VeggieHeadOnline Travelogue:

Charlottesville, Virginia USA

By Keri Schwab

Charlottesville, Virginia is a striking juxtaposition of wealthy, old families, preppy University of Virginia students, artists and health-food lovers living beside the Blue Ridge Mountains.

The city recently was dubbed America's most energetic city by USA Today Week-End edition with the help of Bert Sperling, of Sperling's Best Places. According to Sperling, Charlottesville residents are "more active and healthy and much less apt to smoke, drink and eat fast food than average Americans."

Pair that with the variety of dining experiences around town - especially on the seen-and-be-seen downtown pedestrian mall - and hungry travelers of all dietary styles can find a hip, delicious and healthy place to eat.

Visitors to Mr. Jefferson’s city will be directed to the downtown mall, the Uva Corner or Barracks Road for shopping, dining, culture and nightlife. Each is packed with trendy shops, alfresco dining and a festival for the taste buds.

First stop: Barracks Road, right off Interstate 64. Shop until your wallet can't take anymore, then get a quick refresher at Smoothie King, which serves fruit smoothies with a shot of soy, protein or vitamins. Or, grab a snack at Rebecca’s Natural Foods, which sells bulk nuts, coffee and spices, as make-up and herbal remedies. If you’re up for making your own meal, head to the Harris Teeter Salad Bar. It's fully stocked with veggies, cheeses (including bleu and feta), and a separate olive bar. The deli sells fresh bread, gourmet cheeses and vegetarian sushi rolls. This city loves its students, so if you attend any university, flash your student ID for five percent off.

But to truly eat like a local vegetarian, head around the corner to Ming Dynasty. Chinese buffets aren’t typically regarded as veggie heavens, but with bean curd, soy ‘meat’ meals and tofu on the buffet, Ming Dynasty is a notable exception. Local entertainment paper, C’ville Weekly, named the meatless meatballs one of the best tastes in town. The sweat and sour balls have a "crisp, fried outer coating (that) collapses upon first bite, revealing a warm, chewy center made of soy, wheat and various spices. The ball’s mild flavor showcases the powerful sweet and sour dressing." Ming also offers bean curd, mixed veggie plates and tofu with mixed greens.

From Barracks Road, head on Preston Ave., and hang a left just past the tattoo parlor. Here, you feast at Veggie Heaven, shop at Integral Yoga Health Food store or carb-load at Mona Lisa Pasta. For a change of pace, try Sticks, where everything comes on a kebab. Try the scrumptious bite-size falafel flavored with cumin, coriander, tahini and mint, or with a cucumber-yogurt sauce.

Continuing on Preston Ave., hang a right at Wendy's and you're at the crossroads of town. To the right, you'll head into Wahoo territory, driving through The Corner, full or stores, coffee shops, restaurants and bars. To the left, you can search for parking and then walk a block to the famous Downtown Mall.

If you want to stroll among the students, hang a right onto Main Street. You're at The Corner when students claim the right-of-way at every intersection. Find parking and check out Baja Bean, a favorite among students and locals for vegetarian fare and generous portions. They've got great bean salads, cheese enchiladas and spicy sauces.

Tuck down narrow Elliewood Ave. to hit Martha's Cafe or the Buddhist Biker Bar. Try every one of Buddha's appetizers for a great meal of artichoke and Parmesan stuffed mushrooms, garlic bread, spinach dip, baked brie and vegetable egg rolls. Try the gilled polenta or cheese tortellini for a traditional meal.

If you want to see the Downtown Mall, park in the deck on 2nd St. and run into the back of CVS to get a free 2-hour parking stamp. Exit through the front and you're smack in the middle of the mall. Stroll around and people-watch for a while. The mall attracts all types; lawyers, yuppies, skate boarders and street musicians.

There are a plethora of eateries on the mall, from pizza joints to bagel sandwiches to ritzy and expensive. Best bets for veggieheads: Revolutionary Soup. A casual eatery offering vegetarian and vegan soups. Try the mushroom bisque or creamy rosemary potato and garlic soups for vegetarian choices, or the spicy Senegalese peanut tofu soup for vegans. Add a spinach salad with red raspberries, goat cheese and mandarin oranges to cool your taste buds after the spicy soup.

If you're in the mood for a ritzy meal, check out Oxo, Bang or Metropolitan. All three have sparse menus, but serve at leas once dish for vegetarians - but not vegans. At Metropolitan, try the open ravioli with chevre, ricotta, capers, olives, fennel, artichokes and tomato coulis.

Cross over the mall to Market Street and check out Monsoon, an Asian restaurants that offers tofu as the main 'meat' in any entree. Flavor it up with Thai lemongrass, tamarind, ginger, red or green curry sauce.

Local vegan Claudia Pinto suggests any Indian restaurant for a good meat-free treat, and definitely checking out Liquid, a café and juice bar on 2^nd St. Order a smoothie or drink with wheat grass, chai, yogurt, a dozen supplements and soy milk. If your went a little crazy at a part the night before, try the Hangover Helper or Fusion Shake, with soy milk, bananas peanut butter, granola chai, honey and frozen yogurt. For something more filling, try the roasted red pepper sandwich served on a baguette with goat cheese and chips.

Copyright 2004, VeggieHeadOnline.com and Keri Schwab