of the white tables surrounded by a botanical haven will make any customer feel tranquil and refreshed. An hour’s walk from Annapurna is White Lotus, a Vietnaese restaurant located at 303 Lansdowne Avenue.
A new vegetarian once recommended the fake shrimp; a deep fried and battered appetizer for around $6. White Lotus offers fake meat with almost every main dish. The alternative beef, pork and chicken can make a stomach curl, but the vegetarian shrimp was rich in flavour.
Another item that pleases taste buds is the spicy “hue” soup for around $8. It’s a large portion, so be prepared to take the rest to go.
When eating at White Lotus, stick with appetizers. The portions are as large as the main dishes, for a few dollars less. Eating appetizers like the wontons or shrimp, will fill you up. Commiting to a healthier, green lifestyle shouldn’t be intimidating. It’s as easy as tofu pie.
Herbivores can easily find a tastey cure for hunger in Toronto, a city full of vegetarian restaurants. The same guy with the lust for deep fried chicken and bacon appears the next day to order food again. He seems to have washed the ketchup stains from his shirt. This time, he has traded his greasy fork for chopsticks; he ordered a vegetarian stirfry.
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