The first thing that hits you when you walk into The Moth is the sense of calm. Despite being pressed up against The Quarters’ busy five-corner intersection just east of downtown, The Moth eases your worries with Earth tones, a relaxing playlist and ivy hanging from the exposed-beam ceiling. Even before you look at the menu, you’re prepared for something wholesome and good.
And the food, which is all plant based, backs the ambiance up. The Moth is perhaps best known for its all-day breakfast and its playful take on the Big Mac, the Big Moth Burger, which is made from wheat flour, soy protein, lentils, mung beans, mushrooms and rice. The restaurant features tea lattes from Anima Mundi in New York, medicinal teas from Harmonic Arts in Victoria, B.C. kombucha on tap from Edmonton’s Garage Kombucha and beer from Edmonton’s Sea Change Brewing.
To start, I went with the jackfruit crab cakes. Four crispy discs arrive, crunchy on the outside and warm and chewy in, slightly sweet with the tropical taste of jackfruit. Dip them in citrus coconut cream for the luxury of it.
For a main, I chose the purple yam risotto. The coconut-milk-cooked rice came topped with purple cabbage, roasted brussel sprouts and perfectly caramelized shiitake mushrooms. It was warm and comforting, and I knew with every bite that I was doing myself a favour. The portions are large – a bit surprising considering the overall health focus – and my order could easily have fed two people. But hey, leftovers are good too.
The Moth acts as a community hub in The Quarters, hosting events such as plant swaps, craft workshops and poetry nights. For info, visit its Facebook page.
The plant-based menu may scare some people off but I, a regular consumer of meat, left the restaurant’s warm embrace knowing that I could eat vegan and live happily-ever-after if it all came from The Moth.
The Moth
Downtown | 9449 Jasper Avenue
780-244-9702
themothcafe.com
