Podcast Directory

Today, Liam, Jen, and I (Colleen) talk about food a lot because we’re pretty much obsessed. We discussed our Urban Herbivore sammiches (Jen really enjoyed her first time eating their food), my discovery of sunflower seed butter, Brampton’s all new all vegetarian pizza joint (Khalsa Pizza), PIES, holiday eating, and what we’re having for dinner tonight.

Tonight, I am having burritos with smoky avocado sauce, Jen is having even more cabbage rolls, and Liam is going to restaurant TBD where he hopes to have TVP and he’ll get there via TTC.

We also discussed Toronto Vegetarian Association’s new partnership with the Ontario Vegetarian Food Bank (drop off veggie non-perishables at 17 Baldwin St.!) and Sarah Kramer’s new travel cookbook, Vegan A Go-Go! which we have for sale at the RC – yet another reason for you to come visit us on either a Wednesday or a Saturday.

Also, Liam likes to talk about burping and farting.

This podcast is a peanut-butter-and-chocolate 35 minutes long.

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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, 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), Sult an'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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5. Podcast 119: "Gunions and arlic" or "Bland-ass soup" http://veg.ca/index.php?option... download (audio/mpeg, 5.38Mb) Description: 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. {enclose 20081108.mp3}