T.O.F.U. Magazine » toronto

Red Radio sits down with T.O.F.U.

Ryan — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 18:15:47 +0000

A little over a week ago I was lucky enough to be asked to chat with Erin from Red Radio. We covered quite a lot of ground in a little over an hour, and there was plenty more that was left on the editing floor. Of course, this is what happens when you get two opinionated, Canadian vegans on a microphone together, right?

So, while I’m taking this holiday Monday here in Canada to keep the ball rolling for issue #7 submissions (you have sent in a pitch, right?), feel free to listen to what we had to say about YouTube cat videos, Canada, Newfoundland, Ontario, PETA (I’ll give you two guesses how this topic went), and so much more.

Red Radio Ep. 39: Shootin’ the T.O.F.U. with Ryan Patey

The T.O.F.U. Tour Starts Tomorrow!

Ryan — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:41:04 +0000

Tues, Aug. 9th
Halifax, Nova Scotia
GPI Office (3008 Oxford St.)
9pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

Fri, Aug. 12th
Toronto, Ontario
The Tranzac (292 Brunswick Avenue)
10pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

Tues, Aug. 16th
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Mondragon Cafe (91 Albert St.)
7:30pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

Wed, Aug. 24th
New Westminster, British Columbia
Karmavore (610 Columbia St.)
7:00pm | Pay What You Can
Facebook Event

I wish it could be longer, but things didn’t quite work out as planned. Sorry to those who are unable to attend, and I hope those of you who can will come and introduce yourselves.

On a related note, the new issue should be out really soon. Due to being sick, moving and a few other things we were delayed, but hopefully we can get back on track this week. I just need to get rid of this nasty cough!

T.O.F.U. to hit the road in August (with your help?)

Ryan — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 14:05:43 +0000

Although it will not be as large-scale as the first T.O.F.U. tour, we are currently working on a cross-Canada tour to coincide with the release of issue 6 in August. If we’re going to travel across the continent to Portland for Vida Vegan Con, we might as well have some fun on the way, right?

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.

Upscale D.I.Y. tofu gaining popularity

Ryan — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:10:58 +0000

Alright, so maybe it’s not as neat as the way we make T.O.F.U. around here, but I did think it is interesting to learn that a lot of upscale restaurants are now preparing their own tofu instead of simply buying it from a store.

Not your grocery store’s tofu (macleans.ca)

Of course, though there is a lot of work put into every issue of T.O.F.U., I don’t know if we had as many issues as Chef David Wong and the staff at Oru. Although, now that I think of it, we did start off using Microsoft Word, which probably gave us more headaches than it was worth. Plus, there were times when I felt like dropping the computer from a shelf would have been a big help…

Photo taken from the Fairmont Pacific Rim website.

Vegan food delivery: Tiffinday in Toronto

Ryan — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:57:07 +0000

During my time living in Halifax one of the most interesting things to happen was the development of small vegan food delivery services. Sure, larger cities west of here had restaurants and grocery stores filled with vegan options, but for a couple years Halifax had a few neat ways to be a lazy vegan who still ate something good.

Currently, the only option I am aware of is The Wandering Deli, but at one point there were a few vegan delivery options (Burrito Bike, now Toronto-based, and Vegan to Go being two of them.) Visiting the city now I wish I had taken advantage of these options while I called it home, and I’m not quite sure why I did not. So, when I came across this article recently on a great new vegan delivery service in Toronto called Tiffinday (Website | Twitter), I thought I should bring it to everyone’s attention.

Mumbai office lunches come to Canada

I will fight the urge to ramble on about supporting small, vegan-friendly businesses, as I’m sure I would mainly be preaching to the choir. Instead, I’ll just suggest that you fine folks in Toronto check it out.

Behind the lines: Sweets from the Earth

Ryan — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 14:32:16 +0000

Sweets from the Earth is a great bakery based in Toronto, Ontario. With two facilities (one gluten-free and one nut-free) to serve the sweet tooth of those in the greater Toronto area, as well as retailers throughout central and western Canada, the business that started with the decision of a seven-year old Ilana to go vegetarian continues to provide their customers with sinfully delicious reasons to choose natural and ethical sweets.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Why run a vegan-friendly business?

We love animals and we love that we can feed people delicious treats without harming them.

How long have you been in business?

Eight years.

Favourite part about it?

Having a perfectly good excuse to eat cake every day. Quality control is a very important job!

Anything new people should know about?

Lots of new delicious vegan baked goods coming out all the time. Dec 2010 we launched five new healthy loaves, chock full of fruits and vegetables. Early 2011 will see many new offerings from our dedicated Gluten-free bakery on Cawthra Ave in Toronto. Without giving away anything, expect some new GF muffins and cakes.

Who would win in a fight: Cheesecake or a cookie?

We’re lovers, not fighters… we’d compromise with a double chocolate cookie cheesecake.

What’s THE thing a vegan has to do in your town?

Scarf down an entire SFTE cheesecake. No plates. Just cake, a few friends and a few forks.

Behind the lines: Zoë Rasputin

Ryan — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 15:10:05 +0000

Zoë Rasputin is the author of “Another Version of Being and Animal Rights Activist,” found in the latest issue of T.O.F.U. She is also one of the founders of Veg*n Adventures and Socials in Toronto (V.A.S.T.), a group of veg*n folk based in Toronto who arrange social events. The group has been around for roughly two years, and with over 500 members, it still seems to be going strong. For more information on V.A.S.T., head over to their Facebook page:

Facebook

In one word, why are you vegan?
“inclination”.

How long have you been vegan?
+/- 8 years.

Who would win in a fight: Quinoa or Cous Cous?
Quinoa, definitely!!

Would you prefer to lead a revolution or to live quietly in the woods?
Lead a revolution in the woods.

If there is a revolution, will it be televised or a Facebook event?
Televised.

Favourite vegan thing in your town (Toronto, Ontario):
Singaporean Cole Slaw from Lee Restaurant, 603 King Street West

First cdn veggie pride parade soon

Ryan — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 04:03:52 +0000

Gee, I guess I need to head to Toronto soon too! Darn.

=-)

Toronto Veggie Pride Parade

Sadie’s Diner kept me alive in TO

Ryan — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 04:13:42 +0000

Thanks to Sadie’s Diner for being a great surprise on this tour. The little diner that should is helping me through the lean times in London. Their huevos rancheros are far above the sweet potato fries I just ate. How can sweet potato fries be prepared to have no flavour?
Stoked to be heading back to Aux Vivres tomorrow. I should try something new…

Distro Update

Ryan — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 13:21:59 +0000

First off, sorry for not writing more on this lovely little thing. I guess since the tour ended I feel like most of the posts will not be as exciting. I’ll try to remedy that in the coming weeks!

On another note, the little guy now has a home in Toronto at Panacea so I recommend you go visit them if you’re in the area. They have a lovely store filled with far too many things I could spend money on.

As for getting the magazine in other places, you can check the distro page above. Be warned though, the only copies of Issues #1 and 2 are now kicking around in other locations as I’m all out!

=-)

I expect the same to happen with Issue #3 in the coming weeks.

hope you’re all set to enjoy this weekend,