A Veggie Good Job!

Vegetables never go out of vogue when talks on healthier lifestyles and alternative living arise. In the midst of fast food junkies everywhere, the continuous shift of people’s mindset on being health-conscious rather than being weight-conscious has done a lot of good in the reputation of vegetables, and it’s high time for us to rediscover the goodness that comes out of creating a really good veggie-friendly dish.

PIPINO Vegetarian Food by Pino

Most of us Filipinos consider many of our local dishes to be comfort food. At Pipino restaurant, Chef Ed Buguia redefines our classic idea of Filipino comfort food and creates his own version –vegetarian style.

“There’s a huge demand for healthier options nowadays, and we want to be that option,” Chef Ed says.

Located in the middle of the thriving Malingap street inside Teachers Village, Pipino restaurant recently opened during October of last year and proudly boasts off a fusion of cuisines with a common denominator: vegetables, and vegetarian cooking. The kinds of food you’ll be able to find at Pipino truly represent the restaurant’s conscious effort to promote a more vegan habit when it comes to our eating lifestyle, without having to sacrifice the goodness in every dish.

Creamy Eggplant and Tofu Miso served with brown rice

Low-fat and Cheese-less Vegan Lasagna

Surprise yourself with the uncompromised flavor, texture and appeal of Pipino’s vegetarian offerings such as the creamy Eggplant and Tofu Miso served with brown rice (P80), Veggie Sisig (P80), Tofu tempura (P80), and two of their bestsellers: Low fat and Cheese-less Vegan Lasagna (P135) made out of silken tofu, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini and malunggay, and the Portabello Mushroom Inasal (P265).

Other interestingly healthy desserts you can also try include the Vegan Choco Chip cookie (P40) topped with Dairy-free Coconut Ice Cream (P35), or the Egg and Dairy-free Green Tea Cupcakes (P50). Enjoy all these in a cozy, inviting and café-like venue, perfect for a fuss-free dining experience.

Vegan Choco Chip cookie topped with Dairy-free Coconut Ice Cream

 Pipino Vegetarian Restaurant is located at 2^nd Flr. #39 Malingap St. Teachers Village, Quezon City. Tel. #: 441-1773.

Corner Tree Café

Somewhere in Jupiter you’ll find a little café which serves vegan-friendly food you might want to explore. I’m not talking about the planet Jupiter, but Corner Tree Café in Jupiter street, Makati!

Greek Spinach Filo Triangles

 Corner Tree Cafe has a lot in store for vegetarians, pesco-vegetarians and meat eaters alike, and you can have your meal with any of their fresh fruit drinks, wine or beer. Feel like Popeye with some of their starters like the Greek Spinach Filo Triangles (3 pcs./P160 and 6 pcs./P275) or the Spinach Feta Croquettes (3 pcs./P160 and 6 pcs./P285).

Spaghettini w/ Broccoli & Toasted Almonds: go for no chees

e

Indian "Koftas" (in this case, veggie balls!) in tomato sauce with red rice

For your main dish you may want to try the Spaghettini with Broccoli and Toasted Almonds (P325) for a crunchy meal without the meat (you could opt to add a bit of parmesan cheese if you really can’t resist) or the Indian “Koftas” or meatballs in Tomato sauce and Red rice (P220). But mind you these aren’t really meat balls, the koftas are made out of cabbage and cauliflower so it’s still a very vegetarian dish. End your meal with a Vegan, Sugar-free Chocolate Cake (P120) or a slice of Sugar-free Carrot Cake (P120) and you’re good to go!

Corner Tree Café may be a little place in Jupiter but many people flock here to try something healthy and new, so make sure to book first before coming to eat. But if you’re at work or you just feel like staying home, you can have your Corner Tree favorite delivered wherever you are in the metro by calling 212-1212.

Corner Tree Café is located at 150 Jupiter St. Bel-Air, Makati City. Tel. #: 897-0295 or 0906-558-6177. Closed on Mondays.

Quantum Café

Quantum generally means ‘infinite possibilities’. This is definitely the case at Quantum Café because in spite of their internet shop-sounding name, the restaurant is more than what it seems to be. 

Teriyaki Tofu with Asparagus

“We’re not a diet restaurant, but you can tell the difference that we serve healthier food prepared in healthier ways,” Quantum Café owner Maryjo Ferraren shares. 

Arroz ala Cubana ---VEGETARIAN style (you can do without the egg)

Though Quantum Café does not entirely limit itself to only serving vegan dishes, it is still definitely a place to visit for a taste of their veggie-friendly buffet food –most especially during their Vegan Happy Hour every Monday and Tuesday from 11-1pm for lunch and 6-8pm for dinner. At P250 you can have an unlimited amount of vegetables cooked fresh every time, using only ceramic pots and pans to ensure that the dish is never overcooked and drained of its natural nutrients.

Take care of your appetite as well as your eating habits and indulge in Quantum Café’s Veggie Meat Adobo Flakes with salad and rice or Kare-kare with Malunggay. They also have a wide array of dishes using gata or coconut milk such as Laing and Ginataang Langka (Jackfruit in Coconut Milk), or their Malunggay Pancit Bihon or Canton all cooked the Quantum way. Sometimes you’ll be able to find Spanish and Mediterranean style vegetarian dishes as well, for Quantum’s buffet menu changes from time to time for more variety in every visit you make.

At Quantum Café, food is where the heart and the mind are. With all the better options that it has to offer, you can’t go wrong with whatever dish you choose. Just like the choice that the Maryjo’s family has made to pursue and promote this kind of alternative eating habit through their restaurant.

Malunggay Pasta: Malunggay is good for you! (in case you still don't know)

“It’s a long shot and it’s hard. It’s pioneering, and it’s something we believe in. We don’t want to convert other people, but we just want to share this with them,” Maryjo says.

From ala carte to buffet dining, Quantum Café also caters at events and delivers in the Makati and Mandaluyong area. Quantum Café is located at Feron Bldg. 9590 Kamagong cor. Bagtikan st. Makati City. Tel. #: 5190757

Nobody said that going vegetarian was easy –but no one ever said it was going to be a bland experience either. Don’t hesitate and don’t think twice, because with vegetarian food as good as what these food hubs have, you wouldn’t have to hold back the unrelenting foodie in you. Feel free to indulge!

*Quantum and Corner Tree food shots are from their Facebook accounts :) Thank you!