
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 5, 1995                   TAG: 9507050012
SECTION: EXTRA                    PAGE: 8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: ALMENA HUGHES FOOD EDITOR
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

A TASTE OF EDEN

PATRONS of The Eden Way Place seemed to share a common sadness about the vegetarian restaurant's closing on June 23. Good meatless meals are often hard to come by, they said, and many people find them perplexing.

Yet interest in vegetarian foods is unquestionably growing, whether for moral or political reasons or simply because today's diners are interested in healthier, lower-calorie, lower-fat fare.

Old stereotypes portray vegetarian dishes as made of tofu, sprouts and other odd-sounding, odd-looking, strange-tasting foods. But some of the best nonmeat dishes are composed of common, everyday ingredients put together in creative and healthful combinations.

Beans are a mainstay of vegetarian diets, and garbanzo beans, also called chick peas, are the base of a popular spread/dip called hummus. Basic hummus, using any of numerous recipes available, can easily be whipped up in a strong blender or food processor. More enlightened or adventurous cooks might prefer a different paradigm.

Among the more than 200 delightful and culturally diverse recipes included in "The Flavor of California: Fresh Vegetarian Cuisine from the Golden State," ($25, Harper Collins West) Marlena Spieler puts a new perspective on the old standard through the addition of cucumber, tomatoes, mint and coriander.

"The back to eden Cookbook" ($4.50, Back To Eden Books), a bible of healthful living and natural foods preparation, was highly recommended by Barbara Montero, editorial assistant at the Seventh Day Adventist Reform Movement publishing house, Reformation Herald Publishing, on Hollins Road in Roanoke County, 362-1800. The following dessert recipe excerpted from the book takes advantage of the current bounty of summer-fresh peaches.

Sharing recipes and formulas for good health and foods with anyone who wants them is common practice among Seventh Day Adventists. Members of the faith owned and operated The Eden Way Place restaurant, which has closed. They will now own and run a new vegetarian restaurant, Eden's Vegetarian Cafe Deli, and a vegetarian catering service, Bush & Bumble Bee.

"If someone came into the [Eden Way Place] restaurant and wanted to know how something was made, even if they didn't want to buy our cookbook, we'd give them a copy of the recipe," Eden's Vegetarian Cafe Deli owner Tom Knapczyk explained. "It's part of our ministry to spread good health."

Recipes for:

CUMIN-SCENTED HUMMUS WITH DICED CUCUMBER,

FRESH PEACH CRISP

TOMATO AND ARTICHOKE FOCACCIA

LINGUINE WITH ARUGULA, TOMATOES AND POTATOES

AU GRATIN POTATO VEGETABLE CASSEROLE

TOM'S VEGAN CHEESE SAUCE

MACARONI AND 'BEEF' BAKE

by CNB