Snakes & Lattes

Snakes & Lattes: come for the board games, stay for the food. Seriously.

Last weekend I finally got to check off “go to Snakes & Lattes” on my Toronto to do list and I’m very happy I was wise enough to have put it on there because it is definitely worth going to.

I originally went to meet my friend’s boyfriend and play a few board games. Snakes & Lattes is the perfect environment for this kind of scenario because it’s casual and fun… and playing a board game takes the pressure off having to make awkward small talk. Also, since it was me + a couple, it was a great set-up so I wouldn’t feel like a third wheel. Thankfully no one at the table is uber competitive so it was a perfect meeting-of-a-good-friend’s-boyfriend event.

Anyway, I could talk for hours about the board game selection (there are hundreds) or the lattes (also quite a variety) but what really matters here is the food; it was superb.

I went into this thinking it would be a couple hours, tops. Arrive at noon, leave by 2pm. Maybe grab a bite on the way home (S & L is on Bloor St. W. near Bathurst so there are ample restaurants to choose from). But after three hours and four board games, it became apparent I would have to solve this lunch problem here because we weren’t going home anytime soon.

The menu is two-sided; one on hot drinks, the other for food. The food menu is not extensive but it offers classic cafe staples such as sandwiches, salads, snacks and desserts. Oh and quiches, but we all know I didn’t bother there.

Snakes & Lattes is not expressively vegan friendly but I figured there would be something modifiable or, worst case, a garden salad for me to munch on. But I was in luck because its sandwich menu boasts a vegan sandwich. Appropriately called “the Option” it is grilled portobello, roasted zucchini and caramelized red onion with vegan garlic aioli on a ciabatta bun. Perfect. Lunch problem solved. I ordered that (sans the red onion because I just really don’t like red onions, caramelized or not).

And it was so, so, so good. Shockingly good for a board-game-and-latte-focused establishment. The vegetables were perfectly cooked and well seasoned, the bread fresh and soft, and the aioli on-point. I would definitely order it again. I’d probably even go back just to order the sandwich, to be honest.

My friend got the California club and her boyfriend had the grilled cheese. Both loved their sandwiches as much as I loved mine. So there you have it, folks. If you’re ever bored and hankering for a really good sandwich, Snakes & Lattes is where you need to go.

All in all, it was a really lovely way to spend a Sunday afternoon. We got there right before it got too busy, so there wasn’t a wait for a table (S&L doesn’t take reservations so it’s first-come-first-serve). I’d recommend arriving early because by 2pm there was a line up of people waiting for tables. But there are plenty of tables inside so I noticed most of the people didn’t have to wait long to be seated.

My bill for an afternoon of board games, a sandwich and a tea came to $18; $5 for the games, $9 for the sandwich, $2.50 for the tea + tax. Worth it.

Happy veganversary!

Friends and readers alike, today marks one year since I decided to go vegan! One year already in the books, wow.

It’s not like I didn’t think this would be a long-term choice when I first made the change but it still blows my mind to think it’s been a year already.

I had goals for my veganism when I started last year. Specifically: to be less of a chegan and more of a 100%-all-the-time vegan by this point. But as I’ve said in previous posts, adopting a very strict attitude towards major lifestyle changes (especially related to diet) make those changes really difficult to adhere to. I honestly don’t think I would have made it to the one-year mark if I berated myself every time I slipped up on being all plant-based all the time. I still enjoy milk chocolate from time to time – pretty sure it was just last night I indulged in some mini eggs… But in the big picture, those little dairy cheats are so small in comparison to my overall veganism that I truly don’t feel bad about it. I believe that even incorporating a little bit of veganism into your life is better than none at all.

Going plant-based has been one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and is one lifestyle choice I’ve made that makes me happy and am constantly feeling good about. It’s such a joy to know I’m doing something for my health, animals, the environment and my overall wellbeing.

So today, whether it be your veganversary or not, take a moment to celebrate yourself and the good you’re doing. There are so many reasons to feel good about adopting a plant-based diet that it shouldn’t be hard to pick one (or all!) to celebrate.

Here’s to one year and the many more to come!

Favourite things: almond butter

The butter of gods, I’m sure of it.

I’m a big fan of peanut butter but it doesn’t come close to almond butter. Not at all. I first discovered almond butter two years ago and it totally changed my nut butter lyfe. Now that I’m vegan it’s an even bigger part of my life since nuts are such a great source of protein.

The only downside is the cost; It’s almost double the price of peanut butter for a much smaller jar. I’m not saying it’s not worth the higher price but it can be a deterrent at the grocery store for sure. I will admit there have been a few times where the price has scared me towards buying peanut butter.

I’ve tried making it on my own, with the aid of my Vitamix of course, but I can never get the consistency right. It usually ends up coming out in cookie dough-type form versus a smooth, silky butter. I’ll keep trying though. When I finally nail it you can bet I will have an extremely detailed blog post outlining the steps – you know I love sharing my vegan successes 😉

But back to the topic, almond butter is heavenly and you need to try it if you haven’t already. I love it on toast, sometimes sprinkled with dark chocolate chips for a treat, or in smoothies. Mmmm makes me want to go eat a spoonful right now… brb

No place for a vegan

This one is a warning post for all the Toronto vegans about a restaurant that should be avoided because there is basically nothing on the menu for a vegan.

Reds Midtown Tavern at Yonge & Gerrard.

I went there with my family for dinner. As you can probably guess, we went there because it was near the hospital. And because there wasn’t a long wait for a table like there was at the other restaurant we tried. So Reds it was.

Right off the bat the waiter told me there were no vegan options. Well, except for the edamame appetizer. Nothing that they were willing to modify for me. Nothing they could whip up for me in the kitchen. Just…nothing. Except edamame.

I won’t lie to you, I was in a bad mood so in move of defiance and stubbornness I decided that I would not be eating. Screw your edamame, Red. I ordered a glass of wine and sipped while my family ate their steaks, salad with chicken, and seafood in hollandaise sauce.

They enjoyed their food and because the wait for our (their) food took so long the waiter brought us a free round of drinks, which was appreciated. And, sure, the decor is nice, the music inoffensive and wait staff pleasant – our waiter was super apologetic about the lack of vegan options – it’s not a bad restaurant. In fact, my parents really loved it there. They would 100% go back.

But as a vegan with a blog based on giving tips & tricks to other vegans looking for places to eat in Toronto, I’m decidedly unimpressed. It’s 2015 and with all the diet restrictions out there I think they should have at least SOMETHING of substance for someone with a dairy/meat aversion. Or at least offer to make something off menu. Vegan meals are cheap; it’s essentially vegetables and carbs. I don’t think I’m asking for much here. Even The Keg Steakhouse managed to pull together a vegan meal for me!

Anyway, stay away from Reds if you don’t want an item that doesn’t have dairy, meat or edamame in it. You’ve been warned.

Banh Mi Boys

Oh my God is this place good.

As I mentioned in my last post, I’m sick of the Toronto General Hospital food court so I’ve started venturing outside the hospital to fill my hunger. Banh Mi Boys was my first stop.

A good friend of mine had recently eaten at the Queen St. W. location and raved about it to me the week prior so when I saw it pop up on my Urbanspoon app I knew I had to go.

Located at the corner of Yonge and Gerrard St. it’s not a far walk from the hospital. About 10 minutes (5 if you’re a quick walker like myself). It’s a little spot that has a few tables for patrons wishing to eat their meal there. It’s decor and counter set-up actually remind me of Five Guys, even down to the red and white checkered paper they put the “for here” sandwiches on. Both times I’ve been I got my sandwiches to go so I can’t comment too much on the in-restaurant dining experience.

The menu is divided into five sections: banh mi, tacos, steamed bao, salads and sides.Each section offers a vegan option…except the salad section, ironically.

The first time I went I had the lemongrass tofu banh mi. Mayonnaise is the dressing but they ask before putting it on. After ordering your sandwich, you walk to the side of the counter and wait for them to call your name and then they’ll ask you if it’s for here or to go and then what spice level you want. There is a big sign that outlines the different levels but that time I somehow missed it and answered, “Oh as hot as possible” (which is Banh Mi Boy spice level: extra hot). That meant instead of sriracha (medium spice level) or jalapenos (hot spice level), I got habaneros.

I’ve gone on about how much I love hot food before but this was my first dance with habaneros and all I have to say is: ow. That is hot taken to the level of painful. Literally. It’s painful.

I ended up picking two-thirds of them off the sandwich and even my fingertips burned at touching them. You can imagine how my lips, mouth and throat felt.

But aside from that little misstep, the sandwich was fantastic. The bun was fresh and delicious and the tofu was really, really good. I’m skeptical about tofu sandwiches because I’ve had experiences with soggy or mushy tofu, which is pretty unappetizing on a sandwich. Luckily Banh Mi Boys does tofu well. The sandwich topped with carrots, cucumber, cilantro and pickled veggies + your choice of spice. 5 stars for sure.

The second time I went I decided to try the steamed bao because I’d heard great things about it. I got the panko-crusted tofu bao and it was also fantastic. Especially the price: $3.66! It’s a small sandwich, sure, but still quite the deal.

I had my reservations about the steamed bao because it looks like a giant marshmallow folded over a sandwich. I expected it to taste gooey or soggy but it was neither. It really tastes like a regular bun, but softer. Not soggy at all. The panko tofu was also really, really good. At this moment I’m still undecided which sandwich I preferred because both were so good. Oh, and that time I wisely went with “hot” as my spice level. I can handle jalapenos.

Unfortunately I have not had a chance to sample any of the sides or the tacos but please don’t kid yourself and think those were the only two times I’ll be at Banh Mi Boys’ doorstep. I will definitely be back. Definitely, definitely, definitely.

Searching for healthy in a hospital

I’ve been spending a lot of time at Toronto General Hospital recently. Not for myself, but with a family member recovering from a fairly invasive surgery.

Hospital food courts have a pretty bad reputation and, after spending almost every day of the past week there, I’m starting to see why; it’s not very healthy. Which surprises me, to be honest. Maybe I’m naive but I would assume that the restaurants a hospital allows to serve within its walls would have to do more to help people keep out of the healthcare system rather than pushing them in.

Anyway, sitting all day in a hospital watching a loved one recover doesn’t make me feel too good so the last thing I want is to eat a meal that will leave my body feeling bad too. But a girl’s gotta eat.

The options at the TGH food court are: Wing Machine, Bagel Stop, Hero Certified Burgers, Subway, Tim Hortons, Druxy’s, Mega Wraps, Booster Juice, Sushi, and Soup It Up. Sure, healthy (vegan) options can be found at most of those but after a couple days it starts to feel repetitive because those options tend to come in sandwich form.

Here are my thoughts on the vegan meals I’ve had so far:

Soup It Up
What I like about Soup It Up is everyday it offers one vegan soup. I tried the split pea veggie soup and it was quite good. I added a veggie sandwich with sesame dressing on a multigrain baguette and felt pretty good about the whole meal – taste-wise and health-wise. That meal rang in at about $11.

Mega Wraps
Mega Wraps also fits under my “healthy” bill because there are a ton of veggies to add to a wrap or even the option to make it into a salad. I had a falafel wrap that was pretty good and stuffed with vegetables, hummus and tahini. The menu also boasts a falafel salad and of course the options of a veggie wrap/salad. A regular size falafel wrap set me back $8.

Bagel Stop
I had a veggie bagel sandwich one morning and it was alright. The bagel was good but its toppings were…uh, limited. A couple soggy tomatoes, slices of cucumber and one leaf of lettuce. Dressings are either ketchup, mayo or butter so I went without. It was a rather dry sandwich and definitely a disappointing breakfast but it did the job. I don’t remember how much it cost but, honestly, don’t waste your money. Go to Tim Horton’s and get a 12 grain bagel with peanut butter. Hell, I bet the vegetables on Timmie’s veggie sandwich are in better shape so get that even.

Side note: my mom got a bacon, egg and cheese bagel from there and said it was the best breakfast sandwich she’d ever had so for all my non-vegan readers the opposite is true: go! Have breakfast at Bagel Stop!

Wing Machine
So no, I did not actually order or eat anything off the Wing Machine menu. But it gets a call out for offering a selection of fruit for purchase. Oranges, apples, pears and bananas for sale for just $1. I was looking for a quick, cheap and healthy snack and was pleasantly surprised to see that out of all the restaurants in that food court, Wing Machine was able to deliver. When I’m travelling or in other germ-friendly areas, I like to buy fruit that comes with a peel. Being able to wash an apple isn’t usually an option at the airport (or hospital) so a banana or orange works best for me. I’m not going to consider washing my apple in an airport washroom sink so don’t even suggest it. Ew.

Booster Juice
I’m sure it comes as no surprise to anyone that the hospital food for patients is far worse than its food court offerings and so my family member in recovery was not eating the meals being served. They asked me to grab them a smoothie (so at least they could get some kind of nutrients) so to Booster Juice I went. I didn’t get anything for myself because I noticed all the smoothies were made with dairy. Also, juice seems to be pretty big ingredient in the smoothies and I’m pretty against juice in general – it’s basically just sugar water. But for someone who hasn’t eaten in over 3 days, a high protein superfood smoothie (even made with dairy and juice) is perfect. Just not for a vegan.

And that’s it from my TGH food court experience. I’m tired of wraps and sandwiches, and soup isn’t a fun meal to have on the regular so from here on out I think I’m going to start exploring outside the hospital for my meals. Luckily TGH is right in the heart of the city so there are a ton of vegan-friendly restaurants in the area. Stay tuned!