Sunday was a great day. 
Well, aside from finding out that my ‘vertically growing spinach’ had gone to seed and BOLTED! Nooooooo.
After reading up on it, I guess it is quite common. I had no idea this was a risk-factor for spinach! Gardening is a practice of trial and error I guess.
There was quality time with Mom…
The Huz.
Very successful oil-free baking…(coming soon!)
Crate & Barrel
Whole Foods Mississauga (opening in July)
Square One Mall.
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Fresh Restaurant in Toronto
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A belated birthday dinner courtesy of mom at my favourite vegan restaurant!
Middle Eastern Plate appetizer made up of golden falafel balls with a crunchy exterior and pillowy interior, hummus, tahini, toasted organic whole wheat pita, fresh herbs, and olives:
A DREAM to the taste buds!
I ordered the Flu Fighter juice made up of Celery, Kale, Carrot, Garlic, lemon, ginger, cayenne, and Echinacea. It’s served hot like tea and was perfect on this chilly and cloudy day! This is one of my all-time favourite juices at Fresh.
Hot lemon tea for mom and Eric had the Lucky Charm smoothie made up of raspberry, strawberry, blueberry, and mango.
Mom had the Mushroom Onion burger with sautéed mushrooms and onions, tomato, lettuce, sprouts, cheese, and vegan mayo, along with sweet potato fries.
Eric and I both ordered the Grilled Vegetable and Pesto wrap with grilled red pepper, zucchini & sweet potato with pesto, vegan mayo, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, red onion & sprouts along with fries:
Happy bellies ensued!
It wouldn’t be complete without a vegan cupcake and brownie…
This cupcake was a BASIL and cherry flavour! The basil was very pronounced in the frosting. It was strange and we weren’t sure if we liked it, but somehow it vanished from the plate! Funny how that works…
The flavour combo reminded me of something you’d see on Cupcake Wars!
I forgot to get a picture of the vegan walnut brownie (aka: we inhaled it).
Today is the last day of mom’s stay, so we’re off to make it a good one. See you soon with a yummy oil-free sweet bread recipe! Have a fantastic start to your week!
I’ve been reading your blog for a few months now and have loved so many of your recipes! Thanks! This weekend I made the Easy Cheezy Crackers and my family loved them. My husband even liked them more than the homemade goldfish crackers (we aren’t vegan). I was wondering if you consider using applesauce for oil when baking? I did that with the 2nd batch of Easy Cheezy crackers and my family didn’t notice a difference. I bought a pasta roller (cheap), specifically for crackers which really helps too. Thanks again for so many awesome recipes. We also started drinking green monsters since reading your blog and my kids just down them (even my 1 year old)!
Wow that is so cool is worked with applesauce! Thanks for your kind words too!
A day of yummy vegan food, Whole Foods, AND Crate and Barrel? Wow- looks like you hit all targets :) Glad you had a lovely weekend, almost felt like I was there with you!
Looks like a great weekend! The vegan restaurant food pictures are making my mouth water!
Ohhh i saw the sign for the new whole foods when i was at crate and barrel a few weeks ago, i can’t wait! Even though i love the one in Oakville for its close proximity to my fav lululemon :)
that is my fav lululemon too…i love how close it is to the entrance…haha
I am very, very intrigued by that cherry/basil cupcake. Do you think it would be worth re-creating?
Possibly!! I still cant decide if I enjoyed it enough!
Ok, what a great weekend! I am over the moon excited for Whole Foods opening next month. I work in Mississauga and moving to Mimico so this is PEFECT for me. I have been waiting for the last 2 years for this to happen.
OMG! Fresh is fantastic, no? I have never had the burger your mom had but I will have to change that quick!
And, cannot wait for the oil free bake. You should check out Dr. McDougall. His site and books have all vegan, oil and fat free recipes and I can attest, they taste great.
Oh no! I hate when my basil bolts, I didn’t even realize spinach would do the same thing. I’m constantly plucking my basil even if i just have to throw it away so it doesn’t bolt. I’m hope they’re salvagable!
You and your mom are SO CUTE! :)
I am a huge falafel fan- all the food from FRESH looks delish! :)
I loooove Fresh! Yum yum.. this post sure made me want to go there soon…
Love your blog ! :)
I dream of the day I see a Whole Foods sprouting up in our area.
That restaurant looks wonderful! Everything looks so delicious and exactly what I would have ordered. Well, one or the other, lol.
Love the creamy avocado pasta and posted it on my blog. Thank you, yummy. I like it garlicky as well, so I kept the 3 in there. Just delish!
Suzanne Williams
Glad you enjoyed it Suzanne!
You are getting a Whole Foods in Mississauga??? My sister in law (who lives there) will be SOOOOO excited. It’s her favorite! Looks like a wonderful time with your family! Look forward to the oil free recipe. Have a great day.
My office is in Square One. I’m rather looking forward to the opening of the new Whole Foods here! I won’t do all of my shopping there (can’t afford to) but it’s good to have it so close.
I had lunch at Fresh on Bloor for the first time on Friday on my recent trip to Toronto. I can’t wait to go back! I had the quinoa battered onion rings, a black bean burrito and a Refresher juice. So yummy! The wrap was huge though so I was stuffed all afternoon. Love the decor there too.
I actually love basil in sweets! A few years ago I made coconut cupcakes that I filled with a mango-basil filling and topped with a coconut frosting. They were amazing! Still some of the best cupcakes I’ve ever made!
WOw that sounds incredible…are they on your blog by chance? :)
Sadly I lost all the archives on my site! I’m still working on building all the recipes back up! But the recipe is saved on SpringPad, thankfully.
http://springpadit.com/anotheronebitesthecrust/recipe/coconutcupcakeswithmangobasilfilling
Gosh! my belly would be happy too! I wish there were vegan restaurants in my area of NC… I stick to super ethnic places b/c they always have some fabulous healthy options for me… but a vegan joint would rock my socks! =)
Oh Angela…the photos of you and your mom are wonderful.
You take after your blog’s namesake in this post: GLOWING!!!!!!
You are just radiant, beautiful, gorgeous and your hair, mmmm, lookin’ so lovely in this post!
I am soooo happy you have had this time w/ your mama and I love the looks of all the food. The the Lucky Charm smoothie…oh, delish sounding.
Enjoy her last day here!
Thanks Averie, you are too kind!
i love your necklace!
and love all the pictures of your weekend!
Haha :-) Love the first pic – you look like a school-teacher scolding the spinach for going to seed…
hehe I was!
Beautiful pictures as always! Loving all that delicious looking food. YUM! Sounds like you’re having an amazing time with you mom. xo
Wow that cupcake is right up my alley! I’m a supporter of basil in a sweet dessert and I’m loving the fact that it’s paired with cherries! Looks like you’re having a great time!
You really ARE glowing in your photos :D Ive also never seen falafels that looked that tasty!
Sorry to hear about your spinach! Thanks for inspiring me to try growing my own veggies though! I’d never have taken the leap! Can’t wait to see your garden in full bloom.
looks like the perfect day to me~!
I want that cupcake!
Booo! Sorry about the spinach, Angela!
That meal looks fantastic:) And Eric’s smoothie really has me raving one now!
this looks really yummy, you and your mum are beautiful woman and healthy,, kinda glowing,, lol
What a perfect day!
You and your mom are too cute! What a beautiful duo! Hope you enjoy a wonderful last day with your mom…wishing you lots of fun & laughter!!
I love basil in sweets…strange I know. If you don’t replicate that cupcake, I might have to give it a go! Glad you’ve enjoyed your time with your mom :)
I NEED TO GO TO THAT RESTAURANT! It sounds so awesome!!!
And that is totally the most unique cupcake variety I have ever seen! Love it! I would love to recreate something like that!
WOW! Whole Foods!!
With more sprouting up in Ont, it gives me hope for us out East in NS !!
yes NS def. NEEDS ONE!
Oh man all that food looks delicious. And I love how another Whole Foods is opening in Toronto, since I’m moving there next year! :)
Basil and Cherry… hmmm, who would have thought… I might just have to give that one a try.
Have lots of fun with your mom on her last day!
Hi Angela
Wow! This post makes me REALLY wish I lived in Toronto!
Any chance you might try to recreate the grilled veggie pesto wrap?!
The pictures look too amazing. :-)
I see a recipe coming up?
Hmm maybe! :)
Oh goodness, that falafel is making my mouth water!!!
I also could have used that flu-fighter juice. I had to call in sick to work today and I slept for a record-breaking (for me, anyway) 13 hours!
Looks like you had a great weekend with your mom. Isn’t mommy time the best??
Wow, what a great day! The golden falafel balls look amazing, I want them now! :-) And so exciting about the Whole Foods!
I love your shoes! Where are they from??
I am so in love with your site! And you really are glowing! I am so envious about how green it is around where you live. I am stuck in a condo in the middle of the city, and whenever I attempt to take a short walk to get some sunshine, I get high in smog haha…that is, if I do not get run over.
Cheers! And hot yoga is love <3
Thanks you Emma!
Basil and cherry, what an odd combo! I love those unique combo though. Recently I had a lavender chocolate chip cookie, which ended up being delicious!
Can’t wait to hear more about this cookbook- so exciting!
mmm that sounds DELISH!
Looks like it was an amazing meal!
Great looking food and photos! Looks like you’re having such a great time with your mom!
That meal looks amazing. I’m so glad you’re having such a great time with your mom!
I am SO excited for that new WF in Mississauga to open! I hope it’s a lot bigger than the Oakville one. :D
Sounds like a wonderful day! You and your mom look so much alike, both gorgeous:-)
I love your heels! I’d probably die in them though haha.
the lucky charm smoothie sounds DELICIOUS.
Wow, the food at Fresh looks outstanding! I’m so intrigued by the basil and cherry cupcake! It sounds so interesting…maybe I will try that flavor combo in my next baking adventure!
That’s so great that you had a nice time with your Mum, the food looks amazing. Pity about your spinach, im sure everything else is growing well though and your next lot of spinach goes better. Love that necklace!
I love basil, but have yet to have it in a cupcake! I’m a bit concerned about my own spinach. I was almost eye level with it last night to analyze it’s growth.
Your dinner is having me wish I had a restaurant like that in my area! Maybe we do, and I just don’t know about it yet?:-)
Ahhh! My spinach did that too!! I will have to do a bit of research on that as this is the 2nd year in a row and I’m about to give up on the leafy goodness. The spinach was basically done for 4 days after I planted it. :-( Glad you had a good time with your mom!