munkypunks
Reviews written by munkypunks
The atmosphere is beautiful, the food amazing. But there is always a wait (although that's a great opportunity for a drink and appetizer at the bar) and very few vegan options. I know a few people, though, who don't care, since they love the tofu marsala enough to have it every visit.
One of my favourite nopo haunts. Wonderful place to hang out, sit by the fire, drink sumptuous coffee masterpieces (the cappuccinos often look too beautiful to drink), and feed the handpie habit (although I'm pretty sure she puts heroin or other bliss-inducing substances in several of her delicacies - her chocolate chip cookies have sunflower seeds, which somehow functions as ecstasy in my brain).
When I start gushing, I automatically go to the dessert items, but actually, Ladybug serves a number of more nutritious and still delicious items too. The veggie turnovers are great, the quiche is good, and the new weekend brunch selections are wonderfully indulgent: eggs florentine with homemade hollandaise and homemade english muffins, French toast made with raisin challah bread and topped with fresh fruit, etc. And they serve brunch until 3 pm! In nopo, at least, it's hard to find a coffee shop with food that late.
Her vegan pumpkin bread, cupcakes and chocolate brownies are great, but unfortunately, most of the really amazing stuff is vegetarian, not vegan. I whine about that occasionally, but I must admit, I forget to stick up for my vegan buds once I get into the daze of caffeine and pastry.
A sign proclaiming The Parlour a "Meat-Free Zone" greets you on the way in. Heather, the owner, is very passionate about living/working in such a way as to minimize any negative impact on any other living thing. So expect no paper cups, no products tested on animals, no consumer crap.
She's an artist with hair, always knows what I want before I do (or maybe it's just that I'm surprised at her understanding of the gobblety gook I seem to be speaking when I explain what I want). I have very thin, fine hair, so I'm always impressed with the volume she coaxes out of it. She brings out the best in what I have, and I get compliments like never before (even from other hair stylists)! I have never looked so good or felt better about my hair!!
Dec 15 08
Love it. Even my non-vegetarian friends love it. The ones who are scared of vegan food, you know the ones......we ordered them the spaghetti, and they were convinced. Great variety of atmospheres too - bar scene or quieter restaurant area or outdoor patio. They could do with heaters on the patio, though, for the colder weather, since it gets crowded enough that we've had to sit out on the patio even when it's way too cold for it.