they make a version of it that doesn't have fish sauce in it (while most places claim to have "vegetarian" phad thais and secretly slip the stuff in without even telling you - I mean, they tell you if you ask, but you might not know to ask.) Oh, it's also delicious in its Tastiness Aptitude Rating (TAR). My TAR reader printed out a measure of 8.2, but I forgot to calibrate it first.

from 9 - 11:30pm at Clinton's Tavern on Mondays, some elite names from Toronto's alternative comedy scene come together, along with the bodies represented by those names, and perform the kind of improv that make the viewer understand what Descartes meant when he said, "Holy bananas, that's funny!"

it's cheap, and I love eating my food with that flat and round bread thing... that sponge-bread... and it's flat, you know, like a flat sponge, but it's bread. You know? Just try it.

well, dairy's not a big part of my diet, so when I go for it, I make sure it's good - Future's good. Their wide variety of cakes actually come from the future, in a time where flavours no longer quarrel, but instead work together in sweet harmony on the tongue.

they've got a very friendly attitude, and the owner once saved some friends of mine from a hooligan late at night. If there's one thing this place does not stand for, it's hooliganry. It's pricier (since it's organic I guess), but I like to supplement my grocery supply here.

you never forget your first roti, they say, and they're right. This roti-made-with-love is a nice Caribbean-style curry, which is surprisingly distinct from the North Indian-style you get at Gandhi's. Plus Pam's a real character, like the kind of fiesty woman character you see in sitcoms, who gives advise to the young and confused character. Go see her if you're ever young and confused, I bet she'd do great.

I like takeout to have variety, and Bo Do Duyen has the most of that. Whatever your favourite traditional (ie. carnivorous) Chinese-food dish is, you can most likely get a vegetarian version here.

it's basically next door to my house, they have a few varieties of non-dairy ice-cr... stuff, and just the smell of their fresh-baked waffle cones is divine. Most other ice-cream shops haven't even learned how to be close to my house yet, let alone the other two things.

, oh, the flavours they create in their secret flavour-lab rival the best in the business. The naan is fantastic, the aloo gobi, the mattar paneer... Someday I will fuse with their cashew sauce and become pure light.

their bargain basement is filled with dollar books, and their regular prices are severely reduced from cover price in most cases. I spend most of my time in their wonderful Science section, contemplating the atom and other small things.

it really is the only high-quality falafel I've had since Syriandipity on Queen closed under mysterious circumstances. I find most falafels slightly offputting by the time I'm done, perhaps owed to the fact that they're deep-fried, but Sarah's's don't affect me in this way, so I consider them an ally falafel.

I'm currently enrolled in the Vegetarian Indian class, and I think I'm well on my way to reverse-engineering the Gandhi's Roti (See roti fave for details). Complete five out of six of their vegetarian courses, and you get a vegetarian chef certificate. Complete the sixth to unlock a bonus stage and new weapons.

the flavours react with the tongue to create all kinds of positive sensations! Very fresh food.

you can easily make two meals out of their giant rotis. I stick with the mixed veg, but I hear their specialty is the butter chicken. Only place I've been to where the "hot" was too much - I go for "medium."

well, I don't really know any other specialty vegetarian shoe stores in the city, but the owner, Mr. Fish of the fabulous Fish Bros., is a swell guy. I get all my sneakers here. Sweatshop-free too.

they tend to have a few cheeseless options available at all times. Perhaps not yet as flavourful as their lactosey brothers, but the technology is still young.

I'm no coffee guy, but I enjoy a soy latte if it's been sweetened enough. And whenever I go to Ideal and hang out for a bit in the morning hours, friends will pass and chat and good times are had. Name something better that isn't a dinosaur. You can't.

if you're willing to commit to 10 days of silence, and a strict code of coduct, the benefits are innumerable. They set themselves apart from the profit motive by being funded purely by donations made in positive volition.

Their deli slices are so moist and believable. More and more stores are carrying them these days, which means I'm getting closer and closer to meeting the recommended daily allowance of sandwiches.

while Big Fat Burrito wins originality points for their yam burrito, Burro Burrito (previously "Bar Burrito") offers a slightly more extensive menu with quesadillas. They also get close-to-my-house points, so when you add it up, Burro wins. It's just maths.

they offer performance classes for people of all levels and backgrounds, and they put on so many shows fueled by the love of improv - actual good improv. Improvisation, as we all know, is excellent exercise for the prefrontal lobe, which is something just about everyone has!

there's this one tree - I'll add a picture soon - that begs you to climb it, and constantly harkens you higher. Still gotta check out High Park though.

they practically double as a health-food store, and can easily meet all of your non-produce grocery needs. Reasonable prices, and a seemingly never-ending "special price" on raw cashews and almonds. These guys have made cheap vegetarianism easy.

portions the size of monsters for insignificant amounts of currency. You give them the currency, they give you the portions. Imitation duck is the topper.

they make great efforts to use as much local organic produce as possible, which is key to sustainable living, guys. Great about replacing bad products too.