Fiber-laden Corner Tree Starter Plate (Photo by RUDY LIWANAG)

Even though by now everybody knows that the fruits and veggies from God’s green earth are great sources of good nutrition, eating them on a regular basis may still meet some resistance from palates that are used to biting into chunks of meat.

That is one of the reasons why the vegetarian movement has not really taken root in the local foodie scene. Another reason is the fact that there are not many eating places for full-fledged vegans in the country, and most that do have a limited gulay repertoire.

There is one restaurant, though, that offers imaginative ways to enjoy the healthy stuff. It’s called the Corner Tree Café, and it has brought vegetarian dining to the mainstream. For starters, the atmosphere at the café is very homey, which sets it apart from other vegetarian places which try to channel into the hippie culture. It gives customers a feel of sitting in a sunny coffee shop at the NY Village.

The food is also very Continental, owing much to owner Chiqui Mabanta’s travels abroad and her affinity for vegetarian cookbooks. One very appealing appetizer is the fiber-laden Corner Tree Starter Plate, which is a healthy mix of cucumber, singkamas, and carrot wedges for the White Bean Hummus dip, together with chunks of whole wheat bread for dipping in extra virgin olive oil, then coating with Dukka, a fragrant kind of trail mix of sesame seeds, spices, and nuts.

Main course options include All-Filipino fare, such as Sinigang na Gulay sa Miso or Vegetarian Kare-Kare with a “bagoong” paste made up of black beans; and a palate-pleasing pasta dish of Spaghettini with Broccoli. An I-can’t-believe-it’s-not-meat moment may be had with the first bite of their Baked Tofu Walnut Burgers that come with a no-grease side of sweet potato fries and their scrumptious homemade mayonnaise.

This meatless, moo-less burger patty is surprisingly close to the real thing, even when it comes to the texture. For dessert, there are options like their carrot cake, and a refreshing mango and pineapple salad that comes with a tart and tangy yogurt and poppy seed dressing instead of the cream and condensed milk kind. All of these can be washed down with a refreshing glass of their Tanglad iced tea.

Sundays are extra special with a brunch menu that includes servings of Grilled Asparagus and Poached Eggs on Whole Wheat English Muffins (two eggs drizzled with a homemade Hollandaise sauce, dished out with a house salad and country fries); Turkish-style Baked Eggs with Yogurt and Cayenne on Spinach; and Parmesan Cheese Polenta (Italian corn grits) with a Mushroom Rosemary Sauce.

The menu items are a bit pricey, with a serving of their burger going for P260, or the veggie Sinigang going for P180, but Chiqui explains that the ingredients she uses are top-notch and very healthy, such as sea salt instead of iodized, and honey or muscovado as sweeteners. Dairy products, eggs, and peanut butter are organic, too. So, you not only feel light and right, you will also have done the planet some good.

As such, the place is a hot spot for vegans, but even meat-eaters are welcome. This is not an in-your-face kind of place. In fact, Chiqui reports that 85% of her clientele are not vegetarians, and that she, herself, indulges in seafood on occasion.

Reservations at this cozy nook are not required, but are appreciated, because the seating capacity is a little limited, and Chiqui suggests taking a gander at their chalkboard for the specials of the day, and their Facebook account for a taste of the regular menu.  Corner Tree Café is located at 150 Jupiter St., Bel-Air, Makati, and is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 11 am to 10pm.