Well my mad whirlwind of summer travel across Canada has come to an end and my feet are firmly planted back in Montreal for the next little while. The various trips were combinations of work and pleasure; but you know sustainable food was never far from my mind; and a girl has got to eat, you know.
I discovered a few restaurants in my travels that I really want to share with everyone, and I don’t think I can wait until my full reviews are written and posted. So here they are: My top three places I enjoyed eating at across Canada this summer.
1. The Hoof Café, Toronto
The little sister of The Black Hoof (across the street), I fell in love this place the moment I walked through the door. The vibe is informal, the prices are reasonable, the food is sourced from local family farms (mostly organic), the menu items are innovative and the staff are fantastic. Then there are the jars of infusions behind the bar: pepper-infused vodka, homemade limoncello, and other great stuff. They also made the best Bloody Caesar that I’ve ever tasted. What isn’t there to love?
The Black Hoof, 928 Dundas Street West, Toronto, ON 416-551-8854 Blog: Charcuterie Sundays
2.The Gratitude Cafe, Calgary
This little place is a gem in the Kensington district of Calgary. It’s completely vegetarian (and you’ll never miss the meat) with a mostly organic wine list (the only non-organic wine is vegan) and menu items like “I am Filled” (chili, greens and garlic bread), “I am creating” (chickpea curry, rice and greens), or “I am sharing” (whole wheat or gluten-free pizza). And while you’re waiting for your food to arrive, grab a deck of cards, a barrel of monkeys, or any of the other table toys supplied for your amusement and pleasure.
The Gratitude Cafe, #101, 227 10th St NW, Calgary, AB 403-984-4433
3. La Taqueria, Vancouver
The edge of Gastown almost adjacent to the Downtown Eastside is hardly a location where you’d expect to find mindfully-minded eats, but there it is: An authentic Mexican taco shop that uses local, organic and sustainable-sourced ingredients. Popular too, judging by the line-up and standing room only when I visited recently. You can’t blame folks, open-faced tacos (pictured above) are $2.50 each or 4 for $9.50, your choice of any of a dozen toppings (or fillings). They’re incredibly tasty too. I could have happily eaten here all week.
La Taqueria, 322 W. Hastings, Vancouver, BC 604-568-4406
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