Walking into Noah’s Natural Foods feels a lot like curling up in a beanbag chair with a hot cup of tea and your favourite book.  Everything you need surrounds you, and once you’re in, getting out is the last thing on your mind. 

Citrus and organic lavender waft from the beauty section, stopping in the middle to mingle with cinnamon and other bulk spices from the back of the store.  A small organic produce section jolts the densely packed space with fresh scents and colours.  Aisles chock-full of canned and refrigerated products suited to various alternative diets make it seem almost too easy to adopt a brand new culinary lifestyle (vegan and gluten-free are particularly well-represented).

The Annex location on Bloor Street houses Sunny Café, a compact, self-serve organic vegan food bar where meals are purchased by weight.  For $9.00, fill up to the max on a scrumptious combination of plump potato perogies, garlicky tomato tofu and sweet red beet salad.  Meat and dairy – once practically deified for being indispensable to our overall happiness – suddenly seem slightly overrated.

Noah’s also stocks a dizzying array of vitamins and supplements. If you can’t tell your magnesium from manganese, you’ll appreciate the knowledgeable, helpful and accommodating staff.

But remember you're on dry land and the dove is long gone - it'll eventually be time to make your way home.

Just don't be surprised if it's with a pair of everything you came for.