Good evening!
I hope you have had a great weekend. Today we had a fun meet-up at Calico Cafe in Toronto.
I was really excited to enjoy ‘lupper’ with these fabulous ladies.
I love these ladies!!! We had a blast.
In attendance were: Kristin, Angela, Jess, Jenn, Therese, Callie, Susan, Laura, Jenn, and I.
Please don’t mind the dirt on my leg. I swear it wasn’t there when I left the house!
We started off with drinks and were disappointed to find out that none of their juices were fresh and you couldn’t customize anything. Not knowing this, I asked for a veggie juice and was told that would not be possible. Then, I asked for the lemonade without agave and was also told that wasn’t possible.
Lemon water it was!
They serve Brunch all day on Sunday until 4pm.
A bunch of us ordered this Seared Butternut Squash sandwich with sweet potato hummus, rutabaga, and Dijon.
…and none of us liked it.
It basically tasted like oodles of Dijon sandwiched between two pieces of curry flavoured bread. It was a very strange flavour combination.
You know how sometimes you throw together sandwiches and they seem so wrong, but are so right? This was just wrong. I also wasn’t thinking to ask them to hold the Dijon since I don’t eat honey. I tried scraping it off, but it still strongly over-powered the sandwich.
The pan fries also weren’t great…
Same with the salad.
Verdict: Boo.
Others had the crispy tempeh sandwich…
Verdict: It was quite salty and a bit too heavy on the tempeh and not enough veggies.
The Creamy Seitan Omelette:
Verdict: The omelette was pretty good with a weird texture. The potatoes weren’t great.
The tempeh scramble had a good review!
Verdict: It was excellent and tasted like stuffing! lol.
Overall impression:
- The food did not meet expectations
- The menu was very heavy on tofu and tempeh (which is a nightmare for someone who can’t eat much soy).
- The service wasn’t overly friendly and the cafe lacked atmosphere.
- I did love that they grow their own herbs out back…!
To date, nothing compares to Fresh restaurant. Not Fressen, Kindfood, or Calico cafe (click links for my reviews).
Calactus Cafe is a very close runner up to Fresh. The reason why we didn’t go to Fresh for this meet-up is because Fresh doesn’t take reservations and last time we ended up waiting 40 minutes for a table with such a large group.
The company was fabulous and we had a great time chatting away! :biggrin: What a fun group of ladies.
PS- Sketchie says: WHATZZZZ UPPPPP my peeps?
His mad face when I pick him up:
He loathes when I hold him and squirms and digs his claws into me until I put him down. A tear hits the ground and I admit defeat finally putting him back on the ground.
I’m off to finish up some laundry that I started earlier and then plant myself on the couch. I need to rest up for another crazy week ahead.
Have a good night!
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{ 83 comments… read them below or add one }
What a disappointment! I hate leaving a restaurant unsatisfied with pretty much EVERYTHING.
Yeah, it’s nice when you actually have at least something that you enjoyed.
Too bad about the lunner! I love it when cats get that face, it’s so cute that they have such an attitude!
That is awful that at a restaurant like that you can’t customize. I’m glad the company was enjoyable.
It was great meeting up with you again Angela!! Boo, I didn’t know you guys didn’t care for the sandwiches. Sweet potato hummus still intrigues me though. I really dug the seitan omelette, although I probably wouldn’t compare it to a real egg omelette ;)
You know Calactus will always be #1 in my heart!!
Looks like a fun time even if the food wasn’t the best :-)
This post makes me jealoussssssssss.
Shame the restaurant wasn’t any good. Vegan food is restrictive but it just takes some creativity.
It’s really too bad no one liked the butternut squash sandwich, it sounded like it might be good! I got the tempeh sandwich and actually liked it, though a bit salty. I may go back and try the omlette or scramble at some point. I live so close by, I can’t believe I hadn’t been there before! Didn’t even know about it.
Had such a fun time at the meet up today, was great meeting you! Thanks for the Glo Bars, looking foward to trying them. :)
Oh, boo :-( That is very disappointing to hear. That last smoothie listed sounded good, though. You should got back to try it, haha.
Awww what a disappointment! It’s always a bummer to have a bad restaurant experience. At least you had good company :)
I need that squash sandwich in my life!!! nom nom nom
That’s too bad that your meal wasn’t good – there is nothing worse than paying for a meal at a restaurant and having it be crappy. Boo for sure!
I love your nail colour, and how it matches your dress perfectly! You look beautiful – as always!
Shame about the food but at least the company was great!!!
I know what that’s like – at work, I have to handle puppies and those guys just do not like being picked up! They squirm and whine and nip and howl and cry and make passersby think that you’re hurting them. Little stinkers!
Thanks for putting together such a fun get-together, I had a blast with you ladies :) I’m sorry you didn’t really enjoy the food, I guess I lucked out by switching to the scramble last minute! I think the pictures you have there were actually of the egg scramble, because the tempeh scramble came layered with butternut squash fritters :)
It looks like I really need to check out Fresh – it seems like it always gets rave reviews!
Ok so red is definately one of your colours. I need to know where that dress is from. Please share! :)
Its from target in March 2010 :)
So disappointing! But I’m glad you had a great time with friends anyway.
Makes me so excited for HLS. I’m excited to meet you!
I can’t wait to meet you too! Its so soon
One of our boys makes a similar face when I pick him up…he is definitely not a lap cat! Bummer about our lupper date, but at least you had good friends to make up for the less than stellar menu!
Bummer about the food but you have such a beautiful cat!
You HAVE to try The Vegetarian Haven in Toronto on Baldwin St. It is one of my favorites! It ties in first place with Fresh. I love that I can choose between two awesome restaurants for dinner so I don’t have to choose from one menu all the time!!!
Yes…so I heard today!!! Will have to check them out next time :)
Sounds like lots of fun!
Next time you’re looking for a good restaurant to try in Toronto, I loved Vegetarian Haven on Baldwin Street when I went (although it’s not very big), and I’ve heard really really great things about Urban Herbivore in Kensington (http://www.fressenrestaurant.com/index.html) but I never make it there before sunset (when they close!). Their upscale sister restaurant, Fressan, sounds really great from looking at their website, but I don’t know anybody who has been yet!
I really liked Fresh when I went, but my only complaint is that they’re really heavy on their sauces. I had this zucchini pesto dish which was soooooo good, but everything was drenched with their pesto and it ended up giving me a bit of a stomach ache after I was finished. :/
-Alison
Lol I love how two comments are both suggesting Veg. Haven! :) I heard that today from some ladies to go there. Perhaps the next stop!
I was not a fan of Fressen
haha, just above me, too! I took too long looking up the name of that other restaurant (urban herbivore). :P another hidden hole in the wall that my family has been going to for years is buddha’s vegetarian restaurant (address is is 666 dundas – LOL – so I never forget that). ;) mmm.. HUUUUGE portions, teeny tiny prices. :) they cater to a buddhist vegetarian diet which means no onions or garlic though – but their food is so flavourful, I never notice the absence of it! if you ever go, you must get the “imitation duck”. they’re famous for it, and everytime I bring friends there, they get hooked!
but yes, it’s a sign that you should try it! :)
-Alison
This place also sounds interesting! Thank you. Now if only I could get all of these Toronto restaurants to move out to the country where I am, haha
Haha, my cat does the exact same thing and it’s the most frustrating thing in the world. I try to make him so comfortable too and he always can’t wait to squirm away. It’s so funny too because when I adopted him, I asked the rescue group whether he liked to be held and they were all like “ABSOLUTELY!”….yah, right. Good sales ladies, I tell you.
I love him anyway though :)
hahaha yes they are all super friendly. But you fall in love with them and couldnt imagine your life without them…
I get to try a cool vegan restaurant in Hartford this month and I’m so excited. You make the food look so good :-)
I’m so happy to see a Sketchie appearance! My cat Charlie also hates to be held but sometimes he’s just too cute to not pick up and hug & smooch.
Sketchie says Thank you for the love! hehe ;)
He is currently trying to eat a moth.
I don’t think there’s a cat out there that likes to be held. None of my cats ever did, sometimes they’d put up with it for a tiny amount of time, but it always ended with them squirming, scratching, and clawing to be let free. Sketchie is such a beautiful kitty! How old is he?
He is 3 years!
He’s a gorgeous cat! What type is he?
oops Imeant to say he is a Bengal :) he has 7th generation asian leopard in him…and ohhh boy he is a WILD one
My cat likes to be held! She is dog-like though. When she meows too much I pick her up and carry her around and she just sits there perched on my shoulder. It is probably because Sketchie is part leopard(!!) he is too crazy to be held!
I had a cat that was dog-like. We were able to train her to fetch a little ball. We’d throw it, she’d make this funny little noise, run and get it and bring it back to us. She was part oci-cat. I miss her.
My cat fetches a tennis ball in that I throw it up the stairs and she will hit it back down to me repeatedly!
BUMMER! That’s the worst when you go to a restaurant you’ve been dying to try it and it no where meets your expectations.
Banana-Date-Almond smoothie, though? Yes PLEASE! Did anyone try it????
Nope I dont think so! haha.
love the red dress – where is it from?
and it stinks the food wasn’t that great – i hate when that happens!
Target March 2010 :)
It’s a shame that the food wasn’t good because it sure looks tasty!
What a cutie kitty! :)
Too bad the restaurant was a bummer. :{ Some places are just like that, but at least now you know not to go there again. It probably wouldn’t work for me since I try to avoid soy.
Plain Dijon mustard shouldn’t have honey in it – honey Dijon is something different. I guess it doesn’t matter much since you were stuck with it either way and the sandwich was bad! Also, tt’s nice to know that somebody’s else’s cat behaves like he’s being eaten alive when picked up. And don’t worry, I often have dirt on my leg. :]
Ahh one of the many reasons I can’t stand cats! But the main one is the horrible red, super-itchy rash I get when I’m anywhere near one.
Bummer that the food was so bad!
I’ve read your blog for ages, but I rarely comment. That’s all changing right now, because I must know what kind of cat that is?
He is SO cute…looks like a little tiger! :)
hahahahha my cat gives me the SAME look, but she looks a tad bit more evil.
It was so nice to see you again:) So much fun with all the ladies!! When Jenn and I walked around my new neighbourhood we found a vegetarian restaurant!! We’ll check it out and if it’s good we need to meet up there!!!
Hope to see you for the Sept race:) Would be SO much fun!!
xoxo
Bummer about your meal!
You win some, you lose some :(
Pretty lady!! What a cute dress. But what a FAIL of a restaurant. That sounds way worse than KindFood!! So lame! I mean…you’d think they would know the sandwiches suck. How could they not? If like 8 foodies say “blegh” it HAS to be evident there is a problem! haha I hate meal fails when out at a restaurant!
Oh I just had to click over from Susan’s blog to tell you that I wish I could have been at your meetup…how fun!!! I have met tons of bloggers but never in a group of more than 3 of us..what a great day! As I always say on my “food blog”, it’s not about the food. It’s about the connection with others, the camaraderie and new friends I have made; and it sounds like your meetup was the same…clearly not about the food given your review of the place! but about the connections. How awesome!!! :)
Totally agree! =)
Will u be at the HLS by chance?
Ohhhh I would love to be but I have a 3 year old and between her needing me and the cost$$ of going, I am sitting it out this year. But there’s always next year! Have a blast as I’m sure you will!!! :) I already know some fabulous chicas that I’d love to meet that are going to be there…next year, next year…. :)
O how lovely to meet so mant bloggers! I’m yet to meet one – though that’ll all change at the HLS! – but it looks lovely :)
I’m glad the tempeh scramble was good; that’s the one I would’ve picked :P
Looking forward to meeting you soon!
Aw, that’s too bad. At least the company was good!
Bummer about the restaurant! It’s always depressing with icky food :( But it looks like you had a blast with the fellow bloggers!! Sometimes the company can make up for the less than appetizing food. Do you finish meals at restaurants that you don’t like? I always battle wastefulness versus listening to my tastebuds.
No I didnt finish it, I reeeeeally didnt enjoy it. I had half of my plate (all the salad, a few potatoes, and 3/4 of the sandwich I think). I left hungry! aghhhh
Too bad!! That butternut squash sandwich should have been out of this world!! I absolutely love this squash with all my heart. I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to see YOU tackle that recipe. OH PLEASE DO IT!!!
You KNOW you could kick some ass and make a delicious version.
CSA will have some delightful squashes for you this fall, to be sure. I’ll cross my fingers that you’ll make my dreams come true!!
hahaha I love your enthusiasm!!!
P.S. I have a fabulous rcipe for sweet potato hummus but would love tosee what you come up with.
You MUST try Live organic food bar on Dupont in TO. The focus is on raw, but they have lovely cooked options as well. The brunch is fabulous too, the crepes are such a hit. And the desserts and juices/shakes! I could go on…
I tried it once 2 years ago, but I would like to go back!
Aw I hate it when restaurants are a let down! I guess that’s one Toronto vegetarian restaurant I can cross off my list. There are literally hundreds of others I want to check out there!
Sorry you had a disappointing lunner (afternoon tea??) experience :( I guess not all restaurants are good at vegetarian fare. :(
Wei-Wei
That restaurant sounds bleh.
But, on a side note, you should give Fressen another shot for dinner.
Their fat fettucini was the best pasta dish I have ever had in a restaurant inn my entire life. It’s like handmade doughy flax noodles. delish.
Yes I would like to try Fressen for dinner! Ill keep the fettucini in mind.
Sorry the restaurant was such a disappointment! I love your red dress in those pictures, where did you get it from?
Target!
If you’re a Fresh-lover then you’re bound to LOVE Rawlicious. It blows Fresh out of the water.
Rawlicious: http://www.rawlicious.ca/Rawlicious/Home.html
And what about Live raw food bar? Have you been there? Also tasty with lots of raw options, obviously ;)
Live: http://www.livefoodbar.com/
Really? How could I not have heard it it??? lol Do they take reservations?
:O I don’t know!! But you must go immediately!
Rawlicious is fantastic. Hmm not 100% sure if they make reservations but last time I was there I didn’t have to wait. If you’re travelling with a large party I am sure they can accommodate something. Regardless, you’ll love it! The raw vegan pecan pie is a true delight.
Thank you….Will def. check it out. We should make a date!
You mentioned in this post that you don’t eat honey. Why is that? I don’t really eat honey either, I’m just not that into it. I’m curious though, are there other foods that you simply do not eat, and for what reason?
It looks like you all had a great time. It’s too bad about the restuarant but at least you now know to avoid it – you live and learn!!
What kind of cat is that?! He is beautiful!!!
Aw, that’s too bad that it wasn’t that great! That is cool that they grow their own herbs though…and oh, Sketchie…my cat makes the saaaame face. haha
You should check out Live Raw Food Bar in downtown TO. My sis and I love it there! My meat eating hubby even said he’d go back!!
Hi Angela,
I am a 45, soon to be 46 year old that has not really struggled much with weight for most of my life. Somehow, I ended up on your website after googling green monster drinks. I have been doing a lot of reading about “the green movement”. I would like to start eating alot healthier and exercising daily. Thanks for your input. I think I am going to start with the green monster drinks and try a couple of your recipes. Wish me luck!
Debi
That garden area is just beautiful! Hopefully the whole thing is non-smoking, because I’m really allergic and would have to leave immediately if anyone was smoking.. I’m happy to say that usually they are pretty okay when I throw a fit about smoking though. :) Kudos.
-Kenzie
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