Week of Jul 9 - 15

Summerlicious, animal advocacy, and a few developments worth keeping an eye on

July 09, 2026

I’m hoping everyone is staying cool in this heat because there is a lot to go over in this week’s Insider:

We take a Peek at Summerlicious that’s happening right now across the city, we learn a few tricks from animal advocates who actually get attention online, and we’re keeping an eye on a couple of vegan product moves that could matter more than they first look.

There’s also a cancellation to flag: VegTO’s Sunset Social with Better Brie, which had been scheduled for tonight, has now moved to August 21.

This Week:

📅 Thursday, July 3 to Sunday, July 19
📍 Citywide

Toronto’s annual prix fixe dining program is back, with more than 240 restaurants offering special lunch and dinner menus across the city. If you follow the link above you can filter the results for vegan options.

📅 Wednesday, July 15, 2026
🕒 7:00–8:30 p.m. ET
📍 Online via Zoom
🎟️ Registration Required

This online panel from Animal Justice brings together five creators working in vegan food, satire, activism, sanctuary life, and myth-busting to share practical ways to make animal advocacy more effective online and offline. It’s aimed at people who want to use their voice, whether on social media, in conversation, or in politics, to help more people care about animals.


(Event details are accurate to the best of my knowledge at the time of publishing. Events are intended to be vegan, but details may change, please confirm directly with the organizer if you have specific concerns.)

Worth Noting:

This article is about New Culture, a company working on animal-free dairy cheese by making casein (the key protein that gives traditional cheese its melt, stretch, and texture) through precision fermentation instead of using cow’s milk, and the news here is that it has secured another patent specifically covering its mozzarella. That may sound technical, but it matters because casein is the part most vegan cheeses have never fully replicated, so if New Culture can bring this to scale, it could be one of the most significant breakthroughs yet in closing the gap between conventional cheese and animal-free alternatives.

Beyond Meat has launched its new Beyond Steak Filet in US stores at Wegmans and H-E-B after it became the company’s top-selling product online, and the big story is that this is its first product made with mycelium, the fibrous root structure of fungi, plus avocado oil for a lower saturated-fat profile. The filet is meant to behave like a premium steak, searing well, slicing cleanly, and working as a centre-of-the-plate protein, which I’m hoping may bring more financial stability to the company.

Cancellation

VegTO’s Sunset Social with Better Brie, which had been scheduled for tonight, has been cancelled. The event has been moved to Aug 21 instead.

📣 Did you know we also have a blog??
We do, and there are many resources that you may find helpful like this article on the best vegan restaurants in Toronto!

On The Horizon:

*(more info will come closer to the dates)

  • Vegan Night Market
    📅 Thursday, July 16, 2026, 6:00–9:30 p.m.
    📍 Balmy Beach, 2205 Queen St E
    Free admission

  • VegTO's Sunset Social with Bad Attitude Bread

    📅 Friday, July 17, 2026
    📍 The Big Carrot Danforth Community Market

    A rooftop social hosted by VegTO featuring pastries from Toronto plant-based bakery Bad Attitude Bread, with one baked good and one non-alcoholic drink included in the ticket.

  • Community Day

    📅 Wednesday, July 22, 2026

    📍 Toronto Humane Society, 11 River St. 9 a.m. -12 p.m.

    A monthly community support event where Toronto Humane Society offers essential pet supplies to people who need help keeping pets and families together. Supplies are first come, first served, and pet food is not available; dog and cat food must be picked up through the Pet Food Bank instead.

  • Vegan Paint, Sip & Snack
    📅 Saturday, August 1, 2026, 2-5:30 p.m.
    📍 The Lab Vegutainment Centre, 108 Dundas St W
    A guided painting afternoon hosted by 5 Principles Cuisines, with all supplies provided along with one beverage and five courses of vegan small plates included in the ticket price. No painting experience required; spaces are limited.

  • World Solidarity Day
    📅 Sunday, August 2, 2026
    🕒 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. EDT
    📍 Trinity Bellwoods Park entrance, 790 Queen St W

    This volunteer-led animal advocacy event is part of We The Free’s annual Solidarity Day, with Toronto focused on the 3-Minute Movie Challenge. Participants share a short film about animal 

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