Veggie D’Lites with Shieka’s Weekly Buffet

Skip the beef and pass the granola. Vegetarian cuisine has hit the mainstream and you don't have to give up meat to enjoy it. It's hip, it's trendy and we swear it tastes good. Vegetarian cuisine isn't around to threaten carnivores, in fact they're missing out on fabulous fare when they take a pass on anything without the words chicken, fish or steak. Today's meatless cuisine goes way beyond salads and tofu, and the vegetarian buffet of Shieka’s Bistro on Thursdays offers great veggie-friendly dishes you can really sink your teeth in. Off to a great start…

If you're a tofu novice like me, a great way to whet your appetite is the vegetarian lasagna with shredded tofu and Soya baked in a light tomato sauce and sprinkled with a soft cheese.
My favourite was the black beans with bok choy and sweet potato cubes, which were pan seared, leaving them crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Side dishes consisted of orzo al dente cooked with spinach, sweet red pepper and tangy pesto and richly spiced whole-wheat rice. I only came for a bite to taste, but it was so delicious I ended up eating a whole platter.

“A lot of my customers are surprised when they taste my vegetarian dishes. They never thought it could be that tasteful,” said Betty, the owner of Shieka’s Bistro. “Here on St. Maarten we have a mind set of what accustomed food is. We were brought up on fried chicken, rice and peas and pigtail soup and other dishes rich in fat. It’s hard to change that eating pattern.”
Betty knows what she’s talking about, having been brought up on unhealthy food herself. She used to frown when hearing about vegetarian food. Until one day her poor health condition reached a hazardous level. “I suffered from gallstones and diabetes, which runs in my family. I knew then that I had to change my eating habits if I wanted to get better,” she explained.

Not knowing where to start, she read as many books as she could get on vegetarian food and she experimented with a variety of recipes. “I realised how versatile vegetables are and how tasteful tofu and soya can be. They are so versatile and you can prepare them in so many ways most people would normally not think of. You just have to be creative and experiment a lot,” Betty emphasised. “Like I say to my customers who are interested in cooking vegetarian dishes themselves. `I can always give you my recipe, but you still have to add your own touch to it.’”

Betty said vegetarian food saved her life and not only realising how healthy it is, but also how tasteful it could be, she was determined to pass her experience on to others. “I started out with selling spinach and sun dried tomato patties from the eatery I already owned. People were apprehensive at first, but once they tried it, they were surprised how good it tasted,” she told. “People have to get accustomed to new foods. Slowly but surely I started adding more and I also started seeing people changing their eating habits. It is uplifting to see that.”
Betty loves to educate her customers who are interested in vegetarian food and the importance of eating healthy. She though a buffet would be a more effective way to introduce novices to all the delights meatless food has to offer. “People eat with their eyes. It’s not only about the taste, but also about the presentation. When people can see the dishes on display it’s easier to whet the appetite,” she explained.

The buffet she prepares every Thursday consists of 4 to 5 main dishes and it’s changed every week. “I like to be versatile and introduce people to new kinds of foods. We also have so many different cultures here and each has their own food. We must take advantage of that,” she stressed. “I try to incorporate it in my dishes. It’s like travelling, you can taste different cultures on your own island.”

This week Betty will take you to the North of Africa and the Mediterranean, as lentil loaf, Falafel balls, cold Gazpacho soup and Hummus served in a pita or home made Johnny cake will make up the multicultural buffet. Sweet and sour hotpot and lentil salad will also be on the menu. Don’t hold in, it’s all-you-can-eat! Other dishes you may encounter in the weeks to come are pumpkin fritters, bean loaf, Creole delights and more local treats.

Now that we've tempted your taste buds go ahead and unmask the mystery of a meal made from vegetables. You've always known they were out there, and you might be surprised when you don't even miss the meat. As Betty says: “You cannot be negative about it. Be open and give it a try.”

For US $10 or NAf. 18 you can indulge in Shieka’s vegetarian buffet every Thursday from 11:00am until 3:00pm. Shieka’s Bistro is located in the Cultural Center alley on Backstreet in Philipsburg. For other dishes or more information call 542-0068 or 523-3202.