At Darjeeling Cafe, you won't miss the meat

The Darjeeling Café in Staunton at 103 W. Beverley Street is a calm and relaxing environment that offers healthily prepared foods made to order. The interior has punches of color throughout, a relaxing seating area, linen covered tables and a small stage. Activities are offered for adults to keep the little grey cells sharp and are listed on the café's website.

Be aware that if you have carnivorous cravings leave those at the door. The only meat on the menu is the organic chicken in their version of chicken and dumplings. The foods here are satisfying and a definite departure from what you can pick up at a drive- thru window.
Plenty of options are offered for the tea lover or for someone who is just learning about teas. The staff can make informed suggestions to help you navigate the menu but sometimes just picking a variety can be just as fun. I ordered the pot of a Moroccan tea called Berber whiskey. This pot ($5) was a gunpowder green tea with sage, peppermint and brown sugar. I liked the subtle taste and scent of peppermint with each sip. This pot was shareable among two to three people. Herbal and fruit blends showcase organic wild-harvested herbs. The Iron Lung has red clover, nettle, licorice root, elderberry and fresh ginger. It sounds really healthy and is on the "try next time" list.

The evening started with the hummus plate ($5). Fresh hummus with sliced cucumber, carrot sticks, tomato slices and fried tortilla could be a solo dish or shared by two as an appetizer but everyone at our table got a taste. Items tried for dinner showed combinations of technique and flavor pairings that worked for each dish. My husband tried the local trout ($18) with glazed radishes and parsnip puree. Even though the menu has beets listed as the vegetable choice it was interesting to try the glazed sautéed radishes that had been substituted. The trout was good but beware that it's not filleted, it is whole with bones.House-made falafel with tzatziki sauce was served in a wrap ($7) with a side of French onion soup. This version of a classic soup is made with a vegetable broth and the cup was full of onions and melted cheese. Falafel is fun to say and is a really tasty bundle of goodness. Made with chickpeas and spices, these resemble hushpuppies and can be eaten as a snack or wrapped in a flatbread and topped with any number of pickled vegetables or sauces. My entrée of fish and chips ($7) was actually marinated tofu pieces fried in a beer batter and paired with sweet potato fries and a homemade tartar sauce. The tofu was crisp when brought to the table but got a little soggy as it sat. Remember that your food is made to order; it's freshly prepared, not thawed and heated waiting for you to order. So relax and enjoy. Desserts shared were the deep fried Oreos, pumpkin pie (without whipped cream) and a chocolate cupcake. In my universe these three are healthy in their own way, especially when shared. Prices for the desserts usually run around $4.
-newsleader