Every year around this time I head down to Harbourfront Centre for one of my favourite annual Toronto events: The Vegetarian Food Festival. Like a little slice of heaven, this massive pop-up market is packed with vendors offering specialty vegan and vegetarian food, and it always draws the loveliest crowd of cute families, young vegetarian foodies and rescue dogs. Seriously, there’s nothing better than doing your grocery shopping for the week outdoors while live music plays in the background and samples are handed out like hot potatoes. It’s a wonderful way to try new vegetarian options and get to know some of they city’s best companies. Here are some of my favourite finds this year:
Pleasantville Creamery // The ice cream flavours at this booth were completely unreal! Made from hemp and coconut oil, Pleasantville boasts their product is “better than ice cream”, and after trying a scoop of their “Elvis” (banana, sunbutter, chocolate cookie dough, banana caramel and thick cut potato chips) I think I have to agree.
Apiecalypse Now // This vegan snack bar/bakery is starting to develop a cult following around the city, and with items like bbq chicken pizza, mozzarella bites and Dunkaroo cookie sandwiches it’s easy to see why.
Nona // I’m a total sucker for Alfredo, and no one makes vegan Alfredo sauce quite like Nona. Creamy and salty, I love serving it up on a bed of fresh pasta with Field Roast’s Italian sausages.
Tori’s Bakeshop // Usually I have to drive half an hour to the Beaches if I want a Tori’s fix, so I was very pleased to find them at the festival this year with their delicious creations. Totally vegan and mostly gluten free, Tori’s makes the most incredible cinnamon buns in the city (amongst other delights), and after smelling their booth this weekend I’ll definitely be heading to their cafe as soon as I can.
Village Juicery // A neighbourhood favourite, I can’t get enough of Village Juicery and their incredibly delicious cold pressed concoctions.
