Our weather was dreary and rainy on Friday and Saturday, but Sunday was a beautiful summer day!
Eric was returning from a weekend in Montreal for his brother’s stag, so I picked him up when his train got in. He looked a little rough around the edges (think Hangover movie) and told me he was craving a piece of dandelion! lol.
I knew just the fix for him… Fresh! It was only about a 15 minute walk from where we were.
I started with a drink Eric probably could have used- the Detoxifier!
Made up of Kale, spinach, parsley, celery, & apple.
I loved it…I usually don’t juice fruits, but the apple was a nice treat in there.
Eric ordered the ‘Blue Lagoon’ which was a creamy blend of blueberry, mango, and banana.
To start, we ordered the Quinoa-battered Onion Rings with Chipotle Avocado sauce.
I’ve never ordered these before, but I’ve heard so many good things about them. Well, they are AMAZING!They are made from scratch and battered with puffed quinoa and sprinkled with sea salt. They are so crispy they must have been fried. Probably good hangover food for Eric!
The Chipotle avocado sauce was also fantastic for dippin’.
For my main, I ordered a wrap I haven’t had before- the Kathmandu wrap! It’s made up of a chickpea curry filling with tahini sauce, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, red onion, and alfalfa sprouts. Loved it.
Eric ordered the Black Bean Burrito made up of spicy black beans with chipolte avocado sauce, cilantro, tomato, lettuce, cucumber, red onion, & sprouts. We’re on such a huge wrap kick these days!
He liked it, but said he prefers the Grilled Vegetable and pesto wrap. I would have to agree. The grilled vegetable wrap is my fav.
For dessert, we shared the Vanilla Cupcake…
and the Double Chocolate Fudge Cake!
Which I concluded is the best thing a girl can eat when PMS strikes…or anytime, really…no crumb could escape.
My all-time favourite dessert served at Fresh is the Carrot Cake though! The only problem is, they are always sold out of it every time we go! They bring in their desserts from Sweets from the Earth. I’ve only been to Fresh once when they had it available (in 2009). It was heavenly…
After dinner, we walked around lakeshore for a couple hours…what a perfect summer evening it was. There were so many people out walking, biking, rollerblading, and running. I would love to live around Lakeshore if I could pick any spot in Toronto. It’s so lively and beautiful. Lakeshore always makes me want to move back to the city!
We walked a lot of the route that I ran my very first half marathon- The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront half!
Our walk was a bit less exhausting though. And a lot more relaxing. :)
We saw lots of Canadian Geese.
and a huge gorgeous swan!
I did not want this night to end…
Have a great start to your week!
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{ 145 comments… read them below or add one }
Absolutely beautiful photos! The chipotle avocado dip looks unreal! My favorite picture here is the swan with the droplet of water…so pretty :-)
I agree! What kind of camera do you use?
Thanks! My camera info is on my FAQ page found here: http://ohsheglows.com/faqs/
Quinoa battered onion rings?! Please tell me you’re going to be recreating those and posting the recipe. :)
Please do! They look divine!! Recreate the chickpea curry wrap, too!
I agree they look divine I wouldn’t have thought to pair quinoa with onion rings but it sounds/looks amazing!
Jumping on the bandwagon here, do it… DO ITTTT! :) they would be amazing! Some amazing pictures there Angela! Looks like a lovely evening, hope it cured Eric’s hangover! :)
hehe ;)
Agree — please please recreate!
Your blog is like a a ray of sunshine on a rainy day. Thank you.
That quinoa batter looks divine! I wonder is it literally just quinoa rolled on?
Looks like you had a great day :)
I have no idea, but I want to scope out the recipe in their cookbook…
oh, this was a great post to read, angela! it’s always extra-fun to read about spots you can personally identify with (like your thrive outing, too!). i LOVE lakeshore area. my brother and SIL used to live on queen’s quay, so i spent many happy times wandering the waterfront. fresh – i’ve been there once and loved it. glad you and eric has such a fantastic day. maybe you can get back a few more times this summer!
Mmm Fresh! Perhaps I should go there for lunch today!! I’m so glad you had a great time walking around my hood! Your pictures are SO close to my condo! You must have been walking on my running route! I run the Lakeshore almost every day in the summer! It’s a great area, although can get a quite drab in the winter. We don’t get the pretty white snow like you country folks ;-)
oh I would kill for that running route…I find it so motivating with everyone out!
Looks like a great day, and your photos are so beautiful.
What a perfect day! I love when we just set out early and enjoy the city the entire day, they’re usually the best days ever.
All those eats look absolutely amazing – I feel like I can taste them right off the screen!
Happy Monday :)
Pretty pictures!!
The carrot cake at Fresh is by Sweets From the Earth — and they sell their cakes out of a lot of stores now… so if you were ever craving it, it could always be available to you!
I was just in Toronto for the first time earlier this month… and I went to Fresh too.. and got the same thing! It was so good!! I want to visit more often because of that place!
As usual, your photographs are absolutely gorgeous! We usually make it to Toronto for a Leafs game and a Jays game every year, but if anything all we hit is the Eaton Centre. We really need to take a day or two to go down and enjoy the beauty of Toronto!
I love Toronto :) I wish I lived closer to it! but its like a 4 hour drive from my house. I have heard about Fresh, but I’ve never gone. I needs to get me a piece of that carrot cake!!
That cake…. WANT!
Aww Ange, what gorgeous photos!! Looks like you two had a lovely time, and the weather was so perfect! The quinoa battered onion rings look awesome too. I don’t recall seeing them on the menu last time I was there so maybe they’re new. And what was that we were saying about square dishes? ;) Have a great day!
This reminds me that I really should take a trip to Toronto. I live in MI so it’s really not that far from me! It looks so beautiful!
Whitney
Toronto looks beautiful! I never saw that park when I was in the city. Definitely going to check it out (and Fresh!) if I ever go back :)
We are in Montreal right now (actually leaving for Toronto today) and we saw a bunch of Stag Nights last night! How weird would it have been if we walked right by Eric and didn’t even know it? :)
Great post Angela and gorgeous pics! I love Fresh and am VERY familiar with those quinoa onion rings – to DIE for.
It sounds like a really perfect day! Fresh sounds like such a great restaurant, I wish there were something like here. Around where I live, it’s quite difficult to eat out – not so many veggie options!
the pictures of the bench and grass are just beautiful. I love the sun beams you captured. That meal looks divine and so fresh. I’m sure he was feeling much better after filling up on such good foods!
Sounds like a great day. I think we finally have the same sunshine here that you had yesterday.
Do you and Eric go to Montreal often? We try to go a few times a year.
I was at fresh this weekend too! Had the bbq burger with the onion rings ON TOP! So, SO good.
Beautiful pics!
You were right by my apartment on the waterfront! I so needed to read this post. I grew up on an acreage and often have a hard time appreciating Toronto haha. I’m seriously going to bookmark this page for whenever I need a fresh perspective on the city to see its better side!
Gorgeous photos! The wraps look amazing!
Stunning photos!
The photos are beautiful! And pleaseeeeee find a way to make the quinoa battered onion rings. They look delicious and healthier than regular onion rings so I wouldn’t feel too guilty eating them.
I want to take a nap on a slab of cake like that :)
The chipotle + avocado combo has my brain rolling in a bunch of directions – I’ve been on such a huge ‘cado kick lately and I used to love chipotle mayonaise, so I can only imagine how amazing a vegan chipotle spread would be!
Oh my gosh, Angela, you’re hitting me where it hurts, lol! I adore fresh, and went there several times when I was living in Toronto…your post is reminding me of some wonderful memories, thank you! the photos you take are absolutely breathtaking – you are so talented :-) xyx
Um I could have used that cake big time last weekend! :D Seriously though your photos were absolutely stunning today. Your food photography is fantastic but you should really do more of these types of photos too. You seem to have a great eye :)
aww thank you! i loooove photography!
Those oniont rings look amazing! Love that shot of the park bench- just gorgeous!
I’ve always dreamed of going to Fresh! AH! I need to head to Toronto ASAP! I have their cookbooks and swear by each of the recipes. That cake looks ah-mazing! Looks like you two had a fabulous time :)
gorgeous photos! and those wraps look out of this world. and I’m so intrigued by those quinoa onion rings! mmmmm
Oh my…those onion rings look AMAZING!!! And the dip too! mmmmmm.
Of course, my eyes zeroed right in on the Kathmandu wrap, named for my adopted city! It looks delicious, and I would love to recreate it here — if only I could find tahini in the stores. And that carrot cake. Oh my word. Do you think that Fresh might ship a slice to Kathmandu?
Hmm, my hubby was in Montreal for a “stag” party too…perhaps they were together..ha!
All those eats look to die for!
Those pictures from your walk are STUNNING. The chocolate cake and carrot cake look yummy!!
Wow! Those pictures look gorgeous! And that cake looks verrryyy yummmmyyy!
Gosh it looks gorgeous there!
quinoa battered onion rings!? consider my mind blown! Fresh looks like one of my restaurant dreams come true =) so jealous! <3
Happy monday doll!
Wow! I do not remember Toronto looking that beautiful! Perfect summer evening – thanks for capturing it!
Wow — gorgeous photos! I love the city at this time of year, and you’ve definitely done Toronto justice :) The city is at its best!
Lovely photos! Thanks for sharing such a wonderful evening! I have to say, though, that the pictures of your wraps are making my brown-bag lunch seem much less appetizing right now.. lol.
So happy I found your blog last week – I love it already!! :-)
Thanks Kristi!
This post made me so happy! It looks like such a wonderful time and you took some really beautiful pictures! :)
Such beautiful photography Ange !!
I find Fresh so hit-or-miss but I agree that the Grilled Vegetable and pesto wrap is mostly a hit! And the sweet potato fries with the miso gravy, of course. :)
Wow– that lunch looks so refreshing!! Beautiful shots all around!
what a nice way to spend a Sunday! I love it down by the waterfront.. seeing how active everyone is really inspires me to put on my running shoes. Great photos!!
I have never been out to Eastern Canada, and I desperately want to visit! I love the bustle of a large city, and the good food! Maybe I can convince M that we need to go to Toronto in the near future!
Thanks for this post. You captured how great a day in T.O. can be. I just discovered Fresh a couple months ago near my yoga studio. I’m on a mission to try everything on the menu by the end of this year…. can’t wait to try those onion rings next!
I love Ontario. Being from BC, the city, the busyness, and the atmosphere of Toronto just sucks me in.
We typically go to Ottawa every Canada day, but can’t make it this year due to work. This is devastating! There is nothing, nothing like Canada Day in Ottawa.
oh my goodness, the chipotle avocado sauce looks so delish. I made your 15-minute avocado cream pasta last night and i think by adding some chipotle to it you might end up with something similar! ps Im obsessed with that recipe and plan on putting the avocado sauce on everything. :)
Gorgeous post! The posts where I recognize the scenery are my favorites haha, and your photos of the food at Fresh are absolutely mouthwatering! Yum. I’ve never had the Kathmandu wrap, looks divine. I had the tempeh ceaser salad the last time I went and it was honestly the best salad I’ve had in quite some time. Mmm, Fresh.
ha ha I was surprised when I saw your last photo – how did you get a shot of downtown without any cranes in it? It seems like they are everywhere these days :)
Angela – which location did you go to? Every single time I go (which is 1-2x a week) there is alway carrot cake! It is the best thing ever made. I have even ordered whole ones for birthday parties! Expensive, but delicious!
Love the onion rings…never tried the avocado dip though. I usually get mine with the BBQ sauce. I think I’ll switch it up next time! Kathmandu is one of my top orders as well. Sometimes I order it on a bed of greens when I’m not in the wrap mood ;)
Omg, you’ve outdone yourself with pictures today – the sky in those last couple is so stunning! And I love the dusky light in the one with the flowers. I have total place-envy… and yes, food-envy. Those onion rings! Those wraps! I gotta get to the shops, asap…
This looks delicious! My boyfriend is originally from Toronto (we live Pennsylvania now) and we’ll be heading up this weekend to celebrate both Canada Day and Independence Day with his family and to take in the Phillies-Blue Jays series.
His family is very traditional Greek so he keeps telling me that they’ll be stuffing us to the gills, but if we manage to sneak away for a meal, I’ll suggest Fresh be our stop!
What beautiful pictures!! Looks like an amazing day trip! I HAVE TO GO TO FRESH! It looks SO good!
My husband is always down on Toronto (he’s from Montreal) but your pictures make it look positively beautiful! Maybe I can convince him to vacation there next summer… :)
Looks like a great day. I like the sunset pictures! I rooted for the women’s canada soccer team yesterday; they played a good game.
Love the look of the Kathmandu wrap. I have had a recent “thing” for falafel. The curried chickpeas look like a wonderful alternative.
Quinoa-battered Onion Rings with Chipotle Avocado sauce = WHOA. My life will not be complete without this.
I run on this exact route every weekend and love it :)
I love that picture of the swan!
The Detoxifier is my favorite juice there…rather…I love this one so much I haven’t tried the other juices:)! My sister brought me a piece of their carrot cake a couple of weeks ago and I loved it. I am still thinking about it now!!
Fantastic photos (as always!) Have a great week.
puffed quinoa o-rings. I’d be in pure heaven.
Your pictures look amazing! I love walking around the river on a beautiful day.
I’ve never been a fan of onion rings but I had some that were battered in corn meal and they were the best! :-)
please please please attempt to make those onion rings and dip, and blog about it asap :) :) they look so good! if anyone could do it, I know you could :)
Great pics! I’m a sucker for sailboats. Of course, I’d also be a sucker for that Kathmandu wrap. It looks soooo tasty!
Ooo those wraps look amazing but not as amazing as those ONION RINGS. Please please please recreate Angela. I need those with the dipping sauce like yesterday.
Toronto has so many yummy vegan eats how amazing!!!
Everything looks incredible, especially those onion rings! :D
hi,
my name is jealous. jealous wants to eat some of your food (especially those quinoa onion rings). jealous also would like to be sitting on that bench in that pretty picture you took. jealous will be back tomorrow to do what she does best… be herself :-)
(i think i’ve had too much coffee.. don’t judge me)
hehe
Quinoa battered onion rings- Really? Sound pretty fabulous to me.
Wow — everything looks incredible!
Your photography in this post is AMAZING!!!!
I love the photos! You should get a photography career ;)
The food also looks delicious! I wish I lived close to you to enjoy lots of it
Quinoa-battered onion rings?! OMG! those look heavenly. :)
Mmm I love the restaurant Fresh! Their cookbook is really nice too!
I adore your photography angela! Seriously it’s so awesome!
Lovely! Glad to see you made it to the city to enjoy a little urban summer lovin :)
Gorgeous pics! I was happy to see you split both desserts. I saw that cupcake and thought “man, only 2 bites of cupcake?” and then smiled when I saw the cake! Hee hee
What a lovely post and beautiful photos, Angela!
The Double Chocolate Fudge Cake really has my name ALL over it! Interesting that you like the carrot cake even better. Ok, I’ll take your word for it.
I love that you and Eric had a lovely walk, meals, time together, just enjoying life and savoring summer and enjoying Toronto.
Yay for those blessings in life :)
What a beautiful day!!! Your photos are lovely. I’m not a big fan of onion rings but those look like the best I’ve ever seen. I can’t believe you don’t put fruit in your fresh juice…that is intense!! :) Glad you had such a great evening with the huz.
Lovely photos! Im so jealous of your quinoa battered onion rings! What an novel idea!
LOVE the glowing sun shots!!!
Also, can’t believe that wrap was named after me!
Gorgeous pics! I love that you got Eric to drink a green juice! Once my husband sees greens going into the juicer he runs away.
OH MY GOSH YOU SHOULD COME DOWN TO ROCHESTER!!! Toronto is soooo close. Slash I can’t wait to visit and try that delicious looking food!
Stunning pictures Angela! So crisp and clear. Also, Toronto is really fun in the summer months. So much to do all the time. And the festivals! Amazing.
You are making me want Fresh SOOO badly now! I ate at this nice little bakery in Guelph yesterday and had a sunflower seed spread wrap with avocado, pea shoots, and all these other veggies; it was SO good and now I want to go back for more spread! haha
omg toronto looks gorgeous!
omg toronto looks gorgeous!
wow. Thanks for this is all I have to say. GREAT PICS!!!!
Why must I live where there are NO restaurants like this?!?! WHY?!?!
So very very stunning!
delicious food and the photos are amazing! I particularly love the water ones and the bench one. :D
AHHHHHH I want to eat that cake through the computer screen! My sister had that cake from Fresh as her wedding cake. It is the best cake ever.
I can’t believe I’ve STILL never been to Fresh!! There’s always just SUCH a long line whenever I pass by (on Bloor AND Queen), and I dont have any friends eager enough to indulge in pricey, vegan foods :(
*Sigh* Your pictures of the waterfront remind me of how much I love living in Toronto <3
izzyy
The quinoa battered onion rings at fresh are my ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE! Looks like you had a great time :)
WOW those pictures are beautiful, and that green juice looks enticing. I can’t even begin to imagine how you would bread onion rings with quinoa.
Hahaha hearing Eric say he wanted dandelion must have made your heart flutter a bit. ;) It sounds like his eating habits have changed so much!
Your pictures are simply beautiful and your meal, looks nothing less than amazing and tantalizing!!! If you figure out how to re-make the wrap, would you share how to?
Thanks!
All those photos look so beautiful. And I could live on those cakes! I’ve always wanted the world to turn upside down so that cakes, ice-creams etc to be the healthy part of life that you should eat minimum three servings a day of.
Not sure which is more beautiful: the food or the scenery!
Thanks for the recommendation and review! This place looks amazing!! I will be in Toronto in August and will check it out for sure!
The onion rings and the chocolate cake look kind of AMAZING!
And what gorgeous pictures!
I’ve been reading your blog for awhile now and I just wanted to tell you how amazing your recipes are and your personality is wonderful! Your updates are always so happy and glowing. Thanks to you my husband and I are making baby steps towards going from vegan to raw and have enjoyed implementing your dinners, desserts, and lunches along the way. I always look forward to reading your website in the morning when I get to work and then end up wishing we had a restaurant that served anything as delectable as these photos look! I think Texans really love their meat and potatoes. :)
Thank you so much Holly!
What lovely photos! Every single one.
& those wraps and smoothies, mmm I need to recreate them. :)
Angela, this post is sooooo happy. All that food – OMG looks so amazing. i bet that restaurant is addictive!
Looks so pretty!! That restaurant looks fab!
Lovely scenic photos & wow, quinoa onion rings! You really can do anything with quinoa. Just curious, is there a reason why you normally don’t juice fruits? :)
Have a reFRESHing week! :)
I’ve been reading WAAAY too much Margaret Atwood…
I recognized all the places on that map and in those photos just from her descriptions…
crazy!
The first time I ever tried vegan food was at Fresh. Back then, I was not a very adventurous eater and I thought everything on the menu looked gross… but I ordered the Thai burger and instantly fell in love!
SUCH beautiful pics! I just want to take a bit of that wrap… and the chocolate cake… and the cupcake. Oh, I think I’m just hungry! :) ANyway, I wanted to let you know that I made your green monster smoothy for the first time and now I’m hooked! Can’t wait to glow from the inside out too! :)
So excited that we’re juicing it up tonight! I can’t decide what I want to use!
Ang, your photos are absolutely breathtaking!!! You are so SO talented!
Looks like you had a wonderful date with your hubby :) Good for you girl!!
Yay for Toronto!
Glad you had a wonderful experience.
The pictures are GORGEOUS!
And yes, I am having a smoothie for breakfast tomorrow haha.
Wow what an awesome lunch and an amazing day! Your photographs are stunning as always :)
Beautiful pictures! :D
looking forward to making the curry chickpea wrap for myself….hmmm how should i make this?
That chocolate cake looks incredible!!!
quinoa breaded onion rings!?! i die!!
Is it a bit crazy that I am excited for my trip to Toronto purely as it means I get to eat at Fresh!? And can i add my trip to Toronto isn’t actually scheduled until July 2012!? LOL!
The Sweets from the Earth carrot cake is something special! Have you visited Vegetarian Haven yet? They often have the cake in stock and their food is so so delicious! I’ve found whole cakes at two whole foods stores on queen west Organic Boutique and the Leslieville Cheese Market.
http://www.vegetarianhaven.com/site/
no not yet but its on my list!!
Loved this post. What a great day!
Sunday was a gorgeous day in Toronto. I was in town visiting friends (one of whom coincidentally lives in my old apartment building! LOL)
Saturday wasn’t too bad either…it rained but not enough to keep us from going to the zoo.
do you think you can replicate the quinoa onionrings?!
My ALL time favourite restaurant! I went there all the time during my first year of school..probably not the best choice being a student and all but I couldn’t resist! :D I like the veggie burgers but the wraps and fresh bowls are to die for too :)
I’ve been wanting to try that Kathmandu wrap; it’s in the refresh cookbook
As a result, our blue raspberry cupcakes turned out great and provided an extremely tasty
taste that I haven’t tasted anywhere else.