Sunshine vibe and guilt-free pleasures at Blissful Belly

Weekend lunches can be a challenge, especially if you have a hangover from last night's partying. Cooking can get tricky when you're half-asleep, especially if you need to slice vegetables that your toxin-riddled body needs badly. Fortunately, there are places like Blissful Belly. Floor-to-ceiling windows give a first glimpse of the restaurant space, which is on the second floor of a building surrounded by residences and dormitories. Blissful Belly has a sunshiny vibe that would melt even the least vampy vampire. Mellow yellow walls, wooden picnic tables, and splashes of rainbow colors keep diners as entertained as kids in a pediatrician's waiting room. Formerly called Satya's, Blissful Belly has a carinderia-style spread of hot, home-cooked meals. They have a self-service policy, but it's simple enough. Order a serving (or two) of their red mountain rice (25 pesos), then choose from the steaming viands arranged neatly on the counter. While you're at it, you might as well get some coffee, or an icy fruit shake. You could size up their carrot cake, and calculate how much space you would need to leave for dessert.

Their kare-kare (55 pesos) is just right - not too creamy, not too many peanuts, and not too salty. This could be a problem, though, because they sometimes run out of bagoong. Everyone knows Kare-Kare isn't Kare-Kare without bagoong. Their misua soup (55 pesos), which is heavy on ginger and patola, is so clear you can almost feel your body being cleansed as you gulp it down. It's pretty bland, though, so pairing it with the savory adobong sitaw and eggplant (55 pesos) is a good idea. Something about the food makes you want to try everything on the menu. Fortunately, Blissful Belly is affordable. But diners beware: just because it's vegetarian, don't assume it isn't going to fill you up. In fact, after a serving of the soft red mountain rice and one viand, you'll be singing like you've got love in your tummy. Blissful Belly is out to prove that going meatless need not be a boring eating adventure. While the variety is definitely exciting, the taste can be a bit on the dull side. The thing is, it's difficult to say that without giving everything a shot. Blissful Belly offers sisig, kangkong mixed with tofu skins, spring rolls, laing, barbecue, and a lot of other dishes that would warrant a second or third visit. Blissful Belly's decor is pretty, but it isn't fancy. With absolutely no attempt at frilly names for the dishes, the place is perfect for straightforward (and hungry) diners, who don't like surprises (or waiting). The turo-turo style is perfect, too, for those who are very hungry; not a second is wasted when the only thing between you and your food is a chafing dish. Water is free, and free-flowing. But there are also mango, guyabano, and melon fruit shakes that are very much worth the 45 pesos per glass. Blissful Belly also has interesting tea and coffee variants at 30 pesos per cup. The best (or worst, if you're a carnivore) thing about Blissful Belly is that everything is completely meat-free. Yes, that's right. There aren't many places where you can eat your sisig without thinking of a sizzling pig face, or kare-kare without thinking of slaughtered cows. After a meal at Blissful Belly, you'll feel squeaky clean. Now, all you have to do is resist the urge to cross over to the other side (of the street, that is) and indulge at Meatshop. - YA, GMANews.TV Blissful Belly is located at Unit 215 Llanar Bldg., 77 Xavierville Avenue Loyola Heights, Quezon City. Call 9203487 or text 09178985319 for inquiries.