By Amber D. Walker
Bloor Street is one of the three most famous streets in Toronto, along with Bay Street, home to the city's financial district, and Yonge, the longest street in
Canada. Bloor Street is well known for its shopping, and restaurants of all kinds line the thoroughfare. Finding something other than fast food to eat while you are out and about in Toronto is now an easy task, thanks to a fair number of natural food and vegetarian establishments on Bloor Street.
Kensington Natural Bakery
Kensington Natural Bakery is owned and operated by Qang Dieu, who had his own bakery in his native Vietnam before moving to Canada. The bakery prides itself on using healthy, fresh, organic ingredients and will customize recipes to meet the special dietary needs of clients. Kensington's baked goods are 100 percent vegetarian, although not vegan, as butter, yogurt and honey are used in some pastries. All are made with no artificial colors or flavors, and custom orders can be made fairy-free, sugar-free or gluten-free. Besides cakes, pies, tarts and muffins, Kensington also offers thirty savory vegetarian entrees, including meat-free dumplings, sweet and sour vegetables, spring rolls and tofu satay. Fresh juices and frozen yogurt are also available.
Kensington Natural Bakery
460 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1X8, Canada
416- 534-1294
kensingtonnaturalbakery.com
Fresh
Fresh is a restaurant and juice bar that only uses organic, natural ingredients. The menu is not only vegetarian, but is also vegan, although Fresh does include dairy options for those who want them. Besides juices, shakes and smoothies, the menu at Fresh includes soups, vegetarian burgers, salads, wraps, rice bowls, noodle dishes, and unique appetizers and entrees such as quinoa-battered onion rings, Indian dosas and a falafel plate. The menu points out wheat- and gluten-free dishes for people with special dietary concerns. You can also enjoy teas, espresso, chai latte, cappuccinos and wheat grass shots. Fresh serves brunch, lunch and dinner, and provides take-out.
Fresh
325 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1W5, Canada
416-531-2635
freshrestaurants.ca
Calico Cafe
The menu at Calico Cafe uses local and organic ingredients as much as possible and is entirely vegetarian and vegan. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, as well as brunch on Saturdays and Sundays, and offers daily and weekly specials. Choose from fresh juices and smoothies, salads, fair trade coffees, sandwiches made with house-made bread, entrees and desserts. Featured dishes include a crispy tofu sandwich made with red-pepper pesto and avocado, phyllo cups filled with shiitake mushrooms, parsnip and carrot gnocchi, and double chocolate peppermint brownies. Calico Cafe is closed Monday and Tuesday.
Calico Cafe
1226 Bloor Street West
Toronto, Ontario, M6H 1M8, Canada
416-536-1883
calicocafe.ca
Resources
About the Author:
Amber D. Walker has been writing professionally since 1989. She has had essays published in "Fort Worth Weekly," "Starsong," "Paper Bag," "Living Buddhism" and more. Walker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Texas and worked as an English teacher abroad for six years.
