<table border="0" align="left" width="310"><tr><td><img src="http://www.louisvillehotbytes.com/bigsalad.jpg" border="1" align="left"></td></tr><tr><td>Big Salad: City Café's Jim Henry used to make this big salad for himself, but his customers at the Mid-City Mall location convinced him to add it to the menu. It's a vegetarian meal in itself. Photos by Robin Garr.</td></tr></table>LEO's Eat 'n' Blog with Louisville HotBytes
(City Café, Zen Garden, Shiraz)
I'm a carnivore, an obligate carnivore. I like meat and find it hard to imagine life without beefsteaks, pork chops, poultry or fish on my plate.
And yet ... and yet ... when I wax philosophical, I can see some strong arguments for vegetarianism.
I can see it when I think about eating for health and nutrition; and I can see it when I remember reading "<i>Diet for a Small Planet</i>" back in the day, and learning just how many resources are spent on getting a steak to my table.
I can see it when I decline to hunt or fish because I'm not willing to kill an animal with my own hands (although call me a hypocrite, I'm OK with buying a slab of meat neatly wrapped in clean white butcher's paper). And I can see it when the best cat in the world looks up at me with love in his bright, intelligent eyes.
But I find it mighty hard to give up meat, doggone it, because, well, meat really tastes good.
Still, even a part-time vegetarian can find plenty of delicious dishes in which no animals were harmed for your enjoyment. To prove it, for this week's report I've sought out three vegetarian options so good that you can enjoy them and never miss the meat.
My quest began with, of all things, a salad. But not just any salad. <b>City Café</b>'s Big Salad ($6.95) fully lives up to its name: It's a meal in itself, with no need for meat, poultry or seafood.
Full reports in LEO and on LouisvilleHotBytes.
