Lent may seem like a big sacrifice especially if you’re giving up some of your favourite things (which are most likely food), but indulging less doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy a good meal. To get you by, here’s a list of abstinence-friendly food:
Kale-sadilla from Mooshi Green Bar
One of my go-to food spots to grab a healthy meal or snack is Mooshi Green Bar. Even when it isn’t Lent, I find myself gravitating towards this small kiosk situated smack-dab in the middle of the mall. They offer an array of choices, but my favourite is their kale-sadilla (yes, the wordplay gets me everytime, too).
Just like your regular quesadilla, it has onions, bellpeppers and cheese, but Mooshi’s version has kale instead of meat and adds red kidney beans for more texture. Served with tomato salsa on the side, it’s a very filling meal that won’t have you thinking of meat.
L3, Kiosk , Ayala Mall Cebu, Archbishop Reyes Avenue , 6000 Cebu City, Cebu
A cone of fruit gelato from La Vie
Maybe you’re abstaining from chocolate or dairy, but La Vie’s spread of gelato can give you alternatives. They’re known for their take on combining balut and gelato together (which to be honest, I quite liked given that I wouldn’t eat a big amount of it), yet they have other flavours you wouldn’t see in your usual local creameries, like wasabi (which was very good too) and cookie dough.
Their fruit gelato are especially delicious; on top of that, they’re not too sweet either, perfect for lent.
A bottle of green juice from TONIQ Juice Bar
Put that glass of coke down…or that cup of coffee. If you’re trying to abstain from drinks that give you energy, TONIQ’s juices are a perfect alternative. The company bases all their products on the principles of a Holistic Lifestyle wherein it aims to restore the body through food. That means you’re able to get the energy you need but through a much healthier way.
SM City Cebu, Juan Luna Ave. Cor. Cabahug And Kaohsiung St, Cebu City, 6000 Cebu
Fish and chips from Casa Verde
Fish is the immediate alternative to meat during Lent and you’re bound to look for more flavours over time. Casa Verde’s fish and chips are savoury and flavourful, a different approach to your typical just-salted-then-fried fish. If you’re getting weary of fish, you can easily pick from the seafood dishes available on their menu.
All photos are taken from the wires.
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Room For Dessert’s signature fairy floss topped with ice cream. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)
From the family behind popular restaurant Casa Verde, Room for Dessert sits on a stand-alone structure atop a water feature in Seaside’s Sky Park—in itself already a feast for the eyes. In lieu of the previous brand’s famous ribs, Room for Dessert’s claim to fame is the fairy floss topped with ice cream, a sugary concoction that’s incredibly photogenic—something tells us Instagram’s gonna be filled with images of this cloudy treat.
The dish features a sugar cone or cup topped with a generous serving of cotton candy fluff, and topped with soft serve ice cream and a number of other treats. There are different versions of the dessert, each one equally tempting: the Jayden’s Jar of Cereals, Ting’s Heavenly Chocolate, Juliana’s Cookie Madness, Mason’s Bear Belly topped with gummy bears, and the K Pop C’s which has popcorn.
The Cookie Dough Cheesecake is also a must-try. (Photography by Nath Ybañez/Originally published in Zee Lifestyle, April 2016)
Not to be outdone, the cakes are just as remarkable. Whether it’s the colorful Rainbow Cake, the tart Lemon Curd Cheesecake or the Tiramisu Cheesecake, they’ve transformed the treats into the highlight of the meal, and not just something to cap it off. A favorite, though, is the Cookie Dough Cheesecake.
For those looking for something more savory than sweet, Room for Dessert also offers sandwiches. The Egg Salad Sandwich is a classic, while the Roast Beef has thick slices of meat for a more filling meal. Top it off with their selection of smoothies—the Mango Banana is a perfect refresher for the summer days.
Sure, Room for Dessert’s own name encourages us to leave room for what some may argue is the best part of the meal. Their selection of treats, though, is enough to convince others that maybe we can skip the rest of the meal altogether and save all the room for what matters.
Sky Park, 3L SM Seaside City Cebu
6332. 253 6472 | Facebook