First Vegetarian Restaurant Review

Georgian Triangle’s first Review of Great Vegetarian Restaurants

“Eating low on the food chain (i.e - vegan foods) ensures we are eating the least amount of toxins. Pollution carried around in the air and water gets concentrated 30 times in each animal that eats up the food chain. Even Organic meats are highly polluted because pollution is all around us. It is also a misconception that the vegan diet is more deficient than an animal foods diet. In fact, the fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds contain nutrients that are more bio-available, meaning they are better utilized and absorbed by the human body. “Jacqueline, from the “Pure Food Bar”, Collingwood

“A Vegetarian diet requires only a half acre of land-seven times less than a meat-based diet.” Toronto Vegetarian Association

 Eco Action Centre’s youth had the chance to sit down at four Collingwood restaurants last week and sample a wide range of vegetarian/vegan food. Not only was this a pleasurable activity but it is the culmination of various readings on growing food and the food industry. Underline the word ‘Action‘ in “Eco Action Centre” and you’ll find this group of thirteen working most mornings at Collingwood’s Community Garden on Highway 19 and just south of Mountain Road.

 As we approach 7 billion people on the planet the time has come to recognize the need to shift to a vegetarian or better, a vegan diet that cuts out the dairy. Thirty per cent of the Earth’s land surface is used by the livestock industry and 33 percent of global arable land is used to produce feed for livestock. If at least 4.5 billion people rely on wheat, second to only rice as a staple, with the demand for it rising as high as 60 percent in the developing world by 2050, ethical people can no longer take away arable land for livestock production (or ethanol) while people starve. People are starving now in East Africa as a result of a drought caused, in part, by climate change that these people did not contribute to. As a decade old battle continues to stop stem rust in wheat around the world (See “Nature” June 30, p. 563-565) millions of people are being pushed into food insecurity. Action must be taken to secure our arable lands to protect humanity and all of biodiversity.

 It’s sometimes thought that teens are picky eaters but you wouldn’t think so when they sat down to sample the food at PURE FOOD BAR at 10 Keith Avenue (highway 26) Unit 104A 705 445-9990. Pure Food Bar is a bright and friendly one-of-a-kind raw food restaurant just a few blocks north/west of Canadian Tire. Best of all, the food our group ate was fresh, tasty and vegan/planet healthy. We tried three kinds of food and even one of us ordered the “Active Life Shake” that contains hemp seeds, avocado, banana, dulse, vanilla bean and almond-coconut milk. All the food was presented in a most attractive way. Finally, the group was given delectable lemon squares and macaroons to finish the tasting. Add to this, informed hosts sharing their knowledge of healthy foods and you have a superlative food experience. Protecting the planet never tasted so good.

The COLLINGWOOD TANDOORI HOUSE (705) 444-8020 at 14 Balsam Street, across from Canadian Tire on Highway 26/14 Balsam Street. Chef and co-owner, Mr. Miah Sabina showed the 13 strong action group great hospitality when we arrived. He passionately explained that his love of cooking Indian food was rooted in a search for the very best vegetables and spices. Everything is prepared in his up-to-date kitchen. Hot, home made bread stuffed with potatoes called Aloo Nan accompanied our meal of specialties. The vegetarian part of the menu has an extensive list of exquisite main courses ranging from “Daal Tarka” which is slowly cooked Indian lentils in onion, garlic and fresh coriander to “Biagan Bharta”- eggplant baked over an open flame that is then mashed with herbs and onions. Our group tried “Onion Bhaji” which is an appetizer consisting of sliced onion battered and fried. There are at least sixteen vegetarian main courses to choose from and all create a deepening experience and delight in this authentic cuisine. Our chef explained that the majority of Indians eat only vegetarian food. Lucky for them, as the population is a billion strong and India has prided itself on food security since the 1950’s. This would not be possible if meat was a common staple. This restaurant is not to be missed.

THE TREMONT CAFÉ, located at 80 Simcoe Street just east of the public library- 705-293-6000- is certainly a success story. Owners, Christophe and Wispy Boivin have created a restaurant with many flavours: Not only is the food delectable but the ambience of the space allows the patron to choose from a cool sunlit white interior to being surrounded with books, and the joy of summer let our group sample fantastic food on a cozy porch area. I understand that the menu is about to change, but how could the Tremont Café go wrong with exquisite “Vegetarian Chick Pea Curry” with brown rice, baby bok choy, cucumbers, sprouts, zucchini, tofu, pepitas, sunflower seed and lemon tahini dressing? The “Veggie Bowl” won accolades, and the organic “Arugula with walnuts, parmigiano reggiano and lemon vinaigrette was tasted with surprised delight. Stay tuned for that creative menu coming in a week’s time.

Vegetarian food and French salads never tasted as good as in CAFÉ CHARTREUSE 705-444-0099 This restaurant, located at the corner of 70 Hurontario and 2nd, is without a doubt a mainstay of those who want to eat well. Let’s skip the mouth-watering croissants and pastries that made French trained chef Patrick’s cooking famous in our area and beyond. Patrick and his wife, Ruth, have the creativity and the dedication to make Collingwood a destination for food lovers. Our teens thought the food was “sophisticated” and the variety enticing. Beets and apple salad, couscous with veggies, beans with palm in a lovely dressing made these teens new converts towards better health and a sustainable Earth.

We know there are other fine restaurants to review in the future, starting with the great vegetarian food at the Stuffed Peasant, Sisi on Main (Thornbury) and Tesoro Restaurant. Stand by for our cycling crew of teen epicures to visit soon!