a crafty vegan's Guide to the Junction

Since i've done some posts about other cities, i thought it was about time i did one about my own neighbourhood, especially because i haven't (and won't be anytime soon) gone anywhere as of late. When we moved here 1 1/2 years ago, we didn't realize just how lucky we were to move into this neighbourhood. West of most of the city core of Toronto, and in its own little pocket, the Junction has both some amazing history as well as current specialness. It is still a mix of what has remained and things that are new and slowly gentrifying the area. A good mix i think, especially as a new parent - wow have my needs changed!

There are many great articles already about my 'hood, including one from the New York Times (well, not the best more up-to-date info, but i guess we've 'made it' now!) so i'll keep my post to what i love and find great for us vegans. Now that i stroll around with baby Clem a lot, we'll falling in love with other parts of our area too.

Here's a selection of yummy places to eat and some other treats while here.

1) Cool Hand of a Girl - an amazing lunch and brunch spot that has one officially vegan item - the Braised Tofu Sandwich. All their sandwiches are made with a vegan mayo and the soups are vegan too. But this 'wich is what i come back for so much - one of the best i've ever had. Simple but delectable. The resto is also just an awesome spot to hang out and i love that it's my local brunch spot!

2) The Beet - another great treasure with really health-conscious food. Not all vegan but most vegetarian and organic, local fare. The Tofu Burger is the best i've ever had. Anywhere. Nuff said.

3) Delight - a fair trade, organic chocolatier, made right on the premises. They have some amazing dark chocolate barks, about 3 vegan truffles (the coconut one is divine), and make sorbet while in season. I had the raspberry one recently - my fave sorbet - and it was like eating fresh raspberries that had melted in my mouth - very rich for sorbet.

4) Crema Coffee - i love a Good coffee place, one that is gourmet and yes, trendy. But when good coffee is made, i love it even more that it's also in my nabe and a lovely walk for us. Serving me direct trade coffee made into a decaf soy latte: this girl is in heaven. They usually have some vegan cookies or cupcakes too.

5) Rawlicious - vegan, raw food goodness.

6) Curry Twist and Indian Kiss - while there are other good restos too in the area that aren't as vegan friendly, i had to at least mention these 2 great Indian restos. Curry Twist has an amazing knack for making their dishes with the freshest spices and have a good selection of veggie dishes (though i'm not sure what are ghee free) and Indian Kiss is a take-out only spot with the freshest dishes made to order.

While you're here:
7) Smash -the coolest decor store with amazing finds like vintage Italian wallpaper. Like mine. As well as cool chairs, tables, tiles, desks....
8) Little Bird Fly - now that i'm a mom, i have to mention this spot. A new store that sells used kids clothing, but really good stuff at amazing prices
9) Pandemonium - a great used book store with a great selection of records too, just ask my honey!
10) Sweet Potato -our local organic grocery store with a great selection of all the 'health food' goodies we rely on. They don't sell supplements or bulk though but another new store just opened up that does, though i can' remember the name.

If you're here after dark:
11) Come to Margret - the coolest, hippest bar i know. The decor is pretty special with funky art and non-art on the walls. They host movie nights and theme nights - oh so fun! I feel cool whenever i go and can't wait to go again, when Clem isn't attached to me as much.

Other great places to go include Post and Bean (another great home decor spot if you're looking for doors or neat artifacts), Big Daddy's movie rental (just to support a local place), and True Blue Vintage (for some sweet finds).

If you're around in September and want to check out the strip, come on on these days! Sept 9-13 is the Junction Arts Festival, and Sept 19 is a Mom to Mom Rummage Sale. Not that you need an excuse to come!

Being Vegan in the Big World

I'm back from a lovely time in Mexico, but i'll talk more about my great adventures there at a later post. I just wanted to take a moment to talk about food. While there, i was reminded of just how difficult it can be to be a vegan when out of the place(s) you may call home. Each day, i have to make a choice about what i eat and i have come back home with a new-found philosophy of food and my own eating needs.

For instance, i knew i was in trouble when the host of the wedding shared that 'there's no meat in the dish, just fish.' I told her fish IS meat and she looked confused. I know that people might identify as vegetarian but still eat fish, but i don't agree with that definition. Further, i was told that a lot of restaurants and taco stands use lard in their refried bean mix. Does anyone know the word for lard in Spanish? I don't. So i had to make a choice. Luckily, a good friend of mine speaks Spanish so when we were at a yummy and cute taco stand, i knew i was okay. But when we went to an ex-pat run beach restaurant, J's cheese and bean quesodilla was served with chunks of weiners in it. I doubt they were veggies dogs! And the waiter told me ' the cook is not happy with you' when i requested something off the menu and vegan-friendly. Oh, and there's chicken in that photo of Tortilla Soup; again it's not considered 'meat' so we didn't know until J ordered it.

Some nights, all i ate was a plain but big salad because there was nothing for me to eat otherwise, and other times i was served one of the best tofu sandwiches i've ever eaten (and it was on the menu!). Cafe Brown, you rule! Other places didn't seem to mind taking the cheese out of my order, but then didn't take the sour cream out as well. Others bent over backwards so that i had a great meal, like our server at the wonderful Los Adobes restaurant. They even have a vegetarian section on their menu. So, each day was a food adventure, for sure.

For those of you that want to learn more about the restaurants in Todos Santos, Mexcio, go here. As a fishing village, they do have some great places to eat and it truly is a lovely town.

I recently went to San Francisco, one of my favourite cities thus far. But getting there and back was like going to Mexico - slim pickings. On the way there, i planned ahead and made a tempeh sandwich. The customs guy gave me a bit of a speech for not declaring my food, but i got to take it with me. I'm so glad i did, because airports can be a vegan's nightmare. Some may have sushi stands or salad delis, but for the most part, what can i eat on a full day of travel?

And these adventures, for me anyway, don't just happen when i travel but can happen right here in my own city. When going to a new place, i have to ask a few questions before i order, and when going out in groups, I have been lucky when friends and family call the restaurant ahead, to request something for me. And i have been awarded with some okay meals for the most part. It blows my mind when chefs can't think outside their own culinery box, and the nutritional value of my dish is left to be desired. My 'favourite' (there's sarcasm in those quotes) is when i get a fruit bowl for dessert and everyone else gets a delectable dessert like chocolate mousse. And i mean when we called ahead for a big party, not for every day trips out. I'm not that hard to please.

The king of all disappointments was on a recent afternoon tea party for a good friend, at a swank urban hotel tearoom. I had a lengthly email exchange with the catering manager who started off our dialogue by telling me that 'to prepare vegan dishes would be an extra cost.' Yikes, the already pricey amount of $30 isn't enough to get me some chickpeas in my salad, or to give me a crustless cucumber sandwich? And then he went on to tell me that all their breads as well as their pastries weren't vegan-friendly. Now, i know pastries aren't, but i know that not all breads have milk in them, let alone eggs. So, in the end, we compromised and i got a lettuce salad. Nothing on it. And the dressing of plain oil and vinegar on the side. Nothing else. Oh, and a lovely serving tray of fruit. Of course.

So my question to you folks is: What do you do to make sure you're eating well when you travel?

San Francisco or Bust!

Well folks, i'm off to the lovely west coast city of San Francisco this week. I'll be away from blogland for about a week and am so excited to meet San Fran for the first time. My honey is already there, and i can't wait to join him. Eating alone is not something i enjoy, though it is nice to have the bed all to myself!

While i'm away, i plan to do a lot of walking and eating at all the great vegan restos! I can't wait to see the cherry blossoms, the hills, the culture, the vibrancy of this great city. Of course, i did some research and got some help from some locals, so i know of some great local artist/crafter/DIY/bloggers shop and sell their wares. I do know a city based on how good the shopping is, i have to admit!

Until then, here's some great reading for you:

San Fran Bloggers and Indie Artists:
* A Bird in the Hand
* Anti Factory
* Bits and Bobbins
* SFgirlbybay

Cool places to visit:
* Doe
* Cool Restaurants for me!
* Minnie Wilde boutique
* Museum of Craft and Folk Art

Other Fun Reading for You:
* Herbivore Magazine - my first published article is featured here - subscribe to read "14 Things to do with Vintage Fabric!"
* Split Yarn - a new to me blog!
* Stay Fancy Free - yet another fun new blog
* West Coast Crafty

That should keep you busy for a few days. See you soon!