Cottage road trip

I recently headed to the cottage with a cooler bag full of vegan food because I didn't know what or where I would be able to eat otherwise. I haven't been up north much in the last few years since I became vegan. Well, most of the food I packed came home with me because I found some fantastic meatless options trickling up to cottage country! Because vegan food is even better when you have a spectacular view :)

Boon Burger – Barrie

Most cottage travelers know the burger joint right off the side of Hwy 11 with the skywalk. It's been around for ages, but now there’s finally a cruelty-free alternative! Just a ten-minute drive from the highway, Boon Burger is located along a cute and popular strip on Dunlop Street with great ambiance and, more importantly, delicious food. The extensive burger menu is all vegan and optionally gluten-free. But you can also order pizza, fries and soft serve ice cream. We enjoyed the Bacun Cheezeburger, with a mushroom and tofu patty, perfectly melted dairy-free cheese, and plenty of delicious toppings. (Other patty options include black bean and chickpea.) The mango lemonade was super refreshing and I loved all the beautiful photos of animals on the walls.

Boon Burger counter 

Shine – Orillia

Another not-too-far-off-the-highway delight, Shine was really easy to find and nestled in an adorable part of town. The restaurant itself is very small, only a few tables and looks more like a grab-and-go or takeout place, but the side patio is perfect for the warm summer, comfortable and completely shaded. Plus the food was delicious! We shared Caesar salad with coconut bacon and the perfect amount of dressing, as well as the refreshing and fruity Beauty Berry smoothie. Then, I enjoyed Mexican Quinoa that had a nice little kick and watched my boyfriend devour the Falafel Bowl featuring zucchini noodles and vegan tzatziki. On the way out, we shared a yummy chocolate chip cookie and took Pleasantville ice cream to go.

                                         Mexican Quinoa                                                Caesar Salad

Falafel Bowl

El Pueblito – Bracebridge

Once you arrive in Muskoka, vegan food is expectantly harder to find. But a quick and pretty drive to Bracebridge (we even saw a deer on the way!) will take you to this popular spot with a quaint patio and several vegan options. Mexican food is relatively easy to veganize anyway, but the options here are delicious and the staff is super friendly. We shared the scrumptious guacamole with house-made chips and then I inhaled the vegan tacos, including black beans, avocado, tomato, lettuce, and rice. Despite the lack of vegan dessert on the menu, it’s still muy bien :) 

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