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RESTAURANT REVIEW:

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the first in a four-part series about healthy restaurants in the Huntington Beach/Fountain Valley area.

After a full year of cream sauces followed by desserts so rich in chocolate I thought I would go into a diabetic coma, my waistline was going the wrong direction. It was time for a change.

Though I know how to cook, I don’t like preparing meals just for myself. But I did want to eat healthier, so I began a quest to find restaurants that would entice my taste buds, because I would rather be fat than eat bland food.

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Fortunately I have found several places in my quest, and one of them was the Bodhi Tree Café.

I had heard from one of my vegetarian friends that this place would be a good introduction, so I pedaled the bicycle from my place in Sunset Beach and took advantage of the lunch specials.

The full menu is available, but they also have lunch specials for $6.95 that include white or brown rice and soup, with the choice of several dishes.

I selected the cashew (imitation) chicken. The chicken was a tofu and very tender. The sauce was mild and soy-based.

My next visit was with my friends who abhor vegetarian food, but they had been with me on some of the other decadent excursions, so this was their penance.

I failed to inform them that we were going to a meatless restaurant, and there were cries of protest but it was too late. I was driving, and they couldn’t escape.

We began with an appetizer of shrimp spring rolls. The tofu shrimp was a little bland, and I would have liked to have seen some cilantro or basil added to them. The peanut sauce helped add a little taste, however.

One appetizer I would recommend is the Vietnamese crepes. The mixture of mushrooms, tofu and bean sprouts lightly deep fried was great, and we wrapped it in the romaine lettuce and added Thai mint, basil and cucumbers.

One friend saw pad thai and ordered it out of familiarity. It was a little spicy for him, but he has a sensitive palate. I thought it was fine and when spritzed with lime, it softened some of the blow of the chili.

The eggplant with bean sauce was the best entrée we ordered. The Japanese eggplant was cooked perfectly and the soy-sauce mix that came with it was light and did not cover the taste of the vegetable.

My order of vermicelli with soy meat and coconut milk was a little bland as well. I added some Sriracha hot sauce, and that picked it right up.

My third visit was with my girlfriend, and we had the seafood wraps. These were outstanding. There were three different flavors of tofu with Japanese cucumbers, sprouts, carrots, lettuce, shredded red cabbage and peanut sauce.

Rosa had the Jack Salad, which was recommended by the waiter, and it was perfect for her. The jack fruit mixed with tofu, mint, cilantro and ground peanuts was tossed in a dressing of soy sauce, vinegar, garlic powder and sugar. It was a bit spicy with the chili sauce drizzled on top but could always be taken off the dish.

I had a ginger soy chicken and shrimp tofu. The green beans, broccoli, cauliflower and carrots were incredible, fresh and cooked al dente. It comes with the option of white or brown rice. The sauce that comes with it is a bit heavy, and I would request it on the side or less of it next time.

This was a great place to begin my indoctrination of healthier eating. I felt like I was sacrificing nothing and noticed I had more energy on my workouts following a meal there. This would be the perfect place for the non-vegetarian to go. I know that it will go into my regular rotation of restaurants.

BODHI TREE VEGETARIAN CAFÉ

ADDRESS: 501 Main St., Huntington Beach

PHONE: (714) 969-9500

CUISINE: Vegetarian

SPECIALTY DISH: Steamed abalone with shiitake mushrooms

ALCOHOL SERVED: none

ENTRÉE PRICE RANGE: $5.95 to $13.95

FAMILY FRIENDLY: Yes

RATING: *** 1/2 out of 4


JOHN REGER reviews restaurants for the Independent.

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