Green Temple Vegetarian Restaurant
Category: Vegetarian [Edit]
Neighborhood: Redondo Beach1700 S Catalina Ave
Redondo Beach, CA 90277 (310) 944-4525
- Hours:
Tue-Thu 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Tue-Thu 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m.
Sun 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: No
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: No
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol: None
65 Reviews for Green Temple Vegetarian Restaurant
This is my favorite vegetarian restaurant in Redondo Beach. They have the most amazing creamed tofu sauce ever! (it used to be called the savory sauce).
Everything there is amazingly yummy, from the salads to the quesadillas.
They have an amazing tea selection too. They do not serve alcohol, however, you can bring your own bottle of wine, and there is no corkage fee!
The atmosphere is very romantic as well. Indian tapestries adorn the inside and out. There are brightly colored cushions everywhere, and dark wood furniture. My favorite part is the fish pond outside.
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Food to die for. I had the white lasagna....wow!!! I also had a super drink called a Jamacia. I ate here right after I left The Bead Store right next door so it must of been after 6pm. I sat outside on the patio and visited with others that were there. What a nice treat this wonderful rest. is. I will surely be going back soon.
I love this place. I love the food, the people and the atmosphere. I was laughing at how some girl (yelper) was upset that they serve the water at room temperature... she could've asked for ice, but, unless you complain about such idiotic things, you should absolutely love this place. The sunday brunch is way kick ass too!
i love green temple. they have an amazing range of foods from vegan mexican to vegan bowls. i love their teas. their creamed sauce is so awesome... i think about it all of the time. parking can be difficult on a summer's day but it's so amazing i'd walk 500 miles.
My husband and I LOVE everything about this place. The ambiance, the staff ,and especially the food. Tofu steamers is my favorite dish- but the white lasagna is a close second. Be aware it's rather casual and they do not serve alcohol. But you can always hit the wine bar down the block before or after.
I went to this place based on the reviews I read for this restaraunt and I was SO disappointed with my experience that I actually took the time to sign up for an account to rate it.
I'm a vegetarian and a lot of people tell me they could never give up meat because they think that any food without meat would be tasteless and boring. The food here epitomizes those stereotypes. The chefs here have somehow found a way to remove all taste from the food they cook. The food here is THE blandest and most tasteless vegetarian food I have ever eaten.
I have no idea why this place is so highly rated. The decor is nice but the food is so atrocious you'll actually feel depressed when you leave.
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I first came here after a yoga session at the adjacent Body Therapy Center. The ambience of this little gem lengthened my feeling of zen for the rest of the evening. The decor is eclectic Eastern influenced, with wooden tables inside and Indian fabrics hanging about. The staff all work together in a sort of co-operative effort to cook, serve and manage the place.
The food is wholesome and hearty, with items like vegetarian meatloaf, soups, tacos, etc. Sit inside, or outside--you won't be disappointed either way. The patio is enclosed and has a little fountain enhancing the good fung shui energy that is sure to bring good luck into your life.
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Ok, if you are expecting vegetarian healthy food to taste as good as In N Out.. you're in for a shock here... it's going to taste much worse..
I came here because of all the yelp reviews and I was somewhat disappointed because the food just didn't taste good! It was lacking flavor, zest, spice, ANYTHING.. it was just SO BLAND.
So.. why the 4 stars? Because I feel great. I ate this crap an hour ago and I can still feel it digesting in me. It's not simple sugars.. this is the real shit.. complex carbs that are rich in nutrients. THIS IS REAL FOOD. I feel completely satiated and alert and I know this food is going to keep me going for the rest of the night!!
Other notes
- Their deserts are exceptional tasty AND heathy.. niiiice.
- The service is friendly
- The portions are HUGE. A jr Entree is enough for 2 so yeah it's expensive but if you share it ends up being cheap!
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Cute, peaceful courtyard with running water.
Friendly service from people with non-American accents.
Fun tea infusions.
Vegetarian goodness.
AND COCONUT ORANGE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING.
I know I have raved about bread pudding before but stay with me a minute. It's coconut. It's orange. It's chocolate. AND it's bread pudding. It's moist and delicious to the last drop.
The food I had wasn't anything too spectacular, but it was tasty for sure, and plenty big servings. And you know how vegetarian food doens't quite fill you up unless you've adjusted to no-meat? Well, that leaves plenty of room for dessert. And did I mention? The bread pudding? It's really good?
Yeah.
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I haven't lived in the South Bay for a long time, but I did grow up here, so when I'm back in town visiting family and friends, which is almost all the time, I try to make it out here for a delicious veggie meal. Since I first discovered this place, I've been craving it. Their savory sauce is amazing! I've never had anything here that I didn't like. Its been a while since my last trip there, but I think, since I'll be hitting the South Bay this weekend, I'll have to make a special lunch trip there.
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Savory Garden Burrito. AMAZING. Mostly the SaVoRy sauce is what gets me! I like the fresh baked bread they serve with the salads as well.
I've only been here a couple of times, but I know that if I went thirty-six more times, it would still get five stars. The food is really good, and the atmosphere is, well, relaxing. It may take you awhile to understand how good this place is, but that's probably because you're so mellowed out by the experience that you don't realize you're enjoying yourself immensely.
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I'm an omnivore, and I love this place. I only get a few things on the menu (anything with savory tofu sauce rocks), but it's great. My wife is a Pescetarian, so she forced me to come here originally. But I think I'm the one who suggests we come back. And yes, you can definitely fill your belly here even as an omnivore.
The people are super nice and authentic. The entrees are great and make you feel as though you are going through a healing ritual (especially after my "day of the donuts" fiasco). Lots of healthy veggie-mex options.
Some stuff isn't so great. The desserts are blah. The dragon shots - are they made from REAL dragon? And I'm probably in the minority here, but the Indian wall-hangings make me feel like I've just joined a hippie cult. However, the atrium with the koi pond fountain is beautiful.
But with good healthy food, nice wait staff, and ok prices, it keeps me coming back.
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My favorite veg*n restaurant in the south bay. They have amazing soups, yummy sandwiches and pretty good salads, but it's their desserts that draw me back every time!! It's not always easy to make a good vegan dessert, but these guys do a great job.
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A friend introduced me to this place this past weekend and I must say the food there is delictable! I am not a vegetarian, but with a great meal like this it does not make me miss meat one bit. The portions are immensely hearty, the tofu cream sauce is wonderful, and the ambiance is very enjoyable. I highly recommend this place to everyone!
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HUGE fan.
I love the atmosphere and the serene temple like vibe. Cute decorations and so unique. Quaint and the food is amazing !! Delicious and flavorful and so many options for vegetarians! Brought a couple non-veg friends here and they left full and satisfied.
Love the lasagna and the walnut loaf! I hear they have excellent breakfast but I have yet to try it.
I heard a rumor that its the same owner as "the world famous spot", your guess is as good as mine.
I think we even brought our own wine one night.
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So, this place is super-veggie-friendly, and has a cultural identity crisis somewhere between Indian and New-Agey-Feel-Good Hippie that somehow works. The prices are reasonable, the service has always been good, and the food.... well, it's always good, too. Whatever you order, make sure to get the "Savory Sauce" on it. It's name speaks volumes.
I have no complaints about this place, other then the fact that it's over 400 miles away from where I live. Bastards.
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FAN-VEGGY-TASTIC!! Even if you're not a vegetarian, you'll enjoy the delicious, fresh, and hearty meals. I believe the owners used to work at Greens by the Beach around the corner and we are SO glad they opened their own place when Greens shut-down. By the way we see the owners shopping at Farmer's Market, Whole Foods, and Trader Joe's often. Only bummer... they're closed on Mondays.
Wow, I am IMPRESSED. Also, obsessed. I went for the first time last week for lunch and have already been back for dinner. In fact, I really want to go today for lunch but don't feel like making the drive. If this restaurant were in Long Beach I would eat there a couple of times a week. The prices are reasonable, especially if you order the junior portion which is definitely enough food. Don't be scared away if you're not a vegetarian. I am a card carrying meat eater and think this place is fantastic. The atmosphere is great. It's mostly outdoor seating in a beautiful courtyard complete with a fountain and goldfish. It's decorated beautifully and has a wonderful, peaceful quality to it. The owner is super friendly as well as the rest of the staff I have encountered. Get anything that has the tofu sauce on it, it will change your life!
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My friend has been vegan for four years now, and I owed her lunch. I didn't know what to expect as an omnivore. Some vegetarian restaurants press tofu into wheat gluten to make it look like meat, and it ends up disappointing.
Green Temple keeps everything natural, and they do it well. The pasta was flavorful and filling, and the ingredients in my friend's quesadilla were fresh and tasty. The courtyard seating was really peaceful, if not a bit cold in December (there's limited seating inside). And for what I got, I felt the price was very reasonable.
Update 3/11: I went back without a vegetarian in tow, so true to my word, I'm bumping up to 5 stars.
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I love this place. Day or night, I'm always up for green temple. down for it? Well, either way, if you're in the area, it is a must! The people there are really friendly and super chill. The food is pretty great. Everything tastes fresh and flavourful, and whatever you're in the mood for- they've got it. Bring your friends, go by yourself- you won't regret it.
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Green Temple is now going to be one of my fav local restaurants. I went for the first time a couple nights ago, and my tummy came home happy. I found about it through yelp, and asked some friends about it and they were surprised that I haven't been there! So was I!! As I sat i mentioned to my friends that they better have something with eggplant because i was craving it...and miraculously the waiter then explained the specials of the night and yes, they had EGGPLANT LASAGNA. It was amazing. I love the decorations too, its a really cute place, perfect for a date or with a couple of friends. I don't suggest coming with a big group. This is the type of restaurant that I wouldn't mind even going by myself, it's really chill.
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If I could, I'd round up my rating to 3.5 stars, but alas Yelp doesn't carry half sizes (which really sucks when you're a perfect size 6 and a half)! Damn you, non-half-size-making-shoemakers. Damn you!!!
FOCUS!
Ahh yes, the Green Temple. Frankly, I was a little worried that it'd actually be something like a legitimate temple -- like one of the crazy Scientology cult-sites that masquerade around pretending to be "Celebrity Centres." Thankfully, it was actually a restaurant. But, I'm sorry to say, it didn't live up to the glowing Yelpage.
Honestly... water served at room temperature? I mean, really?? I'm all for raw/organic/sustainable/eco-friendly/vegan whatever, but I have to draw the line when it comes to my water being served at room temperature. That just takes it. TOO. FAR.
...And really, how can you screw up an avocado sandwich? Ohh wait, I know! By not divulging that it's actually smashed up guacamole-esque "avocado," as opposed to pretty little slices. Extra screw-up points if you serve it on a thick slab of dry bread that falls apart when you lift it up. Oh, and a big shaking of the fist for my side order of vegetables... which ended up being 90% cabbage and cauliflower (aka two of my least favorite vegetables EVER).
The BF ordered the veggie burger, which I thought was just mediocre. It was acceptable, but as he put it, "it's no M Cafe Big-Macro burger." Not a Big-Macro, indeed...
Hmm... Upon reading my words of wrath, I'm rethinking my proposed score of 3.5 Maybe I'll just leave it at three. At least it was clean, fast, cheap, and vegan without being exclusively Thai (which I'm insanely sick of). And it's near the pier, which provides for a fun, beach-y ambiance.
Ok... Maybe a 3.25. ;-)
I have been coming to this restaurant since they opened and have never been disappointed. The food is excellent and healthy. The staff is always very friendly. The decor, music and ambience are nice as well. You don't have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this place.
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I LOVE THE GREEN TEMPLE!!! I am not a vegetarian, but I still love this place. I started going here years ago - it was great then and it's still great today. I wish there were more restaurants like The Green Temple.
The food is extremely fresh and the menu has quite a few options. They also have a few specials each night for dinner. The creamed tofu sauce (formerly known as Savory Sauce) is so good. You can put it on anything (and I often do!). I highly recommend the Rice on Greens Salad and any of the "bowls" - I particularly love the Four Bowl where you can pick any four ingredients. The soups are always very good, as well, especailly the Spicy Corn Soup. Again, so fresh!
Seating can be limited inside, but the patio in the back has a fair number of tables. They also offer take-out which I've been known to do on many occasions!
I eat meat 'n vegetables, but I occasionally like eating vegetables all by themselves. A good place for an all veggie meal is Green Temple in Redondo Beach. Green Temple is a zenny little restaurant that produces all healthy organic, yummy dishes. They take pride in what they serve and do everything with such care. I like how they make their avocado, cheese & sprout sandwich on a whole grain bread. It is a hardy sandwich. Good veggie shepards pie too.
I like everything about this place, including their zenny outdoor courtyard, which soothes the soul and is ever so inviting. Great place, healthy eats and good peeps. Green Temple is a hidden gem that everyone who like's vegetarian knows about, and always revisits.
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Dear Green Temple,
You are the best vegetarian restaurant that I have ever met. Please go forth and multiply! If you weren't 30 minutes out of the way from my family in L.A. or over 2 hours away from where I live, I'd come over all the time. Seriously, I fantasize about trying everything on your glorious menu. Unfortunately, my visits are few and far between and I'll be an old lady before I get to indulge in your every dish. I would feel sorry for myself if it weren't for your generosity. We asked our waiter how the tofu sauce is made and he gave us a photocopied recipe! THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! From now on, I plan to drown every meal in your yummy tofu sauce.
You are the best! Don't ever change. BFF.
Your fan,
Nadine N.
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Man, do I hate vegetables? Yes I do, but this place totally changed my opinion.
So one night, my friends decided to go this place so I asked if they served any meat and of course they said yes.
Boy, I got there and found out, in fact, they didn't.
I had no choice but to try something because I was mad hungry. I ordered the tofu bowl and it was delicious! I haven't really tried anything else, but everyone in the group said that the food was tasty.
Also it's very cozy and it gives you the sense of peace and eating there was just great.
I freaking love this place. It's ridiculously out of the way and a pain to get to but well worth the drive for vegetarians, vegans and the open-minded carnivore.
First timers have to try the tofu steamers. The tofu cream sauce is sooo good. Topped over fresh steamed veggies, dense tofu and brown rice, it's healthy and YUMMY. You also have to get the soup that comes with your entree instead of a salad. The cup of soup comes with a generous slice of grainy, homemade bread.. the kind with the nutty crust and soft middle that is perfect for dipping into soup. I hate Lima beans and I adore their lima bean soup.. seriously! All the soups I've tried here (they have an ever changing selection) have been very good. If you know me IRL, you know that I know my SOUP!
Oh, and try a slice of one of their pies. Very good dessert too.
A must visit for all of you veggies and vegans out there!
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Oh. My. God. This place is the BEST vegetarian restaurant. Ever. I moved from the South Bay to Nor Cal about 18 months ago and I miss Green Temple almost every day. What I wouldn't give to be there right now. GT is SO much better than the highly-overrated Spot in Hermosa.
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A dear friend recommended this restaurant, so a group of us met on a Sunday night to experience the excitement.
Our group wasn't extremely large (there were 7 of us), but the restaurant was packed. I'm stating that now to defend the terribly slow and sloppy service that we experienced.
*I was amused by the staff bringing more tableware to us with each dish they presented. By the end of the meal, there were about 100 knives, spoons and forks laden around the table!
We each partook in the Herbal Elixer shots on the menu. As they were recommended to be digested BEFORE eating, I was de-mused by the delayed delivery of these elixers. My entree arrived 10 minutes before the "pre-meal-elixer".
The food was fabulous, so I was very grateful for the divine food that was prepared for us.
The environment was cozy and quaint, reminiscent of my hippie-raised-childhood.
I will most likely return again and again, bringing more patience with me!
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Question: Of these two eateries, which is vegetarian and which is the slaughterhouse?
The Green Fields: sounds like a bucolic field of grains, grasses and vegetables, huh?
The Green Temple: sounds more reminiscent of "Temple of Doom", doesn't it?
Surprisingly, the Temple serves the fresh garden veggies and the Fields is the abattoir of furry, doe-eyed creatures.
I haven't had any meat since my foray into the dry, overcooked flesh-world of the Green Fields with a fellow Yelper on 7 Jan.(http://www.yelp.com/bi...) and, so far, it hasn't been missed. But were all veggie eateries this dynamite good, I'd be vegetarian full time, no bullshit (literally & figuratively).
A gf lives in the Torrance Riviera district and suggested dinner at The Green Temple. I Yelped it, read the reviews and said "We're on, girl!" and such a great call it was.
We got there Friday night at prime time and yet seated quickly and inside (it was c-c-cold this evening) just outside the kitchen. This allowed me to see how hard these people work to keep the food coming to a packed house. It takes a lot to impress me and this is no idle statement. Just ask all those people I fired at my last job (I joke, of course, not having fired all THAT many people). Our waitress, though busy, was very attentive and we never waited long for anything. Based again on the reviews, I tried the Blue Plate with sides of fresh baked bread, potatoes, broccoli, a salad and, of course, the tofu sauce. Oh, that tofu sauce is killer! "Two extra of the Tofu Sauce, please." My gf had the walnut loaf and we had some tea. Dinner was followed by a shared peanut butter chocolate cake and coffee. We couldn't finish the cake which blew us away cuz we've both been known as oinkers...especially when it comes to desserts. The total bill was $47 (sans 20% tip) and, from now on, all other vegetarian places will be compared to this "gold box" standard. It was that good.
On an aside: I'm not the jealous type so when a young lady approached our table and wanted to know where my gf got her leopard-patterned stiletto boots, I only grinned. She's lost some weight by going veggie and was wearing a short skirt with those trashy boots but that's okay...I was warm in my basic black 2" boots and GV jeans. We both rocked only she looked trashier than me (I hope she doesn't read this or she may become carnivore again by slicing me up with some sauted fava beans and a nice Chianti).
5 Stars and I might just go 100% vegetarian...that is, until I catch a whiff of that grilled rib-eye or the shrimp sizzling on the barby...I'm only human.
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Wonderful original vegetarian food. There is something for everyone on thier menu.
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Not my favorite (I like The Spot better), but my wife really likes it.
Nice relaxing patio with a pond that the kids enjoy. Pricey menu - so-so service.
I love love this place even though their veggie burgers were sometimes oddly tough to eat - maybe it's better now but I'm too scared to try them again.
I do a happy food jig(like now...as I type this) every time I think of sitting out in their whimsical laid back seating area in the court yard patio to eat their beans & rice or steamed vegetables topped with that creamy magic sauce. I think that I just might head over there this weekend to have bite. ymmmmm....*sigh*
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I LOVE this place. Everything about it is perfect. I usually go every Tuesday after Yoga. It's just as relaxing in there as it is being in yoga. There's a great fountain in the middle with goldfish, and the tables are all nestled around it. There are lots of plants around as well, which further enhances the mood. (I'm not doing it justice with this description, so go find out for yourself)
They have great Teas and their food is delicious...and good for you! I have yet to have something there that I didn't like. As far as the servers go, they are all friendly and are there to answer any questions that you may have.
If you want a zen environment to relax in and enjoy a great meal, definitely come to the Green Temple. One of my favorite places to go in the South Bay.
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A few of my friends and I came here one night. It's the first STRAIGHT UP vegetarian restaurant I've ever been to, and I was kinda sketch about it to be honest. BUT, upon entering I knew I'd love it. The atmosphere is soooooo great. AND! the food was delicious. And the waiter we had was really friendly. You should DEFINITELY try this place..... and I am definitely going back.
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"You make me feel, you make me feel like a natural woman..." This indelibly plays in my head upon entering and leaving this restaurant.
It is so easy to feel good in the beautiful settingof Green Temple--sexily moroccan, yet peaceful, zen happy hippy! The lovely people who work here seem to radiate inner strength with just a slight after glow of self-righteousness. But its cool, the food allows them to be a little smug. It is delicious! Exploring the world of vegetarianism is exiciting and the food is simple, fresh, and as warm and nurturing as mother earth herself. Allow yourself to indulge in an avocado melt with soy cheese. Be pleasantly surprised by the greeny-bowl both under $10 and infinitely abundant with nutrition. Try a different kind of "soul food" at Green Temple.
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Hippie vibe with tasty veggie food. They have a tofu sauce gracing the majority of dishes that is some kind of yummy.
The bean soup is wonderful and I have gotten a salad the few times I've been - NEVER disappointing. All the breads are rich and hearty.
Another plus is that the wait staff, for the most part, is very efficient and friendly. You could take your golfing, corporate, buttoned-up friend in with you and you might not even feel a ripple of disdain among the staff (a very rare thing in the vegan world). They go a little overboard with the Indian/Moroccan/East African/Pakistani/anywhere-but-here vibe, but the fountains and nice courtyard make up for it.
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Oddly, I feel accomplished every time I leave The Green Temple. It puts me in some weird hippie, Santa Cruzie, hug-a-tree mood...I know, augggh, right? I can't help it! In the course of a meal I'll manage to: work in an intimate one-on-one with a friend; refuel with fresh, healthy, whole food delights; and become completely sedated by the ambiance. Have you hug your 'whatever' today? If you haven't you will after finishing a meal here...
My favorite spot is on the back patio, seated next to the koi pond; the greenery, colorful floral arrangements, and hidden Buddhas...aww, a little taste of Nirvana. I've only been during the day, but I imagine that this quaint hideaway, with its candle lit tables, is extremely romantic on a warm summer evening. (If it's a not so warm evening, add a layer and order the piping hot apple cider!)
When it comes to the food you can't really go wrong - especially if ordering anything w/ tofu sauce! I don't know how they did it? You could pour this sauce on anything and make it taste good. (It's also good enough to take to the bedroom - I assure you. ;) ) If you're nervous that veggie type food will never satisfy your hunger, trying going for the white lasagna - it's hardy and there will be left overs! Some of my other favs are the tacos with veggie burger, and enchiladas with vegetables and soy mozzarella cheese. Garden Quesadilla? Yes, please!
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