Last week I took leave of my senses and ditched meat in aid of National Vegetarian Week. There was, however, something in it for me, and it proved to be a very tasty alternative.
I undertook a challenge from vegetarian restaurant, Tibits, off London’s Regent Street, for the week that has been celebrated by the vegetarian society since 1992, as the annual awareness-raising campaign promoting vegetarian food and the benefits of a meat-free lifestyle.
For my challenge, a messenger delivered me three meals a day, every day, fresh from the restaurant. While in the grand scheme of things, going without meat for a week is by no means a huge feat, you always want what you can’t have – and as I awaited my first meal my mind turned to eating meat – in a bun, on a stick or just on a plate.
By 11.30 however, I was zinging with energy – a combination of the food and the fact that for a change someone else was not only making me breakfast but also delivering it fresh to my door. And it didn’t stop there; I also received lunch and dinner, not just for one day either, but for five whole days.
Until last week the most exciting thing I’d ever signed for was a book from Amazon.
Day one of my challenge got off to a healthy and scrumptious start with home-made muesli with wild berries and a bottle of freshly squeezed orange juice for breakfast. The rest of the day’s meals did not disappoint with dishes in an assortment of colours, perfect for the indecisive, like me, to indulge a little bit of everything.
It’s easy to see why at least half of the people who go to Tibits are not even vegetarian. For a start, it’s not all green leaves and chewy tofu; at the restaurant itself there are 40 hot and cold dishes to choose from.
During the week they also catered for my sweet tooth. There was the biggest brownie known to man that I started eating on Wednesday morning (it was labelled as breakfast) and was devouring well into the evening. There was also the apple turnover actually in the shape of an apple, forest berry tart, chocolate cream, and those were just the lunch desserts. That’s right dessert for lunch and dinner, and a couple of very nice almond croissants for breakfast.
The food was filling but light – perfect for the summer and the kind where you don’t have to wait two hours to go for a jog afterwards.
The days floated by in a foodie’s paradise and by the time Friday, normally my favourite day of the week, came, I didn’t cheer.
Signing for my last bag of food signalled the end of what had been a tantalising week. Well almost. Having only eaten cold meals, I set off to Tibits to experience the hot food.
It’s not hard to see why it boasts customers such as Lisa Snowden, Alan Davies and Ellen page and recently catered for Stella McCartney’s VIP Vogue party. From the trendy decor and having my cushion plumped, to the food, it had a sense of sophistication but not in a pretentious way. With indoor and outdoor seating in a quiet street, it’s a perfect getaway from the hustle and bustle of Regent Street.
There were couples, groups of gaggling girlfriends and families enjoying a relaxing Sunday-spoilt- for- choice lunch. I didn’t want to leave hence why I stayed for two and a half hours. It’s also great for takeaways and short lunches as you can grab what you want and go.
Tibits caters for all budgets as price is based on how much your plate weighs. So whether you want one mild chilli with cream cheese or a plate filled to capacity, you’re in the right place.
I may be back to my carnivorous ways but I think I have just found my new favourite haunt.
www.tibits.co.uk
12-14 Heddon Street
off Regent Street
London W1B 4DA
