With that in mind, here’s the catch: we’re poor.

I know, you’re shocked. How could a magazine that depends on vegan-friendly companies and folks like yourself to support it be poor, right? Well, apparently life can be expensive, especially when you throw in student loans, rent, and a few other things (like food).

Of course, this means we’re trying to get across the country as cheaply as possible, while still maintaining a schedule so that we can book venues in cities along the way. Thus, biking and hitchhiking are out.

Luckily, this is where you come in! Here’s a PROPOSED list of the tour, followed by a list of what we’re in need of at each stop. If you think you can help in any way wherever you live, drop us a line.

Possible T.O.F.U. tour stops

Halifax
Moncton
Saint John
Fredericton
Quebec City
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
Winnipeg
Brandon
Regina or Saskatoon
Calgary or Edmonton
Vancouver

Things we need help with

• Venues to hold the event (preferably with a speaker system to allow live music)
• Musicians (preferably at least one veg*n member in each act)
• Local organizations to table and promote awareness of the work they do (should be appropriate for a vegan event)
• Couch/floor/reclining chair to sleep in

If you think you have an answer to any of these, feel we should host an event in your area, or just want to be involved but don’t quite know what to do, email us (ryan at ilovetofu.ca) and we’ll start working on this together.

With the past issue we were able to go one step further with helping people through the T.O.F.U. grant, and we’re looking forward to being able to continue this program through future issues. Since another one is just around the corner, we have been working towards finding other avenues to support people in their related work. One of the ways we have decided to do this is through directly sponsoring vegan-related events, or at least advertising with them when possible.

With this in mind, T.O.F.U. is proud to be involved with the following:

Berkeley Vegan Earth Day – San Francisco, California, USA
April. 22nd, 2011

Berkeley Vegan Earth Day will feature a screening of the award-winning feature documentary, “Call of Life, Facing the Mass Extinction” by Species Alliances, which investigates the growing threat to Earth’s life support systems as a result of dwindling biodiversity. Following the screening, there will be a panel discussion featuring experts in vegan lifestyle and nutrition, and environmentalism. The admission also includes a delicious, vegan, catered reception sponsored by Vérité Catering, which specializes in plant-based cuisine.

For more information, please contact Karine Brighten Events.

Ottawa Veg Fest 2011 – Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Sunday, May. 1st, 2011

From fun costumes, to free samples, to guest speakers and a silent auction, there is something for everyone at this family-friendly, grassroots event. This year’s keynote speaker, former NHL-player turned vegan Georges Laraque, and the great NCVA Cupcake Challenge are bound to be highlights from what is set to be a great event.

Vida Vegan Blogger Conference – Portland, Oregon, USA
August. 26th to 28th, 2011

Workshops, discussion panels, speakers, special events, vegan food, and more. This conference will celebrate, explore, and fine-tune the practice—and ever-growing community—of vegan bloggers.

For more information, please see the Behind the Scenes post on the organizers, one of whom contributed to the last issue.

We’re hoping this list will continue to grow over the coming months, and we’re open to suggestions if you have them.

Since I feel this is a great group to support, I offered to at least spread the word. So, if you have something to donate to a great cause, or just want to attend, please head over to their website to find out more:

NCVA VegFest 2011 Sponsorship (ncva.ca)

“A thin disc of beet-and-red-pepper aspic crowned the drum, which sat on two little sheets of seared green kale dressed with a kombu-plum wine vinaigrette.”

That is just a taste of some of the words James Chatto, the eminent food writer and Gold Medal Plates head judge had to say to Liane Faulder of the Edmonton Journal. Was he talking about another gourmet plate prepared with meat and simply dressed with vegetables? No, Chatto was actually lovingly describing the first vegan meal in the Gold Medal Plates competition, which went on in that round to win silver.

It seems the chef who entered the dish, Carolin Ishii, runs Zen Kitchen in Ottawa. Some of my readers may recall a previous post I made about a trailer for a reality show called “The Restaurant Adventures of Caroline and Dave“, which started sometime in January. This means we have a reality show based on the experiences of a couple opening a vegan restaurant, a chef who just won silver for a vegan dish in the Gold Medal Plates, and the first vegan dish ever entered in the competition all rolled into one. Personally, I think that’s a very positive thing for vegans all around!

Of course, I will not know for sure until I’m able to check this dish out for myself. Maybe I can be the first vegan judge in the competition?

I’m about to head out on the road again with a friend of mine on the Snowflakes and Cupcakes tour* to Ontario, and I can not wait to get another chance to try various vegan food establishments. I was just tipped off to this one in Ottawa, and I want cupcakes now!

Perhaps I can catch-up with my Ottawa veg* friends again and we can eat a few (too many)?

*Note: the tour is not specifically vegan, but I will be on said tour and possibly bringing T.O.F.U. shirts, so it is at least 33% vegan. Woohoo!