It’s been twenty years since Ruth Tal founded the juice bar that became the hugely popular Fresh vegetarian boutique chain of restaurants. Ruth blazed a trail for vegetarians and vegans with juices and smoothies, presenting a whole new range of possibilities for eating. Food to to satisfy, to replenish and to help you live lightly on the planet. After traveling the world extensively for seven years, Ruth Tal returned to Toronto intending to attend university. Instead, after being inspired by the growing trend of juice bars and healthy eating south of the border, Ruth created Juice for Life. She dreamed of opening a vegetarian food and juice bar where people would feel accepted and satisfied no matter what their lifestyle or eating preferences. In keeping with Ruth’s philosophy to share her knowledge and encourage people to eat this way at home she has published four national best-selling cookbooks based on the recipes from her Fresh restaurants.
These days Ruth divides her time between Toronto and travelling. In addition to co-owning Fresh with her two partners, she now helps others around the world, most recently in Moscow and Mexico City, to achieve their own dreams to feed local hungry patrons looking for healthy options by consulting with them and drawing on her 20 plus years of experience in the natural food, juice and vegan vegetarian restaurant industry.
1. What is your favourite Sweets from the Earth product? And why?
My first vegan dessert love was the Double Chocolate Fudge Layer Cake. It’s a beautiful slice of cake! The always perfect moistness and texture of the cake, the beyond incredible dark chocolate icing and the just-the-right-amount of sweetness make it always satisfying and never regretful!
2. When do you indulge and eat your Sweets – Morning/Afternoon/Night?
It’s usually my mid-afternoon pickup w a cup of organic green tea
3. Do you follow any special diets?
It’s different every day….I call it the “listen to my body” diet
4. If you could be doing any other job right now, what would it be?
A Foreign Correspondent
5. If you were stranded on a desert island, what three items would you take with you?
Sneakers, Sunscreen & my iPad
6. What type of satisfactions do you get out of your work?
Humility Wonder & Amazement
7. What do you normally think about right before falling asleep?
All that I am grateful for.
8. Name the last thing that really inspired you?
A 100 year old Indian marathoner who outlived his wife and daughter and started running when he was in his nineties.
9. If you could meet anyone in the world dead or alive who would it be and what would you say to them?
Khalil Gibran. Thank you for your poetry, your insight and your wise words of love & life.