Toronto’s food scene has been growing increasingly more interested in delicious plant-based options. Consumers want healthier, more eco-conscious food choices that meet their ethics and also deliver on freshness and taste. Enter La Bartola - A new taco shop that will bring authentic Mexican flavour and mouth-watering meatless tacos to Toronto this weekend!

La Bartola Taco Shop is excited to be Toronto’s first fully plant-based taco restaurant and will be popping up at festivals in the city this summer! Taco enthusiasts, flexitarians, and vegan foodies are already planning to line up and taste these incredible tacos at the Vegandale Food & Drink Festival (August 10th - Fort York National Historic Site) and at Veg Food Fest (North America’s Largest Vegetarian Food Festival! September 6-8 at Toronto Harbourfront Centre). In addition to popping up at festivals, the taco shop plans to open a cute permanent location in Toronto in 2020!

Ivan Castro, the chef behind La Bartola found his passion for cooking at an early age in his hometown of Mexico City. Here is where he was inspired by his mother and grandmother who first taught him the art of homemade Mexican cooking. In 2016, Castro moved to Toronto with his husband and their four beautiful dogs to start a new adventure. The chef who is passionate about quality food and living a plant-based life saw an opportunity - to bring fresh, authentic, and meatless tacos to Toronto’s food scene. “I was missing the amazing tacos from Mexico City and the delicious food from Oaxaca and wanted to give Torontonians the opportunity to try them without having to travel south.”

Braised hibiscus flowers, smoked banana blossoms, and jackfruit are some of the exotic ingredients used by chef Castro to create an alternative to the standard meat taco. You can sample two taco options and Mexican street corn at La Bartola Taco Shop’s upcoming pop ups.