The Roasted Nut
The Roasted Nut is Toronto's first cafe dealing almost exclusively in nuts roasted fresh on the premises.
Traditional dry-roasting methods are used to create a rotating variety of nut mixes and snacks that intend to replace the often buttery, sugary offerings usually found at traditional cafes.
The space formerly home to a convenience store has been completely transformed with touches like exposed brick and plants, with WiFi available throughout the store.
The roasting process, which takes place throughout the day, is actually totally visible from a seating area.
Turkish roasting equipment was built custom for The Roasted Nut.
Select one item for small cones ($4) or up to three for large cones ($6). Get a bag of one item for individually marked prices by weight, or create a unique mix of unlimited items for $3.75 per 100 grams.
They're always coming up with new nut flavours and mixes, for example, a seasonal mix with raw Brazil nuts, almonds and cashews with goji berries, golden berries and mulberries.
Other antioxidant-rich mixes include ones with Brazil nuts, almonds, goji berries, cranberries, Fraktals chocolate, sultanas and cashews.
Simpler options include chilli lime almonds with a little lemon and lime zest for the coating, which have the tanginess of citrus plus a little heat from the chilli.
Everything cashews are $3.99/100g if you're buying them in bulk. Nuts are typically roasted first, then mixed with ingredients, then baked.
Nutritional yeast, sesame seeds, poppy seeds, sea salt, onion and garlic give the nuts a flavour that successfully imitates the bold punch of an everything bagel.
Machines are ready to pump out fresh nut butters in peanut ($5 for an eight-ounce size, $8 for 16 ounces), almond ($8/$14) and cashew varieties ($9/$15).
Not only is a product like this extremely hard to find, the freshness means the butters taste phenomenal, somewhere between crunchy and smooth in their natural texture.
Build your own bowl with a base of yogurt, overnight oats, chia or granola for $6, adding toppings like goji berries, roasted almonds, dried blueberries, and their own house peanut butter for $1 or $2.
Other non-nut offerings include a peanut butter granola bar ($4) made with oats, maple syrup and a chocolate drizzle.
It's rather dense and dry, but fulfills chocolate-peanut butter cravings. I'd recommend a coconut macadamia bar if you're looking for a bar in keeping with the nut theme.
House raw energy balls ($3) come in varieties like matcha pistachio, espresso, lemon coconut and peanut butter jelly, most based on ground cashew.
Coffees start at $2.25 for drip, $2.50 for espresso, and of course you can sub in almond or oat milk for a dollar. Bottled nut milks are also available.
Hector Vasquez