Dining review: Looking to eat more plant-based meals? Here are 3 you can grab around town

By Jl Fields January 25, 2017 | updated 10 years ago

The Blue Star Lounge "Crispy Tofu" - shitake risotto, maple sesame dressed slaw and orange fume Thursday January 19, 2017. Photo by Jeff Kearney.

‘Tis the season for New Year resolutions. Lots of us want to lighten up after a filling holiday season while others are ready to take on a challenge, such as eating more plant-based meals.

As the resident vegan dining critic, this month I’m sharing three meals you can grab around town – from breakfast to lunch to dinner – that fall on the “healthier” side of dining.

If eating vegan is a new concept to you, here are the five food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes and beans, and nuts and seeds. That’s all you need to eat well-balanced, plant-sourced meals. And local restaurants have you covered.

Breakfast

Start your day off right with the vegan breakfast bowl ($9) at Adam’s Mountain Café. This bowl is flawless. Pinto beans simmered to a weighty, creamy texture are served with Spanish rice – two items that could stand on their own. But taste and aroma are piled on with the savory touches of red chili (opt for green chili if heat’s your thing), olives, seasoned pumpkin seeds and a bright dollop of cashew sour cream with a hint of cumin. Add sesame-crusted tofu ($5) for an even heartier meal.

Honorable mentions:

Drink your morning meal: Grab a green Energy Fixer Elixir ($7.50) at Nourish Organic Juice or a Berry Banana Smoothie ($7.31) at Ola Juice Bar.

Lunch

During the noon hour, choose any of three Heart of Jerusalem locations to enjoy the falafel sandwich ($6.99) hold the yogurt-based “gazaziki” for a healthier version of fried, fast-ish food. The healthy side of this is the simple ingredients in the Middle Eastern patty: chickpeas, cilantro, parsley and garlic. Less so? They’re deep-fried. Hey, progress, not perfection. The crispy chickpea balls are stuffed in pita bread alongside pickled vegetables and a thin layer of hummus. Comfort food at its finest.

Honorable mentions:

Push the “healthier?” envelope a bit further and stop by Trinity Brewing for vegan corn dogs ($12) or go completely vegetable-forward and slice into the cauliflower steak ($13) at McCabe’s Tavern.

Dinner

A swanky alternative to the formal Blue Star dining room, I’m a big fan of the casual Blue Star Lounge and an even bigger fan of the crispy tofu ($13.95). Notify the server that your order is vegan to assure that olive oil is used as a substitute for butter. Then sit back and get excited about a multilayered tasting experience. A generous piece of golden-crusted tofu is nestled on a bed of creamy shiitake mushroom risotto. The Asian-influenced sweet crisp slaw elevates the flavor and texture, making every single bite of this dish complete.

Honorable mentions:

Go to the Burrowing Owl, where everything is vegan, and dig into the Erik Tostrada ($10) featuring jackfruit, tostadas, beans, and green chili and more. On the lighter side, try the sweet potato roll ($6.95) at Tomo Sushi (yes, vegan sushi is a thing).

I’ve been writing about the expansive vegan options in Colorado Springs for nearly three years and, I assure you, there’s no shortage of plant-sourced meals that are good for you and delightful for your taste buds. Whether dining among other vegans or in mixed, “multivore” company, options abound. Start with any one of these three dishes and you can’t go wrong.