Momma always reminded us to eat our veggies. And so we did. Or did we?
By Barbie Cruz

Here in the Philippines, the vegetarian culture is still in its early stages. Finding a meat-free meal can be a challenge sometimes. But lately, more food establishments are starting to include vegetarian options in their roster of dishes. At least it’s no longer that the only vegetarian option available when eating out is one measly salad.

Since eateries like Bodhi, Blissful Belly, Daily Veggie N Café, and fruit-shake stands have set up shop, vegetarian food has become more accessible not only to vegetarians themselves but to the regular person on-the-go, offering a healthier alternative to fast food.

There’s still the occasional bickering between people who love their meat and people who prefer veggies. Even amongst friends, there’s complaints about who’s inconveniently vegetarian and who’s regrettably carnivorous.

And amongst vegetarians themselves, there are further distinctions in diet types, depending on how far down the rabbit hole you want to go. There’s the vegan diet which rejects all animal produce including dairy products. There’s ovo-vegetarianism which allows consumption of eggs but not other dairy, while lacto-vegetarianism is the opposite. There’s even people who eat nothing but raw vegetables and fruit. The list goes on.

So, in the spirit of promoting camaraderie among diets and experimenting with a new dining experience, here is a list of vegetarian spots that are sure to appease a good handful of picky eaters. These places serve good healthy meals and momma can be sure that no one will be just playing with their food.

Greens
(92 Scout Castor Street, QC; telephone #415-4796)
Located along a semi-residential street in Quezon City, Greens is a house-turned-vegetarian café. Upon entering, the small yet lush front lawn and wooden door create a relaxing atmosphere that is the exact opposite of the busy surroundings. It truly embodies the organic, eco-friendly ideals of the vegetarian way of life.

Strictly speaking, a lot of the dishes are vegan but even non-vegetarians are known to frequent the place. The Greens menu includes appetizers like mock chicharon, fried mushrooms, and tomato-basil-cheese soy sticks. They even have a Three-For-All option that lets you pick three appetizers for only Php 80.

Grilled Mushroom and Tofu Kebab	Carrot Cake	Mango Custard
Kebab and Relleno	North African Vegetable Stew, served over couscous, spicy harissa, organic greens and extra sauce	Baked Tofu Walnut Burger

Aside from soups and pasta, they also have Combo Platters which are best-sellers. Dishes like Grilled Mushroom and Tofu Kebab and Pastel de Vegetal are really flavorful and filling.

Another must-try is their Veggie “Fish” Relleno which even resembles the look of the real thing. The wrap is made from bean curd, Japanese breadcrumbs, and seaweed while the filling is a mix of veggie meat, onions, peas, bell peppers, and raisins!

As for dessert, the pastries are all eggless. The Carrot Cake and Mango Custard are simply irresistible. Other products they sell are tofu chips, corn coffee, My Goodness eggless cookies, frozen yogurt with no refined sugar, and organic rice.

Corner Tree Café
(150 Jupiter Street, Miladay Building, Makati City; telephone # 897-0295/ 0917-848-1004)
Visit Corner Tree Café for a more intimate, fine-dining experience. Veering away from the predictable earthy-slash-hippie image, the white walls, low wooden ceiling, and jazz music give it a more sophisticated yet unpretentious look. Quite reminiscent of a small art gallery.

The food can be a little pricey but portions are hefty so it’s true value for money. A three-course meal inclusive of salad and dessert costs Php490, while main courses range from Php220 to Php380.

The cuisine? An array of hearty dishes from different cultures, with the option of going strictly vegan or just vegetarian. They have Italian-inspired Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna, an Indian Vegetable Biryani, an Egyptian snack called Dukka, and even a North African Vegetable Stew. The variety alone is pretty uncommon even in regular restaurants. However, the real star of the show is their Baked Tofu Walnut Burger served with potato fries and homemade mayo. Yum!

Another thing that sets Corner Tree Café apart from other vegetarian restaurants is its wine and cocktails selection. Customers can treat themselves to some spirits designed to complement every meal of choice.

A heads up – calling in for reservations may be a good idea on busy days. Check out their facebook account for more details.

Queens (146 - B, Jupiter Street, Makati City)
New Bombay (branches in Glorietta, Podium, Makati)
Swagat (119 FCC Building, Rada Street, Legaspi Village, Makati City)

Vegetarian cuisine is a big part of Indian culture. Their brand of rich concoctions that use numerous spices and varying techniques complement the simple composition of vegetables. The growing number of restaurants like New Bombay, Queens and Swagat show that more and more people here are taking a liking to Indian cuisine.

Lucky for the growing fan-base, these restaurants carry a wide selection of vegetarian dishes alongside the meat, poultry, and seafood. Eating out with your vegetarian friends need not be awkward or forced since there’s something for everyone.

Queens can be found only a few doors away from Corner Tree Café. It’s a franchise that has branches in other Asian countries like Jakarta and Singapore. Here they serve Indian cuisine primarily, but also offer Indonesian and Asian fusion dishes. Their Bhuddist-style Nasi Goreng is very flavorful. It has a subtle sweet taste that becomes salty then intensifies onto a very spicy tang. Then there’s the Vegetable Tandoori Pizza, again a must-try. Main dishes “from the garden” in their menu average at Php330.

New Bombay, on the other hand, is most accessible since it has branches in malls plus one along Ayala Ave. and another along H.V. Dela Costa St. in Makati. A nice starter would be their spinach soup. They also have a vegetarian platter complete with different dipping sauces that can be shared by everyone.

At Swagat, there’s only room for good food. It just so happens that a good portion of that great food is vegetarian. Affordable and generous servings at that. Chola Bathura, chick peas cooked in onions, tomatoes, spices, and served with pooris (fried bread ) is a winner at only Php125. Top that with an aromatic Rose Lassi then you’ll be more than satisfied. If you’re with a friend, their potato or Aloo dishes and Paneer or homemade cheese dishes will do the job of satisfying a hungry belly. Some Bollywood on their flatscreen will aid the digestion if you get too full.

Likha Diwa sa Gulod
(UP Diliman, C.P. Garcia, Krus na Ligas, Quezon City / tel # 925.5522)
Likha Diwa has been a favorite nook of ovo/lacto-vegetarians and pescetarians for years. This is the place to go for laid-back vegetarian dining Pinoy-style. It has that artsy nostalgic vibe which probably comes from the wooden furniture and artwork scattered all around.

Of course, it doesn’t hurt that the food is very affordable. They serve a number of budget meals complete with brown rice and calamansi juice. However, they are particularly famous for their vegetarian kare-kare meal with matching faux bagoong. And it costs only around Php100. Also, patrons of the place swear by a scrumptious selection of desserts and yogurt shake.