Catch a Healthy Habit has fun with interesting textures and goofy names

An array of Catch a Healthy Habit’s meatless, dairy-less, uncooked dishes

Catch a Healthy Habit
39 Unquowa Rd., Fairfield. (203) 292-8190, www.catchahealthyhabit.com

What’s this? Barbecue burgers, sushi, crab cakes, noodles and pasta in a raw, vegan restaurant? At Catch a Healthy Habit, the “burger” consists of nuts and seeds, the “sushi” of vegetables, the “crab cake” of mushrooms and nuts, the “noodles” of zucchini and the “pasta” of kelp. These are the light and fresh offerings on the “Eats” section of the menu of the organic, raw and vegan restaurant that opened in downtown Fairfield six months ago.

The Platter ($9) presents a lithe and flavorful “hummus” of blended zucchini, tahini, garlic and lemon. This is an idea to steal, a way to punch up the coming surfeit of summer zucchini. It’s served with flax seed crackers. They’re light in texture and pleasing to eat. A romaine lettuce leaf holds the “refried beans,” a sunflower seed mixture topped with guacamole and chopped fresh tomato.

The “crab cake,” a blend of mushrooms, zucchini, nuts and seeds, seems salty on its own but is just right when eaten with the short stack of cucumbers.

The “sushi” ($8) is a bright and textured combination of crunchy seaweed, punchy miso and vegetables — soft avocado, crisp snap peas, refreshing mint and chewy dehydrated asparagus. The two nori-wrapped vegetable rolls (why call them sushi?) are served in a bowl of salad. The chopped romaine lettuce is fresh and dressed in vinaigrette.

The tomavo ($7) — tomato, avocado, nut paste on an onion wafer — reveals layers of appealing flavors. The “sesame noodles” ($8.50) have a base of thin strands of kelp. I enjoy their springy, gelatinous texture. The sauce of almond butter, soy sauce substitute, ginger and lime calls out for a touch of honey to mellow a bitter aftertaste. Sesame seeds, chopped carrots and broccoli are tossed into the noodles and sauce. The “pasta primavera” ($9) is spirals of raw zucchini with carrots, mushrooms and broccoli, topped with “rawmesan” (nuts, seeds, nutrional yeast and sea salt).

Catch a Healthy Habit offers a wide selection of juices and smoothies. Since it opened, I’ve been a big fan of The Blood, juiced raw beets, apples and ginger that hits all the right notes — sweet, earthy, spicy and naturally salty. They also have 16 smoothies on the menu. The Super Food Hero blends almond milk, banana, gogi berries, and powders of mesquite and hemp. It’s mellow, not-too-sweet, banana-flavored, with a hidden protein powder punch.

They also offer “shots” of juices. The Island Fire is made from noni, a tropical fruit. It is one of the strangest things I’ve ever tasted. With a funky, fermented smell, it is salty and bitter with a spicy aftertaste. It’s so weird, it’s good. A shot of ginger juice reveals pure, pureed ginger. Next time, we’ll add a ginger shot to a “create your own” juice.

For dessert, I try a cinnamon roll made of dates, but my favorite is the raw chocolate cup, blended with honey, sea salt and sprinkled with bee pollen.

Catch a Healthy Habit occupies a small storefront, with an open kitchen, seats at the front counter, a raised table and cushioned banquette by the front windows. It’s clean and light-filled. The customers have the relaxed air of people pleased to be eating healthy food.

At the same time, Catch a Healthy Habit is not a relaxing place to eat. Juicers whine and grind and dishwashers spray. It makes conversation difficult, but we’re all having a good time anyway. Catch a Healthy Habit delivers well-balanced flavors in light dishes with zest and zing. And it’s good for you. All the better.

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Glen colello  - Thanks!     |2010-06-02 16:33:20 Catch A Healthy Habit Cafe thanks FWeekly for an awesome review! Reply 0   0

healthnut   |2010-06-03 09:44:44 The food looks and sounds delicious, but technically it isn't vegan because of the honey and bee pollen. Reply 0   0

Anonymous   |2010-06-16 09:10:54 True; if it has a mom it's not vegan ;-). Reply 0   0

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