Vegetarian Cafe @ The Big Carrot

Location:

348 Danforth Avenue,Toronto

www.thebigcarrot.ca

As far as vegetarian cuisine goes, a lot of it is spent on trying to recreate MEAT!  I've got an idea.  Don't!  Vegetables are delicious on their own, and we don't need the fake stuff pretending to be what it ain't.

Since returning from Hawaii a month ago, I've stopped eating chicken, and have to admit I don't miss it.  However, I'd rather eat the real deal than the fake meat made with soy products.

As good as the texture and shapes are in replicating real meat, I find they tend to be overly salty and really wreck havoc on my system.  That said, I do like Morningstar's ground soy - which works really well in tacos.  Sadly, it's only available in the States (for now, do you hear me Morningstar people?)

At the Vegetarian Cafe, most of the dishes seemed to have curry powder or cumin in them, which lent a kind of ethnic, indian curry flavour to most of the foods.





Not a fan.

The best tasting dish was probably the spicy squash and the roasted vegetables, but those are things I could have cooked at home for far less.



Each item is weighed on  your plate but you have no control as to how much the servers plop on your plate!  I ended up with more than I would have served myself, and it weighed in at $17!



I also didn't like that they warm up your plate in either a MICROWAVE or oven.  We much preferred the oven option.   For $17, I'd like to think there was some work involved.

For veg cuisine, I won't be returning to The Big Carrot's Vegetarian Cafe.  Nor would I shop there for my groceries - the "Kiss My Face" hand soap I did purchase there was rung in by a surly looking cashier.  Would it kill you to smile? Honestly.

I'd much rather visit Dukem for their authentic Ethiopian veggie plate.  Nummy.

Product: Olivado Avocado Oil

One of my absolute favourite products to review has been Olivado's Avocado Oil, a Olivado Natural Nutrition product made in New Zealand.

I've been loving them so much that it's taken me almost a month to review the oils because I've not only tasted the four different varieties sent to me, we've also been cooking with the oils and concocting recipes that can now only be made using these oils.

Here are the four varieties (L-R)

Olivado Omega Plus Blended Oil, Olivado Avocado Zest Oil, Olivado Macadamia Nut Oil, Olivado Kenya Avocado Oil:





The Omega Oil is advertised as an "absolutely delicious, perfectly balanced blend of Extra Virgin Avocado, Olive and Flaxseed oils, carefully selected and blended to produce an optimal combination of Omega 9, 6, & 3 fatty acids". I've yet to have 2 teaspoons of this daily, but in a salad dressing or drizzled over fresh pasta, veggies, it's a welcome change from what used to be our usual: olive oil.



I love the Avocado Zest; it's certainly zesty, with the lemony flavour not overpowering at all. The  subtle avacado taste is evident surprisingly, and goes really well with all kinds of breads, but especially a jalapeno loaf.





It's recommend use is as "a salad dressing, a marinade, a high-heat cooking oil, a bread dipping oil, a finishing oil, or for drizzling over vegetables or seafood", which is exactly what I used it for in my latest tilapia recipe (to be shared soon!)


Foodhogger just got back from Hawaii, so macadamia nuts were had aplenty! How they translated that flavour into this oil, I don't know, but this oil is divine! Buttery in colour and taste and with a very high 450 degree F. smoke point, it's great for dipping breads, adding to salad dressings and we even used it to make crepes! YUM!


The Kenyan Organic Avocado Oil (which contains the oil of 20 Avocados!) is from Olivado's newest production facility in Nairobi, Kenya where they have 570 small farmers in an organic and fair trade program. Having cooked various dishes with this oil (great for high heat cooking!) and as a marinade and dressing, this oil has become a staple even surpassing our olive oil use!





A huge thanks to Katelyn from SP for sending us these Olivado Oils; who knew avacado had such powers? Turns out Jamie Oliver is also a fan.

Stay tuned for my newest tilapia recipe using Olivado's Avocado Zest Oil!



(© Foodhogger 2006-2011. All of the photographs herein are the sole copyright of Foodhogger.)



Outstanding in the Field

I love this concept, an outdoor dining experience set in a variety of wonderful locations with the focus on local ingredients and a meal prepared by a local gourmet chef.

Fantastic!

Check out their website.  Where can I sign up?



(Images from Outstanding In The Field)


Via exPress-o - Thanks Diana!

PYO: Apple Picking in Milton

Location:

6063 Fifth Line
Milton, Ontario

An apple a day.....is what I've been having ever since we went apple picking on Sunday at the Willis Family Fruit Farm in Milton.





Jonagolds, Golden Russets, Empires, Courtlands and Mutsus were all ready to be picked...and pick we did.









I think it really does make a difference picking your own fruit - the apples are crispy, juicy and delicious and the Empires are still waiting to be made into an apple crumble!