Paris and the Porch

Dad just got back from spending 3 weeks in Berlin and Paris.

My Dad spends a ton of time outside of Canada, in fact he travels more than some travel bloggers I know.

He said that he tried to bring me back a box of pastries and macarons from Paris but there was a huge lineup at the Patisserie, so by the time he got to the cashier he forgot how to ask for what he wanted in french.

He ended up getting only a baguette that he ate on the way to the airport.

However at the airport he picked me up a giant chocolate bar.

I know isn't Vegan, but it has fruit and nuts in it so it's not really cheating.

After eating almost a pound of chocolate and collapsing on the porch I had to make something to bring me back in focus.

Grilled golden zuchini with portobello and spinach balsamic quinoa.

GIGANTES and Food Festivals.

It's getting easier, the cravings for candy have subsided and I can shut out the smells of summer BBQ without having to drink a beer.

Thankfully our summer walks have exposed me to a multitude of international cuisines here in Toronto and soon it will be food festival season...minus the meat for me.

Taste of the Danforth, Taste of little Italy, China Town festival, Caribana and even the Pedestrian Sundays in kensington have an urban food flavoured theme.

This year i'll have to dig a little deeper for the vegetarian option , but that is precisely what excites me.

I'm preparing for a taste adventure.

Here's a little sampler bowl i've recreated from my tasting trips.

Gigantes with roasted eggplant, red peppers and tomato and grilled Okra Fries

60daysofherbivore bowl

So far the 60daysofherbivore has me eating pretty good.

When I was 16 I was a vegetarian for 2 years.

Back then I wasn't aware of the many options for my palette to experience.

One of the reasons was I didn't know many vegetarians and finding information on how to live the urban herbivore lifestyle was not supported by social media or the food network.

Back then we had only books and word of mouth.

Thankfully times have changed

Stay tuned for more adventures.

Brown Rice Mushroom Asparagus Risotto

with Red Lentil and Smoked Chickpea and Almond Smash

TBR soup

IMG_6095, originally uploaded by 'Xander @416cyclestyle.

Tomato,Bacon and Rice soup with Goat Cheese and Chive Blossoms

saturday brunch

saturday brunch, originally uploaded by Xander N'Dante.

saturday brunch
honey tandoori chicken wings
grilled pineapple coconut shrimp
roasted sweet pototato
roasted orange and yellow peppers with spiced balsamic
chickpea corn cucumber cilantro and lime salad

roasted cherry tomato chicken loaf w/ grilled fiddle heads & oyster mushrooms

while watching the Peonies bud, and pruning the fungus off the cherry tree i crave for the taste of leftovers and spring pickings... deer eat fiddle heads and pigs eat mushrooms?... and I will eat them both.

the inside stuff

chicken,red onion, garlic, fennel, molasses,cherry tomato,eggs,pine nuts, king and oyster mushrooms, nutmeg,soy sauce,butter, fiddleheads, salish smoked salt, pepper and curiosity.

enoki chilli w/ cocoa pumpernickel toast and smoked yogurt

So i'm on a vegetarian trip these days... who ever heard of a beef allergy?

the enoki mushrooms were on sale and chili and chocolate make for a great date.

the inside stuff:

olive oil, butter, onions, garlic,carrots,celery,coriander, cumin, crushed chili, cocoa, S&P,allspice, tomato, pinto beans,enoki mushrooms, yogurt, salish and love