Long before the slow food movement took root, Halifax had the Heartwood Cafe.

Its iconic logo—a green heart surrounded by two stylized trees—sums up this establishment’s commitment to offer food with conscience.

A staple of the vegetarian cuisine scene, Heartwood has dished up pure, unprocessed organic food for almost 12 years. It also caters to the needs of vegan and gluten-free diners.

The long-established buffet style offerings were recently exchanged for a revamped menu that provides nourishing comfort foods made fresh to order. 

Among the choices you’ll mull over – fresh daily soups, herbed roasted potatoes served with a zingy-spicy mayo and steamed greens with umeboshi vinaigrette that’ll make you feel healthier just looking them. 

Dig into an open-faced sandwich - the Pesto Portobello beckons with its roasted mushroom slices lazing on a bed of pesto, red onion, fresh greens and tomato drizzled with house Caesar dressing. 

All sandwiches are available with either the in-house organic sourdough focaccia or the gluten-free brown rice substitution. 

The Heartwood serves an all day brunch every Saturday but we bet their organic spelt-kamut waffles with sweet blueberry sauce and fruit salad will have you jumping out of bed.

Spend a little yum time at Heartwood and you’ll be asking the slow food movement, “What took you so long?”