We vegetarians know how difficult it can be to eat out. More importantly, we know how awkward it is when our meat-eating friends try to accommodate us:
“What can you eat, lettuce? We’ll get salads.”
Well, salads every day aren’t my bag, but I’ll go along. If everyone wants to eat at Outback Steakhouse (cringe, corporate scum), then I’ll get the salad.
A vegetarian can’t whine about being veg
. Nobody wants to hear it (trust me). It’s a choice to be veg! Likewise, you can’t drag your friends to Veggie Galaxy each time you eat out. A solution: I found the best little sandwich shop—Olea Cafe—that conquers the challenge of making good food for all types of eaters. Veggies, you can bring your friends here. Admittedly, it was the huge sign offering gelato (Italian taste buds, curse you) that drew me in, but the place has more to offer. It was surprisingly busy for a Wednesday at 4pm. I ordered a Stella Wrap ($5.50).
Okay, not quite. Subtract Marlon Brando and add a wrap the size of an extra large burrito filled with avocado, greens, olive spread, red onions, and fresh mozzarella.
The greens and avocado were both as they should be—green, not browning around the edges. Olea had veggie Italian soup for the day ($3.50/bowl) and tabouli, grap
e leaves, and hummus (all $2.95) available in the cooler. The Falafel Wrap ($5.25) looked delicious, too: falafel, mint, parsley, turnip pickles, tomato, and tahini sauce. For anyone looking for more than veggies, Olea offers the Alba Panini ($6.35): smoked salmon, pesto aioli, cream cheese, capers, and red onion. A variety of options including dishes with sirloin steak and chicken are available. Located in Brookline Village, Olea doesn’t disappoint. Oh, and they offer breakfast, too. I’ll have to stop in for The Olea ($5): a breakfast sandwich with labne kefir cheese, olives, tomatoes, fresh mint, and cucumbers. And did I read pancake panini with Nutella and bananas or blueberries and cream?
A veg doesn’t always have to eat healthy.
GINA CURRERI WRITES THE VEG HEAD COLUMN IN BETWEEN STUFFING HER FACE. FOLLOW HER @GINACURRERI FOR NONSENSE AND OCCASIONALLY REAL SENSE.