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| - Whilst apartment hunting a few months ago (and in a decrepit hung over state) my friends and I decided to stop in here for coffee. We stepped up through the cramped doorway into the bustling little restaurant that smelled like a mother's kitchen. We were led through the laughing crowds of people towards the back where there was a little table adjacent to the turn tables.
The waitress came to take our orders, we explained we were only getting coffee. She asked us, "Have you ever been here before?" We all shook our heads, smiling, no. She explained to us that everything on the menu was served on waffles, and my eyes light up. In high school, I had a guilty pleasure that involved making chocolate chip pancakes really late at night, and this fascination did and does stem towards all kinds of breakfast goodies, including french toast and waffles. But I hadn't indulged in a normal pancake, let alone waffle, in quite some time as I had been vegan for a few years, and then found out I had a gluten-sensitivity, which really made it impossible to have waffles or any such thing. But then as we're looking over the menu, I see something that almost causes my eyes to burst out of my skull. "They have GLUTEN-FREE, VEGAN waffles here!" I exclaim excitedly. I was too hung over on that occasion and in need of leafy greens to indulge in the new discovery, but my friend did order the waffle grilled cheese which looked amazing.
Upon moving into that same area only a month or so later, I remembered the adorable little restaurant that incorporated all of my favourite things into one space: art, gluten-free indulgences, vegan-friendly eats, and of course, waffles. I decided we all needed to go. It wasn't nearly as busy as the first time I had stepped into the space, and so we were told to sit wherever we'd like, and we picked a corner spot on the backyard patio. One of the co-owners, as we'd come to know (and recognizable from the picture on the business card), served us. Toby is incredibly charismatic and charming. He knows how to work well with customers. He gave us the run-down on the place, and throughout the course of my many visits thus far to Starving Artist, I have learned much more about the restaurant. Toby started the restaurant with his partner Brian in an effort to provide an artistic spot for artists and the community alike. It's an artist-friendly spot, with art lining the walls (photographs, taken by Toby), and they're also really excellent at providing a spot for musicians to perform (anything from acoustic shows, to jazz nights). There is a heavy focus on hip hop music at Starving Artist, and they constantly have a specific hip hop radio station playing over the speakers (Toby told me which one it was, but I have since forgotten). There are also regular events, such as hip hop nights, or nights when various DJs play the place. It's an interesting idea, and I see what they're trying to do.
I ordered one of the dessert waffles, requesting the vegan/gluten-free waffles. At that time, I was not vegan (I have since converted back), and thus ordered one of the blueberry dessert waffles with ice cream. Our breakfasts arrived and my waffles were not crispy chip-like things that crumbled into dust when you consumed them, as I had kind of suspected. Nor are they the store-bought gluten-free waffles available at most grocery stores. They are real in-house made gluten-free, vegan, puffy, soft waffles. This place is the real deal. I smothered the waffles loaded with blueberries, blueberry sauce, whipped cream, and ice cream with maple syrup and cut away a corner to try. The waffle squished between my teeth like moist bread pudding. There is a slightly different consistency to the gluten-free waffles, which is to be expected, but it is not unlikeable, and it does not turn me off. Furthermore, the presentation of the waffle boats (the desserts) and the other breakfasts is gorgeous. The plates are always piled high, clean around the edges of the various servings, and little touches like intricately cut strawberries add a pretty touch to the meals.
I have come to love Starving Artist. I have yet to attend a hip hop night, but it is on my list of to-dos this summer. Now, I too can indulge in Toronto's favourite daily past-time, brunch.
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