Restaurants
Kupfert & Kim
Kupfert and Kim opened up recently in the winding maze that is the PATH (making it an automatic take-out only space, although I did spy a nearby recessed wooden cubby on which you could probably perch and chow down). There are the expected long line-ups around lunchtime, filled with curious Bay St. types.
The concept, on the surface, isn't exactly new. Vegan and wheat-free dishes, a few nutrient-dense ball snacks, a smoothie ($4.87), and Te Aro coffee. I opt for a small cappuccino ($3.54) made with rice milk and find that the espresso is expertly made.
When I receive my three take-out containers (all chosen from the lunch menu, which is available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.), I'm somewhat skeptical. They look very similar--which is to say, like rabbit food. Beautifully coloured, to be sure, but still. Willing to give them all a try, I take a forkful of each, then experience a fairly significant foot-in-mouth moment--each dish is incredibly flavourful, and light enough as to actually give credence to their purported healthiness (read: not slathered in heavy sauces).
We start with the First Canadian ($9.29), which I'm told is one of their more popular items. It's surprisingly filling--quinoa and tempeh, with lush, dark kale, rainbow radish, and yams, tossed in a hint-of-sweet chia tamari maple sauce. The whole thing is speckled in a generous helping of pomegranate seeds, which offer a bit of crunch and tartness, although I would've preferred the option of more beets in favour of the purple cabbage.
The Kim ($9.29) is a rich (yet not overpoweringly so) blend of brown rice, tofu, steamed bok choy, edamame, pickled carrots, daikon, cucumber braised cabbage and chia (basically the whole garden), and it's paired with almond chili lime sauce. It picks up on its obvious Asian cuisine influences, while remaining (dare I say) dietetic.
Any place that touts its vegan status should boast a stand-out salad, and yet the simply named Dan's Salad ($8.41) doesn't immediately win me over. I blame the dressing--dubbed basil vinaigrette (simple enough, no?), it tastes neither of basil, nor particularly of vinaigrette. Rather, it lays the oil on a bit too heavy and takes a few brisk shakes to properly coat the salad, which is delicious--arugula and micro-greens, carrots, cabbage, chickpeas, goji berries, rainbow radish and apple slices. Some welcome texture comes through with hemp and pumpkin seeds, chia, and raisins.
Kupfert and Kim also offers a breakfast menu (available from 8 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.), with all menu items ringing in at $5.75. It includes house granola (with gluten-free oats), sweet quinoa, and steel-cut oats, with almond, rice, coconut or soy milk on offer to top it up. Yes, Kupfert and Kim is good--and more notably, good enough to appeal even to a long-time carnivore.
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they were both great!
The Almond-chili-lime sauce on the bowl was really interesting. I asked about the unique flavour and an employee told me its the kefir lime!
The line is long, but I assume its because they just opened.
the price is not cheap, but around same price as IQ and cheaper than Fresh.
the bowls also seem to have expensive components (menu listed goji berries, hemp seeds, chia, pomegranate seeds, guacamole, microgreens etc....)
all in all, great to have another healthy place near the office!
I had the First Canadian bowl today. They ran out of microgreens so I had pea shoots instead. I was super impressed -- it was filling, and very tasty, and I really appreciated that dressing comes standard on the side.
They've got some kinks to work out (like where to wait while your order is prepared), and it would be nice to have nutritional information, but I'm definitely going back.
For the price (and comparing to freshii, IQ, Fast Fresh, etc.) it's very good. If you think $9.29 for lunch is expensive you're not looking at the PATH competition. Staff were very friendly; a bit of a wait but no surprise right at lunch hour.
I'm not vegan but I do meatless Monday and honestly the option of a carefully-prepared vegan lunch is compelling.
They also have coffee -- I will report back and compare to Sam James. (not that I'm looking for an alternative.)
Cashier said they only use organic kale and apparently there is a green kale shortage in toronto? He said the only organic green kale currently available are super expensive bags of baby green kale.
He also said their original smoothie price was too cheap, and they had to correct it as they weren't making enough money to cover expensive rent and food costs.
I dont how to feel. On one hand, they are business and need to make money, on other hand they should have properly priced their items from the start and maybe suck it up??
thoughts?
their smoothie is still delicious, so ill prob keep going back...but ya, a dollar more is a lot.
(even though at $5.75 their smoothie is still cheaper than equivalent at jugo juice next door :)
I think the issue stems from the space. From the looks of it, it seems they only have about 200-300 sq ft. Thats good if ur serving 100 ppl a day not 400!
When i go before 11:30 or after 2:00, lines are fine!
Pros:
The food is wholesome and a great balance of flavours and textures. The cocoa is certainly a healthier option than my fave from Aroma - not too sweet, not too heavy. Like the Bunner's cookie a lot. Power balls come with a warning - great for an energy snack, but a shocker if you are expecting a desert....
Cons:
long line-up (and inefficient but they are still starting), consistency (sometimes i get 3 pieces of tempeh, sometimes 1 and once they forgot, in this line: check if they have packed your sauce before leaving), only serves food until 3pm (if they stretched this till 4pm i would be able to use this as a dinner option when working late - not sure why they don't as they are still open serving drinks and snacks)
I wish there was nutritional info... particularly for the snacks, as I dont believe the food itens would run you more than 400-500 calories (which is great for a non-salad food court option).....
Way to go!
I chose the sweet quinoa and it was actually awesome. Ive never had quinoa in a porridge situation , but it really worked. They cook quinoa with cashew cream, bananas and almond milk.
I chose cranberries, hemp seeds, sunflowers seeds, blueberries and maple syrup as toppings.
While i liked l the toppings, I found the sunflower seeds unnecessary and bit 'bird-foodish' --if this makes sense. I like sunflower seeds in cold salads, but Im not sure if it worked in warm porridge.
Still the overall quality of the ingredients and flavour were A1. Highly recommended!
I wil definitely give the granola and steel cuts oatmeal options.a try,
I still want to try lunch, but every time I go lines are too long. My lunch break is not long enough to wait that long :(
I wish they had a location in other malls or near my home so I could swing by on weekends or with my kids. There aren't any fast food places like this anywhere.
BOTTLE MY SAUCE :)
I've heard such good things and was so looking forward to my first meal there. The whole thing was so salty I could barely eat it. Being too expensive to throw away I forced myself to eat it before my meeting.
It felt like a sentence instead of sensational.
Very disappointed K&K!
Had the Oaxaca and it was delicious!
I really enjoyed the guacamole, pico de gallo with the fresh kale and beets!
It was extremely tasty and filling without bloating me!
Only downside was line. I had to wait 12 minutes to get my meal! Cant do this everyday :)
still the staff was polite and understanding!
great addition to the PATH!