little jo berry’s – VegOttawa Association

Celebrating A Vegan Valentine’s Day In Ottawa

January 30, 2022January 30, 2022Leave a comment

If you’re someone who celebrates Valentine’s Day, you might be looking for ways to celebrate the holiday in a vegan way. Fortunately, we’ve got you covered! Here are some Valentine’s Day ideas with a vegan twist:

Buy sweets for your sweet

Ottawa is blessed with some amazing vegan bakeries who have great treats to share with your special person or people! Little Jo Berry’s has a Valentine’s box with staff picks of Valentine’s themed treats. Strawberry Blonde Bakery has all sorts of tasty baked goods, including seasonal offerings like cookiegrams and chocolate roses. Keepin’ it Vegan Bakery has a selection of love-themed desserts available from Feb 7 to 14, including cookie dough bars and macarons.

Make breakfast in bed

Grow Your Roots Foods has the Ultimate Brunch Box to help you level up your brunch cooking. Their recipes and spice kits will ensure that your early morning feast is delicious! Pair this with a delicious coffee or tea from Animated Coffee. This local coffee roaster donates 25% of their proceeds to animal rescue partners.

Top the brunch off with a cinnamon roll from Cinnaholic. You can try their new seasonal rolls or stick to a classic Old Skool Roll. Plus, VegOttawa members save 15% on all purchases at Cinnaholic Lansdowne!

Order from a local restaurant

Don’t want to cook but still want to enjoy a special meal? There are lots of vegan-friendly options throughout the city!

Asian Stars has plenty of vegan meals, and VegOttawa members save 10% off items on their vegan menu. Copper Branch Barrhaven is a fully vegan restaurant, and VegOttawa members can save 10% on their order. Hometown Sports Grill prepares vegan twists on classic comfort food, and VegOttawa members save 10% on their vegan items.

Do an activity together

PlantEd Project offers community and private cooking workshops where you can learn to make the most delicious recipes with your loved one(s). Plus, you get to enjoy your tasty creations once the workshop finishes! VegOttawa members save 15% on private and community cooking workshops.

If you’re more into fitness, taking a class at Soungui Fitness might be more up your alley! VegOttawa members save 15% on new gym memberships, personal and partner training, virtual classes and fitness apparel.

Donate to a cause

If you want a more altruistic way to mark Valentine’s Day, consider donating to a cause that’s important to you and your significant other! Sweet Sanctuary and Penny Lane Farm Sanctuary are local farm sanctuaries that house all sorts of rescued animals. Your donations can help them continue to care for their residents and save even more deserving animals!

There are lots of ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but what better way to celebrate than showing your love for those special people in your life AND for some awesome vegan businesses?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jade Conrad is the current President of VegOttawa Association. She is a passionate vegan and animal rights activist. In addition to their role with VegOttawa, they are a foster parent with Ottawa Stray Cat Rescue and a volunteer with Freedom Drivers. When not volunteering, Jade loves to read, drink tea and cook tasty vegan food.

This post is not sponsored by any of the businesses or organizations listed.

End Of The Year EPIC HOLIDAY VEGAN PRIZE PACKS!!(week two)

December 7, 2020December 19, 2020Leave a comment

Week One has passed, we selected a lucky VegOttawa Association member as a winner (congratulations!!), so now… on to WEEK TWO!!

This basket contains just as many amazing vegan gifts! Check them out below. (We’ll post a picture of the arranged basket soon 🙂 )

Total value of over $250 cdn!!

You just need to be a paid member(link below) and you will be automatically entered in the draw. No strings attached.

Next week we’ll be giving away another amazing prize pack similar to this one. So if you aren’t a member yet (only $20 per year) or need to renew then now would be a good time to head over to our membership page (check out all the member discounts while you’re there).

The winner will be selected on Sunday, December 13th, so you have until then to buy your membership and be entered in to the draw.

Ok, Drumrolllllllllllll,

PRIZE PACK #2 includes:

1 x Plant Prepped gift card $80
1 x Saaboon gift card $50
1 x Oh She Glows “For Dinner” (Hardcover recipe book), Angela Liddon
1 x Little Jo Berry’s Box of treats
1 x Chickpeas gift card $20
1 x Gabrielle Peterka Hair Co. gift card $20
1 x Sea Glass Films & Photography gift card $50
1 x Moo Free Holiday Assorted Chocolate Box & Trinket Tray from Feline Cafe and More!

SIGN UP FOR MEMBERSHIP!!

Interview with Jo from Little Jo Berry’s!

January 26, 2017January 26, 2017Leave a comment

By Carolyn Harris

This post is the first in a series of interviews with owners of local vegan businesses. To receive updates every time there is a new blog post, you can follow the NCVA blog by entering your e-mail in the sidebar to the right.

Jo is the owner of Little Jo Berry’s, a vegan café that serves treats, lunches, and coffee on Wellington St. West in Ottawa. When she was 17, she made the switch to a vegan lifestyle. Trained in specialty baking and having had experience working at Auntie Loo’s Treats, she opened Little Jo Berry’s in 2016. Here’s what she had to say about her experience being a vegan business owner…

1) When and why did you decide to go vegan?

When I was 17 I was living with my mother, and one day she came home and decided she wanted to start living a vegan lifestyle. In solidarity, I joined her. For the first year it was a lot of learning and experimenting. But once I became fully vegan there was no going back, I was so excited about it. The amount of new things to try with different ingredients, playing around in the kitchen, keeping animals safe and happy.

2) Have you always enjoyed baking? When did you decide you wanted to start your café?

In high school I actually hated foods class. I was explicit that all I wanted to do was sweep the floors and choose the music. But at home my dad was quite a chef, most of our bonding time was spent in the kitchen. I think it slowly and unintentionally made being in the kitchen very comfortable and familiar for me. However, I never imagined it as a career. Not until I got a part time baking gig at Auntie Loo’s. That was where I really started to grow as a baker. I started to dream of having a bakery in a sleepy little town by the sea one day. Sadly, Loo’s closed and that prompted me to put my goals and dream into motion. Slowly things began to unfold.

3) What do you enjoy most about running Little Jo Berry’s?

There are two things I enjoy absolutely the most:

1) my customers. Best people in the world. So many good, kind people support us and fuel us on a daily basis.

2) the few hours I take to myself in the kitchen every morning. Having time alone to create and try new recipes. Being able to practice what I am passionate about brings me so much joy.

4) What have you learned from your experiences with your bakery so far?

The most important thing I have learned is to be nice, always and to everyone. Especially when it is hard. Making the right decision and being respectful every time. We have so much luck and good things come our way at the shop and I like to think it has everything to do with our outlook and how we treat others.

5) What advice would you give to someone who wants to turn their passion for vegan food into a career?

Get ready to work very hard. To feel exhausted and burnt out and run down. Get ready for all the feelings and pressures and to be overwhelmed. Know that that will come for you and to be prepared. Surround yourself with loved ones and treats and puppies. Take the appropriate steps to find support and self care. Taking time for yourself will make you so much stronger and ready for the next steps.

6) What are your plans for the future?

Our plans are simple, to continue to grow and nourish our ties with our community. To give back all the love we have received. Whether that be with new treats or different events, we want to create a home for our patrons.

Please join me in wishing Jo all the best for 2017!

Carolyn