So You Think You Can Veggie?

Last week I headed up to Baguio to do the bad cop in the good cop/bad cop waltz that is employee evaluations. That was not fun, but I did leave the mountains with some goodies: blueberries, sagada oranges and passionfruit.

Whenever I'm in Baguio, I try to eat as healthy as possible. I mean, seriously, why wouldn't you try more fruits and veggies especially when Baguio offers a plethora of fresh produce at your disposal for dirt cheap. Most of the vegetables found in our local markets are brought in from the Northern Luzon region. Lettuce, strawberries, oranges and tomatoes are the perfect pasalubong for the kitchen.

Especially with farmers markets mushrooming in the metro, there's more than many opportunities to eat vicariously thru veggies. Some even go as far as going vegetarian, such as my friend Cheska who, for Lent, gave up anything that moves, quacks or moos. It was amazing to watch her self control, especially when we had dinner at Barcino's where I noshed on chorizo, jamon serrano and all the meaty spanish goodies. She ordered croquetas con queso. No Bueno for me.

Let's be reminded that, when growing up with three big brothers who have even bigger appetites, if you so much as even blink when food is put down on the table, there's a very high chance you open your eyes to an empty plate. Plus since they were "growing boys" for quite some time, meat and poultry were a mainstay on the menu. Conclusion: I love meat.

Lately though, I've been trying to experiment on healthy eating especially since the surprise diagnosis of elevated uric acid. I'm in my quarterlife! I cannot have elevated anything, let alone uric acid.

My first stint at eating green during my first yoga retreat in Ojai, California.

The ultimate getaway, we had Caspar the wonderchef fix us amazing vegan meals during the entire three days.

 

Since it was in California, the variety of healthy food was at our disposal. Soy, almond and rice milk. Tempeh, gluten and tofu. Add to that all the organic veggies at the Casa Barranca (our retreat location) grounds, it was heaven at first veggie.

Let me tell you, inasmuch as I loved spaghetti made from zucchini and salad with banana tempeh, it felt like I was dining on one giant salad. Because everything felt so light and leafy, I indulged in seconds thinking my cleansing weekend would actually help my body.

It helped my skin as well as my system, but let me tell you it did not help my waistline. I gained 5 lbs in three days! I guess because it felt so light my overcompensation on servings evened out the playing field.

Since then I've been dabbling here and there about cutting certain foods, but one thing is certain, as my friend Cay would say: I like a manly meal.

Enter Bliss Cafe in Baguio.

Bliss Cafe is the ultimate vegetarian resto for the veggie-phobic carnivores out there. Originally located in Musayac Inn, Bliss Cafe now finds its home in Hotel Elizabeth tucked in between Mines View Park, Wright Park and the Mansion. The new location allows you to eat in, or semi al fresco.

Before you even try any of their dishes, your eyes get a visual feast of their sunny interiors. Orange, red and yellow tones splash the walls alongside quirky artwork, photos, quotes and other knicknacks to keep your eyes busy before you even check the menu.

When I'm usually up in the mountains, I like to go to Bliss to eat, or simply to hang out and check out the sounds (very eclectic) and the various items found on their shelves; most for sale, some for the reader's pleasure while dining at the resto. This sanctuary also holds art exhibits every month as well as meditation seminars for Buddhists and heathens alike.

I especially like the random chubby buddhas atop the tables which you can purchase on a whim. Some are fatter than others, I'd like to think the chubbier ones ate too much of their yummy food.

Speaking of food, YES it is a vegetarian restaurant. Why am I raving about it? Because, dining at bliss feels like eating at a regular meaty restaurant. How?

Presenting Exhibit A: Sisig

Nice chunky bits cooked to a chewy crisp with onions and peppers with a wedge of lemon to add the finishing touch. It looks like sisig, smells like sisig, tastes.... tastes like sisig! But what's missing? Aside from the sizzling plate, well.. we're missing the Oink.

No-Oink Sisig is my fave appetizer because it replicates the filipino beerhouse fave sans the uric acid inducing pork. What do they replace the ears, cheek and... other random oink parts with? Non-oink and non-meat! Had I brought out a plate for my dad to eat, he probably wouldn't even notice its piggylessness because the flavor and seasoning takes you back to the sizzling plates of Aysees or Aling Lucings infamous sisig.

Presenting Exhibit B: The Seoul Set

Bliss Cafe's menu is as diverse as the world map and the owners, Jim & Shanti, make sure that each major cuisine is represented. When I want a super satisfying manly meal, I pick up the Seoul Set. The Korean plate next to the Zurich (Rosti), Mexico(Burrito), and Indian (Paneer, Mock Duck Curry, etc) feasts, Seoul is a tasty combination of Veggie Kalpi (faux short ribs), Red Rice and Kimchi.

Now tell me that my Seoul set isn't a dead ringer for my Bistek Tagalod in Baguio Country Club?

Let me tell you, that kalpi, or galbi or kalbi or however its really spelled, is so unbelievably meaty I dont even want to know what they use to replace the short ribs. Tender and bursting of flavor just like the marinades hand mixed by the owner of Yedang in Ortigas, the secret meat replica used by Shanti (the kitchen maven of the dynamic Bliss duo) is none other than gluten.

Gluten is a protein byproduct of wheat which a lot of vegetarians use to fool meat eaters such as myself into trying meatless dishes. At Bliss Cafe, gluten is used in their sisig, Veggie BBQ (yumminess on a stick), No Quack Adobo (i swear it feels and tasted like chicken!) and the Mock Duck Curry. The "duck" seems believable because it even has a "skin" with bumpy pores. How the gluten gods made it so, I have no clue. But if fake skin is what it takes to get me to eat veggie, then love is blind, because I'm in love with it!

Jim and Shanti Ward are the creative tandem behind Bliss. Jim the resto manager, and Shanti the chef de cuisine at their cozy art and veggie space. They created the menu for people who love eating meat without the guilt involved. When asked how she can make veggie food taste so good, she simply cooks everything as if there is really meat involved, but fakes it.

My other fave dishes are the Chicharon (don't ask what its made of but its crunchy, Mantra (cheese and potato bits with chives molded and fried ala lumpiang shanghai (egg rolls)), Murano/Burano pasta (eggplant sausage atop a tomato basil sauce), and their infamous Bliss Crepe and the Bliss balls (coconut goodness shaped like a ball). The two desserts will satisfy your sweet tooth in a guiltless way.

Of course, if you think that eating all this healthy food is a free pass at eating the smorgasbord off the menu, just remember, if you eat too much, it will probably always go to your ass.

Exhibit C: Marty's Veggie Chicharon

This might seem like a healthy alternative to the real pork rind, but eating an entire bag of the salt & vinegar variety might not be the optimal serving size while watching a late night movie. I'm probably telling you about healthy eating because I had a very sinful brunch meal with the fam earlier today. But more on that tom.

To be blissed out by Bliss Cafe's yummy vegetarian in disguise cuisine, head off to Hotel Elizabeth at #1 J.Felipe St, cor. Gibraltar St, Baguio City. You can also contact them at blissnbaguio@yahoo.com.

To learn more about Casa Barranca. Click Casa.
They also produce organic wine which I must admit is award winning and potent.

Aysee's is located by Valle Country Clunb & Ultra. It is a small shack on the way down to Valle 1 in Ortigas.

Aling Lucings is the traditional Capampangan sisig house. They have one in Makati now.

Yedang is my family's extended Korean kitchen. Click Here