No space? Gaïa's got a great patio. photo: Christina Riley

While I love biking over to Green Door or Wild Oat for a veggie potluck and delicious desserts, or hanging out in Sandy Hill with the Hare Krishnas at Govinda's Buffet, sometimes I wish there were just a few more spots in the area to indulge meatlessly. Well here's one more at least.

Tucked away on Montclair is a little house serving up wholesome vegetarian food as local and organic as practicality permits. Café Gaïa has only a few tables, but the bright red walls and blue checked lino next to the open-concept kitchen make a small space appealing. And if it's full inside there's always the patio (even looks to be heated in cooler weather) or take-out. The service is friendly and laid-back yet prompt, in the official language of your choice.

This is the type of food that makes you feel great after you eat it, positively imbued with good health. Maybe that's why I've already tried over half the menu. I first went for lunch a few weeks ago and have had to return three times since because of intense cravings for the salad.

My colleague and I have had almost all the sandwiches between us. Each comes on a wonderful multigrain spelt bun plastered with sesame seeds, baked on site. Favourite fillings: "chèvre-aubergine," grilled veggies with a whack of goat's cheese-for chèvre-lovers only; "vent-d'orient," thin slices of marinated tofu in a cashew basil pesto; and, best for last, a homemade veggie burger with cornichons and a fantastic fruit chutney-incredibly messy to eat, but great. And the salad! Just simple greens with seasonal veggies, sprouts and sunflower seeds, but lightly kissed with a vinaigrette so good it should be mandatory in every restaurant.

There are also soups and other salads you can make a meal of. I keep meaning to try "La Hobbit" (a blue cheese and walnut jobbie on romaine) but get sidetracked by the sandwiches. Also intriguing is "L'Assiette Santé Biologique," seasonal veggies, tofu and brown rice in an almond-sesame ginger sauce served with the wonderful side salad-detox on a plate.

On our last visit we decided to each try out the daily specials. Mine was curried veggies (squash, sweet potatoes, zucchini and eggplant) rolled up in perfectly crisped phyllo. By no means bad, but the curry had a bit of a raw, powdery taste I wasn't excessively fond of. So I consoled myself with the side salad.

My companion's moussaka was definitely a departure from the traditional. Layers of grilled eggplant as are the norm, with pearl-grained brown rice and lentils as a filling and cheese rather than a béchamel sauce topping. Again, not bad, but I think she'll be going for the veg-burger and salad again next time, as will I.

Coffee and tea is all fair-trade, and desserts are homemade. We bought an apple-oatmeal cookie to share later, quite good-and so healthy-tasting it was completely guilt-free (not that guilt is an emotion we should ever waste on something as trivial as dessert).

I'm glad it's not very expensive, because Café Gaïa is not a habit I plan on breaking anytime soon!

CAFÉ GAÏA
47A RUE MONTCLAIR
GATINEAU (HULL SECTOR), 777-9019
LUNCH AND DINNER MENU $4.50-11.95
CLOSES AT 8 P.M. EVERY NIGHT
EXCEPT FRIDAY, 9 P.M.

 
 

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Café Gaïa: Veggie-Whiz.............     Café Gaïa demonstrates what it takes to succeed in the food biz. Know your audience and make them happy. In this case, there is not a beef broth, chicken wing or pork stomach to be found anywhere at this quaint, but up-tempo emporium of vegetable cuisine. I guess we all eventually will have to move towards hi-fiber goodness with more emphasis on looking at the expression: "You are what you eat". Meat is very processed both prior to it's slaughterhouse visit and then the preservatives that companies apply to our meat products that in the end, we rarely get a true piece of meat anymore. I was watching a show recently that said that our bodies are not really designed to eat meat anyways because of the shape of our intestines and the mechanics behind how our bodies digest stuff we eat. In other words, veggies and whole grain foods are the best "fuel" for our mighty machines because our bodies have an easier time processing them, compared to meat. Dammit, I love a good steak with Caesar and roast beef is so downright delicious. On that note, "multigrain spelt bun plastered with sesame seeds, baked on site doesn't sound that bad" and, "layers of grilled eggplant...., with pearl-grained brown rice and lentils as a filling and cheese" actually sounds kind of appetizing. "Vive les veggies and Vive Café Gaïa".
Steve Landry	{39 votes}	July 21st, 2005
Cafe Gaia     Gaia, the spirit of the earth, is manifested in the food here. It is hearty, delicious, beautifully and joyfully presented. You will be surprised who you will meet eating here in this little oasis. Cross the river Ottawa to open your taste buds at Gaia!
Lola Crumpet		June 5th, 2008
Café Gaia     A few years ago I was a vegeterian and then I went back to meat but after reading such a great article, it makes my mouth water for less meat and more veggie food. I'll try this nice little place and hopeffully I'll enjoy it has much as Lucy!!
Roxane Gibault		September 25th, 2005
Vegetarian Rocks     Sorry to all of you meat lovers, but I think I would prefer to go healthy instead of diseased. Vegetarian cooking rocks, there are so many different things that you can come up with in the kitchen, that the list is almost endless! When people think about eating vegetarian, they usually think how will I get my protein? How will I make a meal? This costs too much? I can't only live off of eating salad & fruit? How will I get my vitamins? Ha, ha, what are you going to eat all day long, potatoes? Well all of these myths are just crocks! You can make plenty of decent meals at low costs, that are all healthy, rich in vitamins & contain no animal flesh! For starters, brocoli fried with cauliflower with salt in pepper toppings & a nicely fried tofu berger on the side, this is one dish that contains soy protein & numerous vitamins to get the day started. There are so many different recipes to come up with & no time to name them all. I suggest an Indian cook book for the real vegetarian!
Aryan Musacchio		September 19th, 2005
Worth it, no matter your taste in food     First, the disclaimer: I have in the past kept to a vegetarian diet. That being said, I love meat. I also love Café Gaïa. I had the good fortune of having a coworker who knew of this place in darkest Hull -- land of Pogos, Pepsi, and Joe Louis. What a find. The atmosphere is quaint, and the owners bring a smile to your face even when you're having a bad day. In fact, this café has broken many an otherwise bad day with its charm and friendliness. The food is excellent, and if not quite up to converting die-hard meat eaters to a strictly vegetarian diet, the menu is easily up to satisfying clients of all tastes for a meal (or three). I highly recommend the health plate, and the salad dressings will make you want to bring one home (which you can -- I've rarely been without seeing at least one person leave with a bottle). Despite my happy relocation to Centretown, I'll definitely be making the trip back to Café Gaïa.
Randal Kowalchuk	{6 votes}	August 18th, 2005
I'd rather eat meat.     As tempting as you make vege-burgers,and tofu-laced food sound, I know I'd rather go home and cook myself a nice juicy burger instead. For some reason, I just can't bring myself to eating just vegetables, and not be able to indulge in the great taste of meat. I will admit, the menu, to me, did sound appeasing up until all the grilled Tofu and Eggplant got involved.. Hey who knows, maybe you'll see me in there some day trying the non-tofu salad.
Jeremy King	{5 votes}	July 28th, 2005
Good habits     After reading this article, I went down to the cafe on Saturday and got the recommended veggie burger and salad. When I asked if this was a new place, the girl working there said it had been open for about five years much to my embarrassment...I used to live right around the block from there! D'OH. Oh well, it's still a close, convenient and in a good price range. I really enjoyed the salad, but I think I'm going to try something other than the veggie burger next time. It's nice to eat a nice meal, be full but not feel disgusting afterwards. I hope people support these healthy places and send a message to the restaurant business that there is a demand for good foods.
Josee Lacroix	{4 votes}	July 25th, 2005
Café Gaïa is a treat for anyone and everyone     I am from Outaouis region and Café Gaïa has been one of my favorite restaurants for the last 3 years! Everything that I have tried has been wonderful, and I always know that whatever soup they are making that day, will be amazing, without a doubt!! Their salad dressing is to die for, their coeur de pomme is sooo tasty, and their croque-jardin, my personal favorite, is delicious! If you enjoy the food, you should also check out their cooking classes. A woman who used to work there gives vegetarian cooking classes, which I took last summer. The classes were great and the recipes, well, lets just say, are part of my monthly diet. The course teaches good eating habbits for someone who wants to become a healthy vegetarian, AND has really great recipes for someone who just wants to give their diet a little change.
Emilie DeBlois-McElrea	{6 votes}	July 25th, 2005
Mouth Watering!     Wow, you outdid yourself this time Lucy! Cafe Gaia sounds amazing and as you said its nice to have a few more vegetarian spots to choose from. Between the chevre, marinated tofu with cashew basil pesto (my mouth is watering), and the salad...I don't know which I want to try first! Almond-sesame ginger sauce...just saying it makes my taste buds jump. Too bad about the curry vegetables in the phylo, but maybe they will do some improvements when they see the article. Like Steve I love a good steak, but after a great meatless meal I always feel fitter and energized. Vegetarian food always goes down so good and you always feel better for eating it.
Sloan Long	{6 votes}	July 23rd, 2005
Great habit-forming!     It's not always so easy to find a good vegetarian place in the region, especially if you live in Ottawa. But, I definitely think that it's worth crossing the bridge. Café Gaia is a great tiny little place that offers a good selection for an extremely decent price. In fact, I made it to three different veggies restaurants in the region, and I must said that "Green Door" and "Soup'herbe" in Chelsea are of equal quality to café Gaia, but a bit more expensive.
Valerie Augier	{5 votes}	July 21st, 2005
A beautiful and ethical dining experience     CG puts care and attention into their cooking. Free trade tea and coffee makes a difference to the farmers in the third world. And the prices are reasonable. Strongly recommended.
Karen Mohindra	{3 votes}	July 22nd, 2005
Vegetarian so Good     It is so hard to find a vegetarian restaurant that is good and not too expensive. Well Vegetarian Gaïa is a rare find and must be treasured. Good hearty food that won't kill your budget or your diet. Enjoy the food and the cozy atmosphere.
Selena Lobo	{6 votes}	July 21st, 2005

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