Slather creamy coconut curry or rich peanut sauce on anything, and I go crazy for it. So I couldn’t wait to grab a seat at Thai Pizza Co., the sister restaurant to a handful of Thai eateries in The Loop. This casual restaurant screams comfort food, uniting some of the best flavors from the east and west. And with creative, Thai-inspired pizzas and a handful of noodle, rice and curry dishes, it’s easy dining for us meatless (or temporarily meatless) folk.

Many pizzas on the menu transform classic Thai flavors into tempting fusion dishes, like the Pad Thai, Drunken and Thom Yum Goong. The canvas of the Red Curry Pizza was baked on the oven’s rack, creating a crispy thin crust that was just thick enough to stand up to a mound of toppings. Good thing, because it was piled high with crunchy bell peppers, sweet pineapple, Thai basil, bamboo shoots, grilled onions and fried golden tofu – still crisp to the bite even under all of those veggies. The glue that held it all together was a mozzarella, cheddar and jack cheese combo, while a sweet, spicy red curry acted as the sauce. Strange? Sure. But this hodgepodge of flavors proved brilliant – satisfying two popular culinary cravings: spicy Thai food and cheesy pizza.

The sizeable portions and mighty fine prices will easily transport you back to your favorite college hangout, but don’t go dreaming up ramen noodles and cereal for dinner just yet. This is quality fare – whether mom and dad are still supporting you, or you’re a mom or dad yourself. And for all of those who, like myself, are members of that in-between generation, go ahead and relish in the fact that you still look young enough to get carded when ordering a Singha beer with your pizza.

Sometimes, you find gems in the most unlikely of places. Like The Shaved Duck, my boyfriend’s favorite restaurant and one he rarely gets to enjoy since he dates a vegetarian. But like the good girlfriend I am, every once in a while, I relinquish control and let him win the restaurant selection.

Just as I was about to throw myself a pity party – seated at a restaurant whose very name contradicted my dietary philosophy – I was pleasantly surprised to find a few vegetarian options on the menu. I considered making a meal of the decadent sides – caramelized onion mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, jalapeño creamed corn – but an entree caught my eye. The Veggie Flatbread touted a cracker-thin crust and plenty of cheese. A hefty slathering of barbecue sauce pushed it into both salty and sweet territory, while smoked tomatoes, piquant peppers and wilted spinach offered flavors both fiery and fresh. The three cheeses oozed right onto the cutting board the bread was served upon.

It was a very surprising Meatless Monday. But with a sip of a draft beer by Urban Chestnut (just $3 on Monday nights), it was the perfect date night – even if my boyfriend got to choose (and especially because he paid).

Every now and then, I need to clear my head and sneak out of the office for a mid-morning break. When a stroll down Washington Avenue is out of the question (I prefer to save my sweating for the bike ride home.), my thoughts immediately turn to a place where I can grab a day-altering bite without parting from my laptop. With Bastille Day passing and my only form of celebration having over-indulged in French wine (not that there’s anything wrong with that), I figured I needed to treat myself to one of my favorite Parisian delights: crêpes.

Rooster, one of Dave Bailey’s spots, is the perfect refuge from the office. It’s a favorite of St. Louisans near and far and a great place to take out-of-towners after a trip to City Garden. It’s also an easy eatery for Meatless Monday devotees. With myriad veggie- and fruit-filled crêpes and a handful of other meatless options, this rooster is certainly crowing vegetarian.

During my break from office life, I feasted on the Goat Cheese No. 1: a paper-thin crêpe filled with my favorite type of soft cheese, oven-dried tomatoes and roasted mushrooms. The meaty, salty mushrooms were the perfect foil to those sweet and oozy tomatoes. Loads of basil freshened things up and the tangy goat cheese added indulgent decadence to the overall dish. Give it a dip in the chipotle mayo sauce dotting the plate, and that soft kick knocks the beret right off your head.

So maybe my Bastille Day treat was a tad belated, but it was certainly worth the wait. And speaking of wait … Though Rooster is jam-packed on the weekends, I didn’t wait at all. Weekday dining is clearly the way to go at this downtown destination (aka my new office hideaway).

People never know what to expect when they come over to my house for a barbecue (or even a VBQ). Will it be mystery meatless meat I’m taste-testing on my family? (One time after I served him steakless steak, my brother looked into filing for emancipation from my vegetarian-supportive family.) Or will it be an Indian-inspired dish that I’m hoping will open up my friends’ senses? Whatever it is, I always like to keep my guests guessing.

But sometimes I throw them a curveball and go traditional with my barbecue choices: burgers. But these aren’t just any burgers: Thick portobello mushroom caps get dotted with goat cheese and slathered with sweet caramelized onions and then piled onto a fluffy, toasty Companion bun.

It’s an easy dish to make for a large group and pairs well with a fruit or grain salad. The portobellos act like a cup, scooping up that tangy goat cheese and those low-and-slow cooked onions. Add that peppery bite of arugula on top and your Monday night barbecue guests will be steering clear of Pappy’s until, well, just tell them not to go on a Monday. That day is reserved for dining meatless.

Portobello Mushroom Burgers
Courtesy of Emily Luten
4 Servings

Extra-virgin olive oil
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
½ cup dry white wine
4 portobello mushrooms, washed and patted dry, stems removed
4 hamburger buns (from Companion)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
6 oz. arugula
4 to 8 Tbsp. goat cheese, depending on preference

• Light the grill. If you’re using a charcoal grill, let the coals die down to where they are red but not over an open flame. If you’re using an electric grill, light it to medium heat.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, drizzle 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and saute. Once the oil is sizzling, pour the wine into the mixture. Saute, making sure the onions and garlic do not burn. Season to taste with salt and pepper until the onion is slightly translucent and all of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat and set aside.
• Drizzle ½ tablespoon of olive oil on each side of the mushrooms and season with salt and pepper.
• Place on the grill for about 15 minutes, turning the mushrooms halfway through cooking. Remove from heat and keep warm.
• Place the open buns on the grill for just a couple minutes, turning to toast both sides and being careful not to burn the bread.
• Place 4 bun halves face up on a plate. Top each with a bit of arugula and a grilled mushroom cap, stem-side-up. Scoop the caramelized onion mixture into the mushroom cavity. Top with 1 to 2 tablespoons of goat cheese.
• Serve immediately.

Mezes can make for a fun night out, giving everyone at the table a nibble of others’ favorite dishes. With enough meat-free mezes to feed a herd of vegetarians, Layla Lebanese Restaurant is an ideal spot to do just that.

At this new eatery in The Grove, the kitchen is doing hummus the way it should be: thick and creamy with a little extra-virgin olive oil drizzled on top. With a few dashes of smoky paprika, the succulent hummus is ready to be scooped by paper-thin pita, still piping hot from the oven. Those luscious legumes always make for an ideal appetizer to split – if you can practice enough restraint to leave some for your friends, that is.

When it comes to sharing, sometimes small plates can be just too small, but Layla’s grape leaves – tender and stuffed with soft and sticky rice – proved substantive enough, offering bites both acidic and sweet for everyone at the table. But it was the lentil soup stole the show. While the bowl boasted a simple serving of puréed yellow lentils, I loved this variation on its chunkier cousin. Smooth, warm and not overly salted like so many soups, those lovely lentils were the perfect pool in which to dunk my leftover pita.

Sharing food is best with close friends, and the fatoush salad (pictured) proved worthy enough for my nearest and dearest. Romaine leaves, toasty pita, crisp radishes, red peppers and onions are tossed in a house-made oil-and-vinegar dressing. Light and refreshing, this salad was a good way to end the shared meal.

Layla is a great place to frequent for an affordable and casual night out. The best part: It sufficiently fills me up before a quick bike ride down Manchester Avenue to cap off the night with a margarita at Atomic Cowboy.

It doesn’t matter if I can see my breath or if I have beads of sweat rolling down my face; I always crave a big bowl of soup. I know, a gazpacho or cucumber soup are more practical for those scorching summer temperatures, but when I’m dining at Mai Lee, I’m ordering the Bun Dau Hu Rau Cai (aka No. 16 on the Vietnamese eatery’s expansive menu). No heat advisory is going to stop me from slurping this steamy soup of heavenly status.

Luscious broth simmers in a bowl filled with slivery strands of vermicelli noodles, silky tofu and a treasure trove of all those veggies, still crisp to the bite. Sugary snap peas, verdant broccoli, steamed mushrooms, piquant scallions, sprouts, bright baby corn, crunchy carrots and tangy cilantro fill the bowl with a beautiful color spectrum that screams summer. The rich, flavorful broth pairs perfectly with so many of Mai Lee’s endless meatless options and always hits the spot. I like to think of it as chicken soup for the vegetarian soul.

OK, so maybe a bowl of soup after a 95-degree day makes summer feel that much hotter and cooler temps seem that much further away, but that’s fine by me. I’ll have my soup – and eat it, too.

It seems like South City’s Urban Eats Cafe was made for picky people like me. At this vegetarian-friendly eatery, you choose your flavor (Asian, Italian, southwestern, Mediterranean or American), your main ingredient (Since it’s Monday, you know the meatless option is all I’m going to tell you about.) and then your style (panini, wrap, flatbread pizza or rice bowl). Lastly, you choose whatever combination you want. Here, the world’s your oyster – er – oyster mushroom.

For my Meatless Monday, I chose an Italian-Vegetarian-Wrap. The Italian sauce, seething with tangy garlic mayo, sweet red pepper pesto and decadent mozzarella, oozed from the sides of a toasty flour tortilla. A sweet and salty eggplant caponata spread, studded with chunky mushrooms, packed the wrap with a tender bite. And the veggies didn’t stop there: Caramelized onions, baby spinach, tomatoes and brown rice were all loaded into this monster of a meal.

A side of Asian Slaw touted crunchy cabbage that was dotted with sliced almonds and dried cranberries and then tossed in a light sesame oil dressing – a welcome change from the creamy cousins we see at backyard barbecues all summer long. Another side of Thai Ginger Noodles – cold, gangly strands speckled with firm sesame seeds – were a carb-laden foil to the light slaw.

Every urban neighborhood needs a healthy cafe that gives those gritty city streets the farm-fresh treatment. And that’s exactly what you’ll find at this Dutchtown spot. Boasting a wide range of vegetarian options and a full-service bar, Urban Eats is worth the trip even if you don’t call this neighborhood home – and especially if you’re a picky eater (like me).

I’m a die-hard city girl whose main form of transportation is my bike, so when I hop into the ol’ gas-guzzler and venture out to the county by choice, there has to be a good reason (or meal) involved. Enter Hacienda, the Rock Hill Mexican eatery where I’ve been perched on the patio enjoying meals since I was a wee one. (It’s more fun these days, because I can drink ice-cold beer with my meal instead of virgin strawberry daiquiris.)

While I love a big hunkin’ chile relleno as much as the next vegetarian, I’m always open to trying something new when I’m dining à la Mexico. And since any dish that makes spinach its star ingredient has me at “hello,” Hacienda’s spinach enchiladas were the natural choice for this Meatless Monday. Just-tender corn tortillas were chock-full of a garlicky mixture of spinach, onions, mushrooms and peppers. A poblano-cream sauce and sticky, salty jack cheese topped things off – double the decadence, double the flavor.

A side of refried pinto beans were a necessary accompaniment, thick and creamy. And to kick up the nutritional content of my plate, rather than Spanish rice, I opted for the roasted zucchini mixto: a tortilla cup of zucchini, corn, bell peppers, onions and black beans that had been seasoned with a light hand and given some time under those toasty broiler flames. The veggies rounded out the meal with color and brightness.

While this is the same Hacienda I grew up with, it’s not all the same: The menu has grown, boasting a bevy of vegetarian (and gluten-free) options. And while it may be a bit of a schlep for me to get there, a few extra miles on the bike this week will surely make up for that enchilada – and the beer.

Every now and then, we’re lucky enough to have an evening that’s not carry-a-towel-with-you kind of hot. These cool summer nights are best spent on a patio, watching the lightening bugs flicker with a glass of wine and a simple meal. One of my favorite places to do just that is Sasha’s Wine Bar, an easy-going eatery nestled inside the DeMun neighborhood. With its eclectic tables, chairs and lighting, Sasha’s sets the perfect scene for an evening of people-watching and wine glass clinking.

The pesto pizza at Sasha’s always sparks my senses. The thin, cracker-like crust is piled high with a generous smattering of tangy feta, meaty artichoke hearts, salty kalamata olives and crunchy pine nuts. The potent pesto slathered atop has a strong garlic bite that’s slightly softened by sweet basil. Take a bite. When the crust snaps, let that sticky feta and thick pesto coat your mouth, piling loads of flavor on your palate.

The temperatures are getting up there, so hurry out to Sasha’s patio before the humidity takes its toll. And even when those summer nights do heat up, it’s still worth the trip to DeMun. Just make sure you have a crisp glass of white nearby.

I know you may be weary of me right now … Thai curry at an American brewpub? But trust me, the coconut creaminess of Schlafly Bottleworks’ bowl o’ curry will transcend you to the streets of Thailand, and you won’t wanna come back. So grab your passport and head to, well, Maplewood.

Piled on the plate is a mound of all those veggies we love – broccoli, cauliflower, onions and carrots – stewed to perfect curry-consistency: not too soft to lose their natural flavor, but just soft enough to sop up the vibrant yellow sauce. And for all those who think going meatless is about forgoing protein, this dish is packed with a plethora of plant-based protein sources: Tender lentils dot the soft jasmine rice, crunchy cashews provide a chunky bite and silky Mofu (local Missouri soy bean tofu) steals the show.

While packed with flavors of sharp-and-spicy ginger, sweet lemongrass, smoky cumin and that gold-hued turmeric, this dish is subtle – a great gateway into the world of curries for tepid Thai food novices. I like this curry the way it is – just enough spice for me to tolerate – but if you’re the type that wants those beads of sweat rolling down the side of your face, ask your server to kick things up a notch. Just be sure to have a cool Schlafly Summer Lager nearby, ready to soothe those screaming taste buds.

When I used to think of Schlafly, my stomach would growl with thoughts of my former one and only: the Tap Room (as explained here). But now I know better: Bottleworks is actually a mecca for us meatless folk, with a menu that boasts 17 vegetarian appetizers and entrees (not including specials and desserts). It shouldn’t have surprised me that Bottleworks caters so well to us herbivores: Any restaurant that hosts a farmers market in its parking lot certainly has the leaner-and-greener-plate concept down. And trust me, everything on that plate is good to the last bite.