Upon entering Serano Bakery, customers are immediately struck by the cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The decor is simple and chic, with minimalistic accents and a focus on the delicious treats on display. The bakery is always bustling with activity, with a constant stream of customers coming in and out. The staff is friendly and attentive, creating a warm and inviting vibe.

Serano Bakery boasts an extensive menu of baked goods for every taste and preference. Their signature offerings include a variety of Greek delicacies. They also have a wide selection of pastries, including baklava, traditional greek cookies, mini choux puffs and more. For those with a sweet tooth, there are plenty of tempting options, such as cheesecake, profiteroles, gelato, cakes, etc. The bakery also offers a selection of savoury items for lunch, as well as coffee and tea to wash it all down. Everything is made with high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, ensuring that each bite is bursting with flavour.

For the second anniversary of my food blog, they gave me a beautiful vegan vanilla cake with my signature colour (pink!) I shared this cake with a bunch of my biggest supporters and it was a hit with EVERY SINGLE PERSON! The cream perfectly complemented the cake in a way that was light, airy and delicious. I also loved how the cake was very balanced, the icing wasn’t too sweet and the simple decorations on the cake were beautiful too!

On many different occasions my family has gotten trays of Serano’s profiteroles because it has become our favourite dessert. The dessert is composed of mini cream puffs covered with chocolate ganache and sliced almonds. These are also eggless and are the perfect finale to a dinner party. I love how light the cream puffs are and how the chocolate ganache is rich but not heavy. I would highly recommend trying out the chocolate profiterole tray or cups!

One of the standout features of Serano Bakery is its excellent customer service. The staff is always friendly and willing to assist customers with their orders, offering recommendations and answering any questions. They are also happy to accommodate special requests and dietary restrictions, such as gluten-free or vegan options. The bakery has a reputation for providing a high level of service, and it shows in the way they interact with its customers.

Overall, Serano Bakery is a standout option in the Toronto bakery scene. With its cozy ambiance, extensive menu, and exceptional customer service, it is no wonder that it is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. Whether you are looking for a quick breakfast pastry on the go or a birthday cake for a friend, Serano Bakery has something for everyone. It is well worth a visit for anyone in the area looking for delicious and high-quality baked goods. Check out their Website and Instagram!

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I tried their White Chocolate Raspberry ice cream in a fresh red velvet cone! I loved their rich ice cream and the cone added so much flavour to the combo. We also tried their Saffron Pistachio flavour and I loved how in both of the ice creams there were mix-ins like white chocolate pieces or pistachio pieces.

They also offer amazing vegan ready to eat cookie dough! Some of my favourite flavours include birthday cake cookie dough, brownie batter cookie dough and cookies and cream cookie dough. Some of their cool gluten-free options include their dulce, Nutella, pecan sticky buns, churro cheesecake, etc. These are available by request! I loved their white chocolate raspberry ice cream and their fresh cones were delicious too!

I would definitely recommend trying their cookie dough or ice cream or BOTH! Check out their Website and Instagram.

The post Stuffed Cookies and Flavoured Cones? – Pandoughras Box appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

There’s been some debate, however, over the nutritional quality of meat substitutes. Also, until recently it would be fair to say that many of the substitutes tasted like meat but certainly not to the degree where you could fool anyone. But plant-based meat has taken a huge leap forward thanks to tech startups and entrepreneurs. Most everyone’s heard about the famous vegan ‘bleeding burgers,’ but when consumers begin to get a taste of what’s about to hit the market, those offerings will pale by comparison. We’re talking about what’s being termed ‘alternative’ or ‘new meat,’ some of which is printed using a 3D printer so that layers of texture and flavours can be laid down to create a product that’s the closest humankind has come to replicating animal flesh. London celebrity chef Marco Pierre White, a man not known for his hatred of cooked animal protein, is among those championing ‘new meat.’ White hosted an ‘alt meat’ taste event covered by The Guardian in late 2021 and the invitees were effusive. “I judge on taste, texture and appearance – I’ve had so many bland and dull plant products,” noted chef and barbecue expert Ben Bartlett. “Then suddenly this came along and I was marking them 9s and 10s.” Nines and tens are pretty darn high scores for meat that’s 100% plant-based. Among the main reasons these new high-tech iterations of substitute meat products are winning taste buds is that they are being created by teams of people that include vegans and vegetarians, but also butchers, chefs, and barbecue experts. These firms are aiming for the masses – most of whom like the taste of meat, and ‘new meat’ companies are giving people what they want.  

The expanding waistlines of North America are not completely attributable to the consumption of meat, but the amount of meat we North Americans eat isn’t helping. Increasingly, folks are becoming aware of health issues associated with eating animals, including high cholesterol and a host of other conditions. When it comes to some processed meats, some experts have gone as far as to declare them probable or possible carcinogens. And then there’s the bigger picture. Looking past one’s own health, there’s the health of the planet… a planet that by some estimates is scheduled to be home to 9 or perhaps even 10 billion people within a couple of decades. Anyone who’s even taken a cursory look at the meat industry will quickly realize that the word “unsustainable” hardly does the situation justice. It may be possible to sustainably raise animals for food on a very small scale, such as occurred back in the early days of this nation when a farmer might have a few cows, goats, and some chickens, but to get meat down to the cheap prices it sells for today, factory farming is pretty much the only way to get there. The destructiveness and pollution caused by the mass raising and processing of animals for food are shocking. And conscientious Canadians, not only but especially younger people, are increasingly no longer willing to turn a blind eye.

Climate change is an accepted fact by most, and a good percentage of its cause is the food industry…specifically the meat industry. The amount of feed that must be grown to feed the animals that become food is astounding, and you can find all sorts of almost unbelievable statistics online claiming it takes (insert-huge-number) amount of water and other resources to bring, say, 1 lb. of beef to the table. But even if those sources are exaggerations, it’s easy to see how the industry isn’t efficient by any stretch of the imagination. Should we insist on continuing our current trajectory with a couple extra billion people added into the mix, we’re possibly looking at the potential of a rather dystopian future. Both vegans and meat lovers should welcome the arrival of high-tech alternative plant-based meat. To use some clichés, ‘alt-meat’ is bringing us the best of both worlds and letting us have our cake and eat it, too.

The post Plant-Based Meat Goes High-Tech – And Just in Time, Too appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Fall and winter styles are coming in strong with leathers BUT if you’re looking for fashionable pieces without the use of animal products, Toronto-based designer Hilary MacMillan scores high on both style and quality. Beautiful, timeless, cruelty-free fabrics are used in her designs. We also love how this designer creates (and shows) modern-pieces for a range of sizes.

Luxury handbags don’t need to be thousands of dollars, nor do they need to be made from the creatures that roam the earth. ai Toronto Seoul delivers on well-thought out handbag line that makes a statement on their own. Stylish pieces by this Korean Canadian family run businesses on Queen Street West (also available online).

When it comes to Canadian beauty, Victoria Radford’s line automatically comes to mind. Yes, she’s from Toronto but she’s worked on some of the most recognizable faces globally (hey, Fergie!). Her vegan line turns heads and we’re crushing all over her TINT — a sheer oil-free tinted moisturizer that provides just the right amount of coverage to even out skin tones. Speaking of skin tones Radford Beauty TINT recently expanded to include even more shades.

Vegan is clean and beautiful and we’ve recently discovered Canadian brand Clean Kiss that offers a range of effective skincare for women (and men). Cleansers, serums, creams and all-natural deodorants not only naturally smell amazing but they are great for heading into the winter months where hydration is key. Founder Jodie Pappas’s pro-aging beauty mindset is also something we’re really on board with. She also offers up skin-care and lifestyle consults to everyone.

Spa rituals are your thing? We fell in love with  Bathorium’s Hinoki Cypress Bath Flakes. This soothing and blissful soak is made with Yuzu essential oil, with Hinoki Cypress oil, distilled Ginger C02, Tibetan Magnesium Salt, and Dendridric Salt. Fills your bathroom with a light beautiful scent and leaves you feeling calm and ready for a restful night.

Duckish focuses on creating beautiful clean, natural and concentrated waterless products made here in Canada. They do not add any water or fillers to their products. Their bath bombs are dye-free. Duckish even has products gentle and safe to use on babies.

Our winters really test us on some days and Montreal-based NOIZE is out to prove that outwear can be vegan, stylish, AND warm. From vegan leathers, wools and furs, their jackets and coats rival any of those out on the marketplace with flattering styles for men, women, and yes, even pets.

Salads are the main event these days ever since we’ve added La Presserie’s cold-pressed artisanal dressings. This Canadian brand has brought us cold-pressed juices (and even varieties that are kid friendly) but recently launched a full line of delicious dressings. Crafted from raw cold pressed fruits and vegetables, we’ve made this a go-to for everyday. Actually made us look forward to eating salads even more.

Us die-hard Canadians will not let winter stop us from BBQing! While the marketplace has many options for vegan burgers, Sol Cuisine, a Canadian brand (started in Toronto in 1980) and still tops our list with their Extreme Griller Burger that impresses even the carnivores in our lives.

Entertaining over the holiday season? Yes, charcuterie boards continue to be all the rage but don’t forget to add in more veggies and legumes. Easily done by adding your favourite hummus, dips and salads from Canadian family-owned Summer Fresh. Their limited edition flavours Everything Bagel Hummus and Dill Pickle Chip flavoured hummus are real hits.

Still hesitant to venture out to the grocery store but want more veggies and fruits? Mama Earth Organics home delivery service is one we love. Why? Each weekly delivery is a surprise filled with freshest produce. But if you’re not quite sure what to do with rutabaga (example) or have food sensitivities, there’s an option to customize your box! Feeling like you need a break from cooking? There are vegetarian options for prepared meals, salads, and soups too.

Cheese can be vegan? We were happy to discover Nuts for Cheese. Originally by  Margaret Coons, a Londoner (Ontario) who started her business with creating a 100% plant-based and dairy-free cheese. She began selling at the local farmer’s market. As a vegan chef she was interested in using high quality ingredients. Today, she has a solid fan base of vegans and non-vegans alike. Today her “cheese” wedges and butters can be found at Whole Foods, Farm boy and other grocers.

Even chocolate lovers will turn heads when they get a taste of ChocoSol Traders dairy-free bean to bar offerings. Created in small batches right here in Toronto, this local brand has found its way to some fine food and healthy food retailers across the country.

There are plenty more options out there and we’re constantly on the look out. Let us know if you’ve tried any that are truly stars!

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Vegan Hummus and Pasta Bake

Ingredients

– 227g Summer Fresh Caramelized Onion Hummus or Roasted Garlic Hummus
– 2 cups Pasta (of choice)
– 1 cup Butternut squash, diced (steamed)
– 1 small crown Broccoli, chopped (steamed)
– 1 tbsp Olive Oil
– 2 tsp Garlic Powder
– 1 cup Pasta Water
– Juice of 1/2 of a Lemon
– 1/2 cup Bread Crumbs
– 1 cup Vegan Cheese

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

2. Cook the pasta according to the package directions, reserved 1 cup of pasta water

3. Add the hummus, garlic powder and lemon juice to the pasta. Add pasta water, starting with 1/2 cup and increasing as needed to form a creamy consistency.

4. Mix in, broccoli, butternut squash, vegan cheese.

5. Divide the pasta equally into four greased oven-safe baking dishes and top with bread crumbs.

6. Bake for 20 – 25 minutes or until the dish is lightly browned.

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