Going green is easy

Remember that familiar Kermit the Frog catchphrase, “It’s not easy being green?” Well, after visiting Anytime Cafe and sampling its smorgaasboard of veggie options, I’d respectfully (yet adamantly) have to disagree, having found each and every item quite effortless to enjoy.

In fact, the options offered here are both creative and countless, more than catering to the growing number of meat-eschewing, health-conscious clientele. When asked how he has seen vegetarianism on the rise — and the simultaneous need to accommodate — Anytime Cafe’s owner Ken Wong notes that, “Vegetarians have plenty to pick from on our menu, from noodle dishes to pasta dishes, salads, appetizers and more.”

Determined to make a believer out of Kermit yet, I decided to invite my favorite Muppet to join me on my Market City Shopping Center adventure — the convenient locale of this Anytime eatery. Granted, at first, Kermit was a curmudgeon, stuck in his old-fashioned, amphibian ways and loathe to going out on a limb by sampling new items.

Yet, when faced with Anytime’s Caprese Spaghettini ($10.50), a pasta creation of sauteed fresh tomatoes and basil tossed with melt-worthy slabs of bite-size mozzarella, Kermit’s cold-blooded heart was captured. And although the noodle dish was quite filling, this frog’s fancy was soon stolen by another hot little number, Vegetable Risotto ($11.50), featuring Italian Arborio rice and mixed vegetables simmered to perfection in a light tomato broth. And let me tell you, the flattery that was fawned on this fare was praise so profusely offered it’d make Miss Piggy practically ‘green’ with envy.

Other enviable options you can order are daily specials Wong points out that, “From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, we have a lunch special, where diners can choose from four delicious entrees ($10.95 each).” When asked if there were vegetarian-friendly finds among the four, Wong assured Veg’n Out that if you let your server know, the restaurant will be more than happy to accommodate.

So the next time you’re ready to dine here in Hawaii, the home of eco-friendly, enlightened and aware eaters, remember that ‘Anytime’ is the right time (and place) to go green.

Contact Andy Beth Miller at diningout@staradvertiser.com

Anytime Cafe

Market City Shopping Center
2919 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 218
735-3888
Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-midnight
Saturday, 8 a.m.-midnight
Sunday, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.