LENTEN LUNCHES IN SOUTH RENO

I’m not a vegetarian but I often eat meatless meals during Lent and at other times, too — because veggies taste good and are good for you (and me).

On Ash Wednesday, I planned to buy a Pepper and Egg Sandwich for lunch.  This item is a Lenten mainstay in my native Chicago.  But a quick Google search for Pepper and Egg Sandwiches in South Reno turned out to be futile.  Sometimes I’ve succumbed to the lure, pun intended, of McDonald’s Filet-O-Fish during Lent. But this time, I wanted something that wasn’t breaded, deep-fried and drowned in Tartar sauce.

I went to Spicy Pickle, 5210 Longley Ln., Suite 100; (775) 852-4440.  My vegetarian lunch choice, the Aphrodite Flatbread Pizza ($7.99), was a winner.

Aphrodite Flatbread Pizza at Spicy Pickle in South Reno

The good-sized pizza featured sliced, fresh tomatoes, artichoke hearts, kalamata olives, red onion, feta, mozzarella and oregano, on a thin, crispy crust, with a pickle spear on the side.  It was colorful, flavorful and not at all heavy or greasy.

I’d order Spicy Pickle’s Aphrodite pizza again, for a Lenten lunch or at any time.

Here’s a quick recap of a few more South Reno spots that serve delicious, meat-free lunch dishes:

Not far from Spicy Pickle, you’ll find La Posada Real, 5270 Longley Ln.; (775) 852-1227. 

Meatless Mexican goodies are available at LaPosada Real

Their cheese enchiladas are great, as are their chile rellenos.  Vegetable fajitas are another satisfying option at La Posada Real.

Returning to the theme of “eggs for a Lenten lunch,” you can’t go wrong with the sensational vegetarian omelettes at Squeeze In, 25 Foothill Rd., Suite 3; (775) 853-6090.

Among my go-to veggie omelettes at Squeeze In are Neighbor Jackson (with tomatoes, mushrooms, onions, avocado and jack cheese) and Gary’s Gord (spinach, artichoke hearts, tomatoes, mushrooms).

 Other veggie combos, with or without cheese, are available, too.

Squeeze In normally serves its omelettes with spuds, toast and a choice of sauce (tomato-pesto, mushroom or cheese).  I often request a side of soup or salad instead of the potatoes — and Egg Beaters instead of whole eggs.  Heavenly and healthy!

Squeeze In veggie omelette made with Egg Beaters and served with salad

Peg’s Glorified Ham n Eggs, 720 S. Meadows Pkwy; (775) 851-7200, is another outstanding place to order egg dishes.  They have veggie omelettes with hash browns and toast but their signature dish, as far as I’m concerned, is their Monterey Skillets with entrees such as Huevos Rancheros or Chile Relleno with Eggs, pictured here:

Peg's Monterey Skillet with Chile Relleno and Eggs

The beans and tangy slaw as sides are outrageously good.  And there’s so much food on these platters that I end up giving my potatoes to my hubby or son.

Asian restaurants are sure bets for Lenten lunches, as well, especially if you want to go vegan.  Remarkable rice or noodle dishes (with shrimp, tofu or just veggies) can be found at Asian Paradise, 1131 Steamboat Pkwy; (775) 870-1788 and Bangkok Cuisine South, 5851 S. Virginia St.; (775) 284-3802, along with Caie’s Oriental Café’, 770 S. Meadows Pkwy., Suite 101; (775) 853-9668.

My son is wild about Pad Thai at Bangkok Cuisine South; he orders it with chicken but you can customize your order to go meatless.

Pad Thai at Bangkok Cuisine South, available with or without meat

And in my opinion, the Kung Pao Shrimp at Caie’s, available with either peanuts or cashews, is superb.

If you’re undecided about what to eat, or you’re lunching with a crowd (including individuals who might not be doing the meatless thing for Lent), a no-fail choice is Whole Foods, 6139 S. Virginia St.; (775) 852-1227.

Whole Foods in South Reno has a vast selection of veggie lunch items!

I love their hot soup bar, which always offers several vegetarian and/or vegan selections.  

They sell pizza by the slice, including plain cheese or veggie.

 

Plus, Whole Foods' salad bar and "Global Cuisine" bar feature a myriad of meatless munchies, including Italian, Indian, American, etc.  But don’t forget that these mix-and-match choices sell for $8.49 per pound. Your personalized smorgasbord plate from Whole Foods may cost more than you expect.

For “grab and go” Lenten lunches that are kinder to your wallet, visit the deli cases at WinCo, 9750 S. Virginia St.; (775) 853-7474 or Smith’s, 750 S. Meadows Pkwy; (775) 851-8060.  Both sell lunch-sized salads and sandwiches such as tuna or egg salad.

With all these Lenten lunch options in South Reno — and these are just a sampling — does one really need a Pepper and Egg Sandwich joint?  Well, yes, it would be nice, but I’ll keep searching.