Rest Review

NOODLE’S PASTA PIZZA BISTRO
Contributed by Vicki Brigman

Ummmm, good. David & Charlotte Cone operate a very nice, Italian-fare restaurant (Noodle’s Pasta Pizza Bistro--7193 Hwy 72 West--located in Richland Plaza, near the Hwy 72 & Slaughter Rd intersection). Noodle’s is open for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday.

Noodle’s is very accommodating to vegetarians. The Vegetable Panini is the best veggie sandwich in town. They grill eggplant, artichokes, mushrooms, onions, and squash; dress it up with a balsamic dressing; and sandwich it between pita-like bread. You can order the Vegetable Panini with or without cheese. The sandwiches are served with quartered potatoes, spiced and lightly fried.

Other vegetable dishes available include eggplant parmesan and mushrooms au-gratin, which are found under appetizers. The Michelangelo Salad comes in two sizes and has olives and artichokes among the usual salad items. They have lasagna, fettuccine primavera, and pizza! You’ll receive bread and garlic-olive oil dressing while you’re awaiting your entrée. It’s a great place to take your vegetarian or carnivorous friends. My husband and I consider Noodle’s our favorite place in town for a great meal.

JAMO’S JUICE & JAVA
Contributed by Paul J. Dezenberg

In December, a new, primarily vegetarian restaurant called Jamo’s Juice & Java opened in Huntsville. Located at 413 Jordan Lane, near I-565, Jamo’s is short for Jamie and Morgan, who also own the Five Points Espresso. Jamo’s serves continental breakfast and lunch, and it is open from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. during the week and from 9 a.m. until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

Jamo’s food selections center around soup, sandwiches and rice dishes. The best bet is the Full Moon, which includes a choice of sandwich and either vegetarian chili or soup, all for $4.86. Another good selection is Sherpa Rice, which is red lentils, rice, and barley served with a tamari ginger garlic sauce on the side. Sherpa Rice is served by itself for $1.76 or with vegetarian chili, shittake mushrooms, or garden vegetables for $3.24. Vegetarian sandwich choices include the Veggie Pocket, stuffed with tabbouleh, red onion, tomato and sprouts for $2.50, or the Einstein, a sandwich of seasonal vegetables in a roasted garlic marinade on tomato basil bread for $3.70.

The food sampled had a delicious, wholesome flavor; and many of the selections are fat free. In addition to food, Jamo’s serves fresh vegetable and fruit juices and coffee drinks.

GREEN PASTURE
Contributed by Sherry Miller

I made reservations at the Green Pasture Restaurant at the Bed and Breakfast Inn on Sharp Springs Road for Diane Glass, Kathy Blevins, Bob Rowe and myself (Bob and I are VSA members). We had no idea what was going to be served. We only knew that Akemi, the owner, was going to serve us a vegan meal.

It was a beautiful, sunny, spring-like day; and the trip there was very scenic. It took us forty-five minutes to get there from Huntsville.

When we arrived, the host graciously gave us a tour of the inn and the restaurant. There is a sign up as you go into the restaurant that says, “No Meat, Raw Fish, Dairy Products, or MSG.” After the tour, Akemi took us to the elegant dining room where there was a table set for four.

The reserved lunch cost $6.50. This included salad, two kinds of delicious homemade yeast breads (one was raspberry bread, the other had a delicious topping with bacon substitute); a special blended juice; a tofu vegetable soup; and a Shokado box lunch consisting of vegetable fried kabob, vegetable sushi, tempura and couscous cake. For dessert we were served hot kudzu jelly. Many assorted herbal and Japanese teas were placed on the antique sideboard so that we could fix our own tea.

We enjoyed the meal and beautiful atmosphere!! And we also enjoyed the great service. Akemi sees to it that her customers are completely satisfied and she made us feel special. We plan to go back soon.

Akemi plans to go to Japan for three weeks (February 24 through March 16, 1997), so don’t plan to go during this time.

I want to go back sometime during the week and try something off the vegetarian lunch menu. I also want to stay one night at the Inn. There is plenty to do in Winchester, Tennessee. There are lots of antique stores and Hammers stores. There is an old theater downtown, the Old Jail Museum, Falls Mill, Sewanee, and Tims Ford Lake.

Green Pasture Restaurant: 114 Sharp Springs Road; Winchester, TN 37398--Specializing in Macrobiotic, vegetarian, seafood, and Japanese Cuisine.

Dinner is available seven days a week (5:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.) with one day’s advance reservation.

Lunch is served Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m). Call one day in advance for reserved lunch on the other days of the week.

MY VISIT TO WILDWOOD
Contributed by Margaret Evans

Wildwood Lifestyle Center & Hospital is located just outside Chattanooga, nestled in the mountains. The setting is beautiful and tranquil.

My husband and I arrived at Wildwood around 10 a.m., in time for a short walk, followed by twenty minutes in the jacuzzi and a massage. I felt as relaxed as a three-year-old after a nap. We enjoyed a delicious lunch and another walk.

In the afternoon, cooking classes are given. We learned to make oat burgers and “cheese” made from cashews. The food prepared would be served for lunch the next day. A light supper (or lemon water for those wanting to lose weight) was served at 6:00 p.m. We attended an evening lecture--Bolstering the Immune System--which was very informative.
It’s early to bed and early to rise at Wildwood. Breakfast is served at 7:00 a.m. This was my favorite meal. After the wonderful hot rice, coconut, and raisin cereal; fruits; nuts; and blueberry muffins, I did believe that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

I enjoyed my stay at Wildwood. All meals are strictly vegan and delicious. The atmosphere is restful and peaceful. Above all, what makes Wildwood so special are the people who work and care for you.

(For more information about Wildwood Lifestyle Center & Hospital, call 1-800-634-WELL.)

INDIA PALACE
Contributed by Alan Davis

In a city where it is very difficult to find more than one item on the menu that meets the needs of the vegetarian or vegan eater, India Palace is a treasure. India Palace (formerly Bombay Cuisine) is located on Jordan Lane between 565 and University.

When Angela and I ate there recently for lunch, we both chose the economical lunch buffet ($5.95; children under 8, $3.95). As usual, the buffet offered soup, three vegetarian dishes, two chicken dishes (if you are eating with non-vegetarians), salad, and two choices of dessert. On this day we selected a tasty lentil soup, basmati rice, an eggplant puree with peas (especially good), a broccoli-potato-tomato stew, a salad, and chutneys. For lacto/ovo vegetarians, an egg and pea casserole was also on the buffet. The lunch came with an unlimited supply of wonderful fresh “naan” bread. The desserts, as usual, were (unfortunately) dairy-based: galab juman (cheese-cake balls fried and covered with honey and rose water) and custard. For the non-vegan, the opportunities were so broad they seemed endless. For the vegan, the selections were more limited, but extremely tasty and broader than you find almost anywhere else. Luncheon buffet is served 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM M-F--until 3:00 PM on Saturdays and Sundays. On Sundays, the buffet price is $6.95.

The regular menu offers a special vegetarian section of 16 different items to choose from (available for both lunch and dinner). During dinner (served between 5:30 PM and 10:00 PM), you can choose the “Complete Vegetarian Dinner” for $11.95. It, too, is a bargain, considering the mouth-watering choices: pappadam, choice of two vegetable curries from the menu, daal mahrani (thick lentil soup), raita, dessert and coffee or hot tea. India Palace also offers 11 choices of breads, cooked in the Tandoori style.

We have eaten at India Palace at least 6 times over the last 3 months and find the food to be consistently tasty and the service very good. We highly recommend it. India Palace offers take-out and catering. Keep your eye open for India Palace discount coupons which appear in the Huntsville Times. You can use them more than once.

India Palace; 420 Jordan Lane; Huntsville
205/536-3360
Lunch 11:00 - 2:30 (3:00 on Saturday and Sunday)
Dinner 5:00 - 10:00

ROSIE’S CANTINA
Contributed by Sam and Vicki Brigman

Rosie’s Cantina, located in the Home Depot Shopping Center, is an airy, rustic, Mexican restaurant with an impressive vegetarian menu. Rosie’s serves a separate batch of rice and refried beans that omits the chicken broth that is used with the carnivorous customers. The rice is steamed with peas and Mexican seasoning, and the refried beans are cooked with soybean oil.

We ordered the spinach quesadillas and the vegetable burrito (both are yummy dishes). Of course, you’re served salsa and chips (not greasy) while you await your meal. The plates are plentiful; and on each dining experience, we have taken home doggy bags.

Believe it or not, the burrito is made up of mushrooms, zucchini, onions, and bell peppers. I say this because other restaurants’ idea of a vegetarian burrito is bean. Of course, if you don’t consume dairy products, you have cheese to contend with in Mexican food; but, the cook will gladly accommodate you.

These two entrees were $7.95 each. Other entrees are medium plates of vegetable enchiladas priced at $6.95 and the large plates at $7.95. We are impressed with the overall service and the food at Rosie’s and gladly recommend it.

VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT OPENS IN HUNTSVILLE
Contributed by Paul Dezenberg

Huntsville's first entirely vegetarian restaurant opened recently. Our Daily Bread, located at 2413-B Jordan Lane (between Oakwood and Sparkman), serves lunch until 3:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday. It is closed on Friday and Saturday, and on Sunday it has a buffet. Carry out items are also available.

The food selection varies day to day, although certain items remain constant. The staples include a large vegetarian burger made from oats, a baked potato stuffed with vegetables and topped with cashew gravy, a chili dog, and soup and salad. Other items sampled include falafel, tacos, vegetable pot pie, pepper steak, and vegetable lasagna. For dessert, cookies, brownies, banana pudding, and tofu cheese cake are available. The vegetarian burger, stuffed potato, and split pea soup all come highly recommended, as do the cookies, which are made with fructose.

The prices on these items are very reasonable. All entrees sampled cost less than five dollars. No eggs, dairy products, or processed sugar are used. Certain condiments, such as the home-made ketchup and salad dressing, should be tasted before using.

The atmosphere of Our Daily Bread is clean and healthy, and the staff is friendly. If you're tired of searching for a vegetarian entree in a carnivore world, Our Daily Bread may be the place for you.

VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT IN NASHVILLE RANKS IN TOP 10!
Contributed by Lesley Johnson

The Vegetarian Resource Group, based in Baltimore, Maryland, recently sent VSA a letter containing its “Ten Best Restaurants in the United States.” Upon seeing that Slice of Life Restaurant and Bakery in Nashville, Tennessee was listed with the likes of restaurants in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York City, two of VSA’s members decided this would be a worthwhile road trip.

Slice of Life is located at 1811 Division Street near Vanderbilt University. A pleasant atmosphere awaits you at this healthy dining area. Both waitress and food arrived promptly. Various veggie salads and sandwiches are available. I enjoyed a sandwich made of tofu grilled with nutritional yeast, topped with sprouts and tomatoes on whole wheat bread. My companion chose “Tiger Food” (a mixture of sautéed veggies, scrambled tofu, brown rice, and soy cheese). There are six macrobiotic selections including Moros (Hijiki seaweed, steamed fresh vegetables, brown rice with black beans). Lunch entrees* include either a plate with your choice of three fresh vegetable options and whole wheat bread or the pasta of the day with your choice of sauce and/or toppings including grilled tofu, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, and others.

Slice of Life also offers marvelous beverages such as herbal teas, mineral waters, and fruit/vegetable juices. The carrot, kale, and apple juice combination was especially delightful as was the refined-sugar-free peanut butter cookie from the bakery. The bakery offers muffins, cookies, and other treats--some with sugar, some without. The staff is happy to supply such details. The price range is reasonable and average, the service friendly and prompt. One surprise, however, was that there are a few non-vegetarian items available, such as tuna, turkey, and chicken; but perhaps this can ease the tension of the dedicated carnivore you may bring along. (It may also provide the opportunity for him or her to discover the delights of vegetarian dining.) Overall, we were pleased with the visit.

For more information, you may reach Slice of Life at (615)329-2525. The Vegetarian Resource Group which publishes a guide to Natural Foods Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada can be reached at (410)366-VEGE.

* The menu from which we selected was only the lunch menu, but you can be sure that the dinner menu has many low fat, healthy options. Spinach Lasagna and Black Bean Cakes with Artichoke Stuffing are among the dinner entrees.