Purple Orange Carrot

Let's just slow it dowwwwn and take the time to admire the things we tend to look past in everyday life. Like this carrot, for example. Yes, it's just a carrot (that's been in my belly for 5 hours now) but holy cow does maroon-ish purple contrast well with vibrant orange! Definitely a looker. S-T-U-N-N-I-N-G.

Arepa Cafe [Toronto] vs. Caracas Arepa Bar [NYC]

[left] Toronto ― Arepa Cafe's Vegetarian Arepa
Grated Aged Cheddar, Fried Plantains, Black Beans & Avocado

[right] New York City ― Caracas Arepa Bar's La Mulata Arepa
Grilled White Cheese with Jalapeños, Sautéed Red Peppers, Fried Plantains & Black Beans



You're familiar with the concept. The Greeks have their pitas and the West Indians have their roti; Venezuelans have their arepas ― bread (typically grilled) made from cornmeal filled with STUFF. I tried an arepa for the first time in Manhattan, at Caracas Arepa Bar. As you can see by the photo, it was damn juicy and sinfully oily. When TO's Arepa Cafe first opened up, I admit, I was skeptical. It is, after all, TO's first arepa joint. I recently had the chance to check it out... and I can't help but compare it to the first arepa I had in NYC.

Overall, I enjoyed the flavours in Caracas Arepa Bar's La Mulata Arepa. Each ingredient complemented the next; all of them kinda melded together, creating a superb arepa. Conversely, it's as if the ingredients in Arepa Cafe's Veg Arepa were afraid to get to know their neighbours. Mr. Slice of Avocado didn't get the chance to shake hands with the Black Bean Brothers. The Old Cheddar Nannies always spied on the Plantain Twins, but never said "Hello" when the 20-somethings said "Hello" to them. Catch my drift?

The Grain Shop London — Portobello Street Market

1/2 hour left 'til my arse had to hop back on the Tube to the airport... and after checkin' out Fifteen and The Ministry of Food exhibit, I made Portobello Street Market my last stop. Too bad it wasn't a Saturday, which is when more of the antique/vintage shops and stalls come out. In any case, I stumbled upon this super freakin' awesome take-out foodie joint, The Grain Shop. Offering a handful of savoury baked goods (like my Soya Schnitzel pictured above) and sweet baked goods (i.e. Coconut Bread not pictured here), The Grain Shop blew my socks off. Never before had I eaten a veggie pastry as sumptiously satisfying as this Soya Schnitzel. Oozing with stringy mozz cheese and dripping with fresh tomato sauce, this schnitzel's buttery whole wheat pastry crust made my 8 hour layover in London worthwhile.

Shelley vs. Saveur: Spring Salad Platter

I frequently borrow back issues of Saveur Magazine from the local library, and stumbled upon one of their old recipes for a Spring Salad (photo on the right). Opting for a vegetarian platter instead, I nixed the chicken altogether when I prepared this dish for cousin Lisa's swanky b-day dinner partay. My photo (photo on the left) is hardly food-styled, but I must say the radish-cucumber salad and the sauteed mushrooms turned out lovely! Don't you love when salads are so hearty and satisfying, they're almost capable of replacing meals?

Best Vegetarian Restaurants/Eateries: Toronto 2010

View Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Toronto in a larger map

It is unfortunate that some of the best vegetarian restos in T.O don't even have websites. Curious foodies must refer to resto review articles or Chowhound or Yelp or whatever in search of potential menu items they may want to try. Furthermore, of the vegetarian restos that do have websites, these websites simply DO NOT reflect the quality of food that is delivered!!! The wonderful flavours, complex textures and culinary creativity of the food served at these restos is poorly reflected in the design of their websites.

kitchen-sink lunch

Healthy, delish food to-go. A foreign concept in the GTA. Y oh Y must supermarkets here underwhelm me so? Whole Foods does a decent job of offering us healthy food choices on-the-go with their hot & cold tables. But lo and behold, finally, a Canadian company has made the attempt. GOOOOOO newest Longo's location @ Bathurst & Rutherford!!!

In a starvin' fury, I grab a take-out container in the cold salad bar section of Longo's and scoop up wheatberry salad with cranberries & pumpkin seeds, creamy, lime-green avocado slices, hunks & chunks of hard, spicy tofu, and juicy, pillow-y pieces of button mushrooms. Soon as I get home, I hastily hard-boil 1 egg (10 minutes max), squash it into irregular pieces with a fork, throw it into the take-out container, and voila! Kitchen-sink lunch is good to go.