Introducing: Feel Good Guru, a new vegan joint with its own green wall (and urban cultivator!)
Attention professional vegans and vegans-in-training: Feel Good Guru, a veg-friendly eatery, has just joined the well-trafficked strip across the street from Trinity Bellwoods. The shop is the brainchild of Moira Nordholt , who developed her business in her loft apartment but has since outgrown her at-home operation.
Feel Good Guru took over the Polka Dot Kids space on Queen West. The eatery kept the unit’s white walls, but they’re now adorned with wood accents and “eat healthy” mantras, and the space has its own urban cultivator (as seen on Dragons’ Den) tucked in the back. There the micro-arugula, rainbow chard and micro-komatsuna are sprouting—Nordholt says it’s “a full-on grow-op”—and some of the produce is transported to the green wall out front.
Nordholt came to be a strict vegan after an encounter with horsemeat in Paris and opened Banff’s first vegetarian resto back in ’94. She has since contributed recipes to health books, worked on spa menus and even had her food featured in a documentary. “The menu is the stuff I live on,” Nordholt says. The dishes are conceived in collaboration with manager Anushka Garnier and so far the hottest items are their take on the burrito and the kale salad. The No Bull burrito wraps spicy nutmeat, carrots, beets and sweet peppers in a red cabbage leaf, and the lot is topped with chunky guacamole, pico de gallo and doused with avolapeño sauce ($13). Dessert picks, which are just as healthy as everything else on offer, include the raw carrot cake with a walnut crust and cashew and maple icing. Park denizens should keep their eyes peeled for the upcoming faux-cuterie platters featuring aged nut cheeses and pâtés—a potential complement to a box of wine.
147315 Feel Good Guru (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru_intro.jpg 656 465 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru_intro/ jun12feelgoodguru_intro 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147312 Even the young ones like vegan (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1b-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1b.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1b.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru1b/ jun12feelgoodguru1b 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147311 An outdoor bench makes for a quaint patio (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1c-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1c.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1c.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru1c/ jun12feelgoodguru1c 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147310 The lunchtime crowd (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1d-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1d.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1d.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru1d/ jun12feelgoodguru1d 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147308 A list of ingredients (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1f-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1f.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru1f.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru1f/ jun12feelgoodguru1f 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147294 Moira (far left) and her team (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru11a-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru11a.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru11a.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru11a/ jun12feelgoodguru11a 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147307 Micro-greens growing in their “grow-op” (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru2a-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru2a.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru2a.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru2a/ jun12feelgoodguru2a 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147306 Organic micro-greens that are grown in-house (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru2b-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru2b.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru2b.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru2b/ jun12feelgoodguru2b 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147300 Raw carrot cake (carrots, almonds, dates and walnut crust) with cashew and maple icing ($10 per slice) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru6b-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru6b.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru6b.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru6b/ jun12feelgoodguru6b 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147299 Raw carrot cake (carrots, almonds, dates and walnut crust) with cashew and maple icing ($10 per slice) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru6c-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru6c.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru6c.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru6c/ jun12feelgoodguru6c 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147296 Cocoa cream pie: cacao nib and almond base with raw cacao and avocado filling ($10 per slice) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru9/ jun12feelgoodguru9 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147297 Vegan cheesecake with Thorpe’s Organic Produce strawberries from Trinity Bellwood Farmers’ Market ($10 per slice) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru8/ jun12feelgoodguru8 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147304 Make Kale Not War: sea-salt-and-lemon-massaged kale salad with red peppers, cherry tomatoes, grated carrots, red onions, goji berries, green apple, avocado, sprouted seeds and super foods, drizzled with creamy, garlicky hempseed dressing ($12) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru3b-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru3b.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru3b.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru3b/ jun12feelgoodguru3b 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147303 Zuchetti Zen: sun-dried and cherry tomatoes, broccoli florets, black olives and marinated mushrooms paired with either basil hempseed pesto, creamy cashew alfredo or crushed walnut bolognese topped with kale chip crumbs and walnut Parmesan ($14) <br />
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru4a-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru4a.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru4a.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru4a/ jun12feelgoodguru4a 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147298 Pure Vida: a smoothie with avocado, mango, orange and basil ($8) (Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru7.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru7/ jun12feelgoodguru7 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
147313 No Bull burrito: spicy nutmeat, grated carrots and beets, and julienne sweet peppers are wrapped up in a red cabbage leaf, topped with chunky guacamole and pico de gallo, and doused with avolapeño sauce ($13) <br />
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott) Introducing: Feel Good Guru https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12feelgoodguru5.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/feel-good-guru-917-queen-street-west/slide/jun12feelgoodguru5/ jun12feelgoodguru5 0 0
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)
Feel Good Guru, 917 Queen St. W., 647-748-5800, feelgoodguru.co, @feelgoodguru