T O R O N T O
The Curious
Keeping tabs on Toronto’s plant-based food and culture
There’s something about fall that makes me want to put a few more things on the calendar, a meal worth lingering over, a catch-up with a friend, or a reason to get outside before heading somewhere warm.
I’m not quite ready to go into hibernation mode, especially when there are still so many good things to eat and people to share them with.
That’s the spirit of this week’s edition: making time for a little exploring, a little celebrating, and showing up for our community. Consider this a little inspiration to make a plan, support a local spot you’d miss if it weren’t there, bring someone along, and enjoy what Toronto’s plant-based scene has to offer this fall.
Alright, let's see what I've got for you👇👀👇
I N T H I S E D I T I O N (TL;DR)
🥙 The Impossible kebab pita in Yorkville that’s now on our radar
🍽️ A special-occasion tasting menu at Avelo
🍂 Autumn afternoon tea for your next slow weekend
💚 Ten years of Good Rebel, plus an East End vegan crepe find
🌮 Two tacos, rice, beans, and a drink for $9.99? Yes, really.
S P O T T E D O N I N S T A G R A M: @shriya.agni
An Impossible kebab pita
Toronto food creator and friend Shriya Agni (formerly MissFoodieTO) posted about Agora by Mamakas’ new Yorkville location, and its Impossible Meat Kebab Pita caught my eye. It comes with tomato, red onion, fries, and (non-vegan) tzatziki tucked into a pita and it made me want to go try it right away. Toronto has been starved for good vegan greek cuisine so this is a welcome sighting! The restaurant lists it at $18.25.
The vegan caveat: the tzatziki contains Greek yogurt, so you’ll need to skip it. The menu doesn’t explicitly confirm that the remaining kebab mix and toppings are vegan, so check with the team before ordering.
W H A T ’ S O N O U R P L A T E
Tasting Menu
Avelo Restaurant · 51 St Nicholas St.
My partner and I wanted to go somewhere for a celebration so of course we thought of Avelo. We got their tasting menu where the next course is part of the surprise. The entirely plant-based restaurant offers five- and eight-course menus built around seasonal ingredients, with dishes changing daily. You can follow along with a small menu highlighting three ingredients per course—or leave it unread and let the kitchen keep you guessing.
Five courses currently start at $70 per person and eight at $115, with higher prices on Fridays and Saturdays and optional wine pairings.
W O R T H N O T I N G
A decade of Good Rebel💚
Good Rebel celebrated its 10th anniversary on September 30! A huge thank-you to founders Mercedes Featherby and Mohseen Akbarali and the whole team for creating such a welcoming space to explore plant-based food. Toronto is better for having you—here’s to the next ten.
Someone on the Facebook Vegans group mentioned Canela Crepes & Coffee near Pape and Danforth has a dedicated plant-based and gluten-free crepe menu, a new East End find.
M E M B E R S O N L Y
NEW PLANT CURIOUS DEAL
$9.99 lunch combo at Taqueria Vegana 🔥
Here’s one to keep in mind for your next lunch outing: Plant Curious members can get any two tacos, rice and beans, and an agua de Jamaica (hibiscus iced tea) at Taqueria Vegana for $9.99—regularly $18.
This is easily one of the best value lunches in Toronto right now…
Click here to see all Toronto Deals.
WHAT’S HAPPENNING
Protest at Nucro Technics
📅 Saturday, October 17 · 1-3 p.m.
📍 Nucro Technics, Scarborough
🎟 Free
Animal Justice and the Anti-Vivisection Alliance are rallying outside the lab to push for a rehoming plan for surviving dogs ahead of Ontario's Jan. 1, 2027 ban, which the lab is reportedly challenging.
A 5K with a coffee finish ☕️
📅 Saturday, October 17 · 9 a.m.
📍 13 Suns Ethiopian Café & Eatery, Scarborough
Join an all-paces-welcome 5K social run through Warden Woods, then stick around for coffee, food, and good company. You’ll get 20% off your post-run order while supporting a Black-owned local business.
Anonymous for the Voiceless: Cube of Truth at Yonge & Gerrard
📅 Sunday, October 18 · 1–5 p.m.
📍 Yonge and Gerrard, northwest corner, 1 Gerrard St W
🎟 Free
Anonymous for the Voiceless Toronto is holding a Cube of Truth outreach. Stop by to watch or chat with volunteers about animal rights.
An autumn afternoon tea 🍂
📅 October 17, 18, 24 & 25
📍 Avelo
Avelo’s autumn afternoon tea is here for two weekends only, with your choice of premium loose-leaf tea and ten house-made sweet and savoury bites. Expect plant-based feta scones, cucumber sandwiches, pumpkin tarts, and chestnut, apple, and chai masala macarons.
On The Horizon
Wine with Friends at Hawker
📅 November 2 · Doors at 6 p.m.
📍 Hawker, Toronto
Join Hawker and Stratus for a guided evening exploring vegan and Canadian wines, with an optional six-course tasting menu from Chef Leah’s kitchen. Stratus’s Morgan Rock, Hawker’s in-house sommelier, and special guests will discuss what sets Canadian winemaking apart, with tastings including a Blanc de Blanc, a biodynamic wine, a Canadian winemaker’s work from abroad, and ice wine to finish.
Coming up: Small Changes, BIG IMPACT 🌱
📅 Sunday, November 1 · 12–6 p.m.
📍 Artscape Wychwood Barns, Toronto
Save the date for VegTO’s family-friendly mix of market, festival, and science fair, featuring plant-based eats, sustainable shopping, climate experts, and electric vehicle test drives.
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Thanks for reading 🙌
Stay curious 🌱
Jonathan · Plant Curious