[RWin]

A vegetarian friend is planning to move to Calgary and has asked me about decent restaurants and grocery stores in town. I have no idea about this but suspect there are a number here who would have good advice. So... Any advice I can pass on to my friend?

[CorporateWhore]

uh, move to vancouver?

with the large amount of farmer market's in calgary, there should be plenty of easy access to fresh vegetables. as for the tofu, soy etc it shouldnt be that hard to find either. having gone to art school i had a ton of artsy fartsy vegeterian types (as well as the more annoying vegans), and they never seemed to have a problem finding food. your friend will be fine.

[Boris2k7]

You might try this place, haven't been there myself but I've heard it recommended before.

http://www.buddhasveggie.com/

Realistically, I think you can find a few vegetarian dishes at just about any restaurant. But I'm not vegetarian, and know only a few, so I can't say I'm an expert by any means.

[DizzyEdge]

You might try this place, haven't been there myself but I've heard it recommended before.

http://www.buddhasveggie.com/

Realistically, I think you can find a few vegetarian dishes at just about any restaurant. But I'm not vegetarian, and know only a few, so I can't say I'm an expert by any means.

Buddhas is awesome, and I'm not a vegetarian.
Check this out:

http://www.happycow.net/north_america/canada/alberta/calgary/

As far as groceries there's places like Community Natural Foods, and Planet Organic, and as mentioned various farmer's markets.

[jeffwhit]

TnT market has the most thorough tofu selection I've seen. as for restaurants, I lived many years as a veggie in Calgary with no trouble.

Buddha's Veggie, as Boris mentioned is great, The Coup on 17th ave and 8h street is certainly amazing, Mysore Palace, Anapurna or any of the dozens on good Indian restaurants are obviously very veggie friendly.

Community Natural Foods is probably ground zero for groceries, but there are lots of smaller versions like Sunnyside Market and Bowness Health Foods, Amaranth etc that might be closer to home.

I'm sure lots of people moving to Calgary assume there's nothing but steak to eat here or something, but truthfully, and i say this with confidence as a reformed vegetarian; it's probably much easier finding a truly good vegetarian meal at a Calgary restaurant than it is finding a truly good steak.

[CorporateWhore]

^ Personally, I think Calgary has some very underrated food options general. The Vietnamese I've had there is better than anything Vietnamese I've had on the east coast.

[niwell]

Buddhas is amazing, I checked it out when I was in Calgary over Xmas. Veg stuff in regular supermarkets seems to be lacking compared to what is in Ottawa, but my experience is limited to a few places in the NW (where my parents live).

Here's a website that lists restaurants and retailers, not too sure how extensive it is, but I found it useful: http://www.calgaryveg.com/

[Rusty van Reddick]

THE COUP: www.thecoup.ca

I know lots of vegetarians and they do fine. Not as many pure veg dining out options as Vancouver (eg) but they do exist: The Coup, Buddha's Veggie, Anpurna, there is even a pure veg Vietnamese place in Chinatown.

[GoflamesGo]

Why not a delicious Rigattoni Margarita at La Luna Rossa? No meat or broths in the sauce. just ask for it with out the Bocconcini cheese. Or maybe try the Spaghetti Luna Rossa, Olive oil, with caramelized garlic, onions, black olives, and topped with a few hot peppers. Like most of the poepel mentioned here, there are a few vegiterian options in almost every restaurant. Not only the asian places, or organic grocery stores.

[ctown.myth]

I like Clay Oven right off Barlow by the Sheraton...

[CalgaryViper]

THE COUP: www.thecoup.ca

I know lots of vegetarians and they do fine. Not as many pure veg dining out options as Vancouver (eg) but they do exist: The Coup, Buddha's Veggie, Anpurna, there is even a pure veg Vietnamese place in Chinatown.

I agree The Coup is excellent. My only criticism is that it's so busy it can be hard to get into...no reservations allowed.

[freeweed]

I've always found those "I love AB beef" bumper stickers somewhat ironic.

The first few times I saw them, I would have SWORN they were some new vegetarian/PETA thing. After all, they love animals, right? :haha:

(sorry for the off-topic, but a vegetarian living here can be prepared for a bit of.. snide humour)