Peanutbutter Cheesecake MMMM
More love for Heartwood. Photo essay
Portabello sandwich and daily soup
Daily special, quesadilla tofu, beans, roast veggies.
nachos
Archive for where to eat in halifax
Heartwood love
VeganMofo: Day 2: HeartWood Bakery and Vegan Cafe
Heart wood is one of the many fabulous local buisness in Halifax that cater to vegetarians, vegans and those with dietary constraints. Don’t let the dessert case fool you, heartwood means seriously filling, healthy, and organic eating.
The majority of their menu items rely on fresh local produce and changes slightly to accommodate regional flavours and what they have on stock. Lately it’s been beets. In everything, included our beet salsa and freshly grated redness over everything.
Whenever I’m feeling under the weather or as if my non-green days have been too many, I hit up heartwood. On cold rainy halifax days, their soups call to me. Different batches each day full of vegetable goodness they never disappoint.
Another daily go to is their special board. The daily special changes daily (duh) so try and get it while it lasts. Unlike most daily specials this isn’t a reduced price main, but rather a unique creation made by the kitchen staff based on sheer whim and fairy dust. I’ve only rarely seen specials repeat, so it’s always a good bet to try it out while it’s there, because who knows when you’ll get the change again.
The special is usually 10.99 and includes a main, side, condiments and other assortments based on the dish. This time it was a vegan Quesadia stuffed with black bean, vegetables, tofu all sauted in spices with some fresh herbs, peppers, onions and shredded carrot. There was a spicy mole sauce on the side, the ww crispy tortilla was topped with their vegan cream sauce. Kinda like cheesy sour scream but with more flavour.
The side was steam greens a heartwood favourite. We also ordered vegan nachos to start. And I couldn’t resist dessert, which was much better than I remembered.
The lovely mole sauce
All their desserts are gluten free and often chocolate free as well so i’ve had issues with the texture (i’m a gluten snob). But the cheese cake today was great!
The lovely chocolate PB, so creamy smooth. Despite their lack of sweeterners it was pleasantly rich and tasty.
Veganmofo: Weekend Edition! Farmer’s Market (Photo heavy)
Hey guys,
sorry for the delay in posts, my friend Katie and I went to the farmer’s market in downtown Halifax. Our market is currently being held in the old Keith’s Brewery, a older cozy labyrinth of tunnels, floors and boths of farm fresh goodies and local crafts!
There is so much to see and do, traffic (of other people that is) is a bit of an issue, but with their new space down the road they will have event more floors and a much more open space. So although I will miss the charm and maze of the keith’s brewery the extra elbow room and being open 4 days a week will be a welcome change.
Let’s get started!
The Market Attrium various fresh produce tables, an apple cider and apples section and two bakers! The mushroom guy no longer seems to be active, but in his place there were some fine produce vendors who made jams, salsas and more!
The Atrium is by far the roomiest portion of the market tour so be sure to savour your personal space while you still can before moving on to the downward winding stair case, or through the various arches, into the craft hallways or back up the stairs for level two and three.
This Market trip not only did I visit Happy Hippie Granola, but I found another granola enthusiast who did all kinds of gluten free mixes, yum!
Here is a shot of one of the craft tunnels, there is a great word working guy who has amazing Atlantic products. Beautiful, beautiful work.
in the back of this photo you can see the atrium.
More crafts!
I was so tempted by the prospect of fresh garden herbs, but I feared the little guys wouldn’t survive the canvas bag and the hike home. So for another day.
This is one of the many apple and cider booths. You can get samples, buy a glass, a liter or two or the gallon sizes. MMMM
Cider is what fall is all about.
Vendors in action
onions and shallots
For some reason there were some beautiful cherry tomatoes, I missed another shot of tiny yellow and red ones in baskets.
so cute
Broccoli and flowers (i think?)
I have a few action shots of consumers grabbing some taters
Carrots! Just be sure to ask them not to snap off the greens before hand if you want to keep them.
more carrots, further along there were vendors of rainbow carrots but I ran out of card space
Autumn produce, look at the kale!!!
Plus local artist are always hiding in the corridors providing a great atmosphere (photo is awful, sorry)
I also came across an amazing new addition. RAW CHOCOLATE! Cocaonibs, pure cocoa, vegan hand made chocolates and raw fudge (with coconut oil or without) So creamy and SAMPLES! 
The basement has sweet shops, glass art, wines, jams, soaps and the lovely atlantic hemp. with hemp seed samples
Second/main floor 2 (the building is on a hill, so depending on which side your on this is the main or second floor)
Now between staff of life vegan cinnamon apple rolls or their chocolate cinnamon apple rolls fresh with coffee and tea and this Indian stand it really doesn’t matter where else I go. I normally get a chickpea roll (but there are many vegan options, I am just a roll sucker) and they come with lovely side salads.
More produce!
Apple empire
plums
1$ each for these bad boys! Plus the closer it is to closing the cheaper things get. So if you can risk the time limit, go near close and get 7-9 for the price of 1. 
I also noticed this new addition, so great!
My good friend katie chowing down her vegan cinna-bun
So if your a hungry vegan warrior, get yourself to your local market. Know your farmers, their practises and get yourself some quality produce. Maybe even some good deals.
Bonus: when I got home and de-stalked the Brussels party stole the stalk and ran around with it all day.
Veganmofo:Brooklyn Ware House -Review
Brooklyn Ware House may be one of the most charming settings for dining I have ever visited. It’s just so darn cute. Everything from the ambiance lighting, attractive and sweet waiting staff, local art, vibrant decor, attractive seating, frosted wine bottles used as water jugs to the green lantern mantle piece over setting the bar. Behind which you can spot a charming collection of cookbooks.
The place looks great, and despite being a omni restaurant (serving things like rabbit stew 😦 ) they have their menus clearly labelled as to which items are vegan and state on the bottom that they can adapt numerous things to be vegan, vegetarian or gluten free. Our server even mentioned that they are trying to get in a vegan dessert.
When we took our seats by the window, as if I wasn’t already enthralled with this little bistro the speakers crackle and “Heart Shaped Box” – By Nirvana starts to seep through. As if the green lantern bar piece didn’t earn enough love. Throughout our meal, I don’t think they played a single bad song. It was amazing. They even had a rendition of old school Mario music, epic.
We ordered the vegan entrée Vegan Carbonara, which uses almond milk to create a smooth velvety sauce served over angel hair, with steamed green beans, a portabello, roasted smokey tofu and pea shoots. Beautiful presentation, and the sauce was very very good. The only off putting part was the giant portabello …. that was plain… just steamed giant hunk of mushroom on top, so it never touches the sauce. Ick, and I happen to really like Portabellos.. but I have never before heard of just steaming them and eating them. Severely disappointed, because as great as everything else is (and it is soo great) this was a bit disappointing for a small 15$ (!!) plate.
However, this is only one menu item that was listed as vegan, they offer a different lunch fare that is more reasonably priced. Their drink list is great, with soy milk for all lattes etc. I order a chia latte and on that rainy day it was like drinking a little piece of heaven.
This is an adorable omni restaurant that is really trying to make an effort and include vegans so by all means they should be encouraged, but for the sake of your budget I would recommend them as a lunch destination as they are fully operational as a cafe/bar and they do have vegan appetizers which I haven’t tried. I would be interested to go back and find out which menu items can be altered to be made vegan and perhaps try those.
Over all it is someplace that you could go with someone who doesn’t like vegan foods and wants to order meat while you get something else. But when it comes to dinner, I find the price doesn’t live up to the meal.However, if you ordered extra sauce and maybe slice your mushroom you may wind up with better results.
A- for effort
A+ for atmospher
B- for food
A+ for drinks
A for service
Out of ten, I would say its a 7. This is just one place, I do not want to give up on.
Veganmofo: Halifax Eats: Minato’s
Greetings Mofo’ers.
Tonights dinner experience is courtesy of Minato’s Sushi, one of the greatest places to eat in Halifax.
Minato Sushi Japanese Restaurant
520 Queen Street
Halifax, NS B3J 2H8
(902) 420-0331
Sadly I forgot my camera so I was unable to photograph the restaurant, but I do have some older photos of all the veggie goodness. Minato’s is a charming little resturant tucked in by a thrift store and used book shop in downtown halifax. The decor is traditional chique and the food is outstanding!
They have a variety of vegan/vegetarian options outside of the usual sushi bar offerings, all of which are outstanding. Their new menu also includes which items are made with Bonito (nasty fish flakes!), making them easier to avoid. Sadly their miso soup is not vegan, but they offer other Korean and Japanese treats.
The best of which is their Veggie Dragon Maki roll, if you only order one item, let it be this. It is outstanding! A must eat in Halifax. Crisp hot tempura sweet potato, wrapped in Nori and sushi rice topped with glorious avocado slices and coated in a sweet and savory sauce. We order it everytime we go.
Green tea and roasted rice tea served in traditional pots for the table or warm sake really hit the spot.
They have other vegan options ranging from vegetable tempura, gyōza, tofu in ponzu sauce, korean dumplings and many others. I strongly suggest you check it out.
Unhealthy Vegan 