There I was, holding a bean curd sandwich and about to explore the personally uncharted realms of vegetarian cuisine, when I received a text message from the GM of this newspaper. I put down the sandwich, picked up my phone and read a cruel grouping of words:
“I’m at Porter’s. Do you want to join me for lunch?”
Porter’s. As in Porter’s Steakhouse.
I looked at my sandwich, its brown patty stuffed between two slices of wheat bread and slathered with vegetarian mayonnaise, and sighed. Of all the days…
I turned down the invitation, lifted the sandwich and took a bite…
Before I go on, I should provide a little background: I like meat. All kinds of meat. Pork, chicken, fish, beef – the works. And I like it fixed just about every way but fried.
I also like to eat healthy, or at least support healthy eating in principle. Breakfast on the day of my bean curd adventure consisted of a bowl of plain oatmeal, some nuts and an apple. I felt great. I also like to pile a lot of vegetables next to my meats.
But vegetarian food – tofu, veggie burgers, bean curd and the such – had never appealed to me because of what I perceived to be the differences between it and “real” food, namely taste and the ability to keep me going until my next meal.
Then a new vegetarian restaurant named Green Thumb opened on Market Street next to Taziki’s, and I resolved to check it out. Surely I could survive a lack of meat for one meal.
So, back to the bean curd. After setting down my phone, I picked up the sandwich and took a bite. As my teeth dug through whole wheat bread, crisp lettuce, crunchy Vidalia onions, fresh tomato, creamy avocado and the bean patty, the freshness of the ingredients surprised me. As I chewed, I was surprised to find I was enjoying the combination of flavors. The thick, juicy steak I could have been having at Porter’s was the farthest thing from my mind as I took a second bite.
Outside Green Thumb, the sign reads “100% Gourmet, 100% Vegetarian, 100% Delicious,” and based on my lunch, which also included roasted sweet potato wedges and tofu cheesecake topped with raspberries, I agree on the “100% Delicious.” But Green Thumb sells more than sandwiches.
When you walk in, take a look at the far wall, where several chalkboard menus contain the foods the restaurant sells. You’ll see a board with juices and smoothies, a board with additional sandwiches, including a veggie burger and an oat patty, and a board with sushi selections.
You’ll also see a hot bar to the right of the sandwich counter. If you’re in the mood for a plate lunch, you can choose up to five single foods for one price, or add soup and salad for another price. Hot bar selections the day I was there included stir-fry tofu, vegetables and rice, the sweet potato wedges I ordered and more.
In addition to tasty food, Green Thumb has a pleasant atmosphere that makes it a relaxing lunchtime getaway. Soothing classical music played in the background while I ordered my food, the dining area looked spic-and-span, and the whole place is decked out in a green and yellow color theme that lifted my spirits. I also found the staff to be friendly and willing to answer all of my questions about the food.
Price-wise, Green Thumb is on par with what you’ll generally pay for lunch in the city, although if you can’t walk, you’ll probably have to shell out for parking, as several business use the very small lot in front of the restaurant.
I once heard someone joke about becoming a meatatarian – someone who eats only meat. “You have to commit to it,” he said, making me laugh. While I like the idea, I also appreciate the arrival of Green Thumb in Chattanooga. If you can’t give up meat, then you should at least strike a balance in your diet with more healthy foods. When the selections are as good as those at Green Thumb, it’s easy.
Email David Laprad at dlaprad@hamiltoncountyherald.com.