You don’t need to go all the way to Cortes and Hollyhock to find really terrific vegetarian food. Right here on Gabriola, there is a place that has been serving vegetarian meals for many years.

It was twelve years ago that Jordan and I literally stumbled on this Eden. We had been on a driving trip with our then small children and back then, I was a fairly strict vegetarian. I would eat fish, but that didn’t help too much at McDonald’s or most of the other places on the road that had food the kids would eat. In Victoria, we had finally had enough of the gypsy lifestyle, and not knowing Vancouver Island at all, we opened our copy of the BC accommodation guide and called the first place that seem to have all of our requirements: pool, hot tub, ocean setting and rooms available. We hit the jackpot on our first call, which was to Haven-by-the-sea, and were ecstatic that they had an available room for the next three days. It sounded perfect.

 What I didn’t know was that serendipity would bring us not only to a gorgeous island, but also to my own little food heaven. I was thrilled the first morning with the array of fruits and granola and wholesome baked goods. In fact, at that time the dinner buffet seemed to have a decidedly vegetarian slant, with the meat dish being the option. There was still enough meat-and-potatoes for Jordan and the kids, but I was able to enjoy tofu, grains and beautiful salads, served up with that lovely sunset each evening. Jordan was also very happy; not only had he found the perfect spot to relax for a few days, but he also wouldn’t need to hear my daily complaint that “there is never anything for me to eat.” The next year, we returned with my parents in tow for a week-long stay. I think we already knew that this island was going to be more than just a casual fling.

I was sure that Mom would love the buffets at the Haven, but I was a bit leery of Dad; he was definitely not a vegetarian. He made it through a few dinners, but finally the cleaning your own plate thing and the onslaught of every vegetable he disliked got to him.  The final straw was the night we were to have an eggplant and mushroom moussaka, a ratatouille of eggplant and zucchini and sweet potato pie for dessert. To make matters worse, the meat offering was lamb, and Dad, still harbouring some apparently life-altering lamb experience while overseas during the war, finally put his foot down. He couldn’t stand the thought of being in the same room as “mutton.” I tried to explain that lamb and mutton were two different things, but the scar ran too deep. Jordan gladly whisked Dad and the boys off to Windecker’s for a much needed beef dip and fries. Mom and I enjoyed a peaceful evening, sitting on the deck, thoroughly enjoying our delicious meal without having to endure complaints from the guys that “there’s nothing for me to eat!” And the sweet potato pie was divine.

I have been back to The Haven several times over the past few years, and despite the name change and a menu that tends to be more balanced between meat and vegetarian meals, I have always enjoyed my meal. One of the best meals I had there was just the other evening, when we went to hear the Island Cowboys. The main vegetarian offering was Nut Wellington, a rich mix of nuts, mushrooms, red pepper, onion, garlic, herbs and soy sauce, wrapped in a puff pastry crust. The salad bar had plenty of interesting salad toppings, including sprouted beans and my favourite, sunflower sprouts, as well as a good selection of homemade dressings to suit anyone’s taste, from Ranch to Yeast flake. There was a great mixture of roasted vegetables that included beets and turnip, both things I rarely cook at home because no one else seems to like them.

From the looks of the full dining room, I suspect that there are many folks on the island who already know how good the food is here. I also took note that many of the “older” gentlemen were game to try the nut dish, although I suspect that there were a few who thought it was meat. Jordan also tried the Wellington, and although he enjoyed it, he was really there for the roast beef, mashed potatoes and gravy.

The “family” mood of the evening was evident as everyone chatted to each other in the salad bar line or while clearing off their plates. Everyone was in good spirits, because following the meal and a truly heavenly apple pie, most of us were off see the Island Cowboys in the theatre.

As we were walking out of the dining room, I spied the empty apple pie plates sitting at the bar, waiting to be taken back to the kitchen. They still had lots of the best parts of the pies left in them. You know, the syrup and cinnamon saturated bottom crust with the pieces of apple that got left behind when the pie was being served. I was tempted to reach over with a spoon and scrape up a mouthful but fortunately, I came to my senses just in time. It could have been a major faux pas in etiquette that would have haunted me for years.

  The concert was a perfect finale to a great evening. I look forward to more dinner and concert evenings at The Haven.