NO SALT PLEASE, THIS IS A MICROBIOTIC MEAL

For the first time ever, I was asked to present an ID when I went out for lunch with a friend this week. We had agreed to meet at the macrobiotic restaurant in Nervi  (Via Commercio, close to the end stop of bus #17). I was not aware about this in advance, but this restaurant is for members only. If you want to eat there, you have to become a member. That is easily said and done, there are no particular requirements for becoming a member, but you have to have your ID when going there for the first time so that a membership card can be issued.
  The restaurant is run by volunteers. The menu is written on a board and you get what is available on that day - not from a long list of dishes. Around lunchtime the place was full of Italians enjoying a different kind of an eating experience and many of them had brought containers to take food home as well, in case there is too much to eat. Wasting food is strongly discouraged. There was also a notice on the table that cellphones must be switched off. Another first in a restaurant. 

   I had never tasted microbiotic food before. My friend explained that microbiotic diet is based on a whole philosophy about how you should eat food that is in season and locally grown, mostly grains and vegetables and avoid anything that is processed. It is all about balance, ying and yang. This balance can be achieved by eating whole grain cereals (brown rice, barley, millet, oats, quinoa, spelt, rye) together with cooked or raw vegetables, beans, nuts, seeds and fish. So, not totally vegetarian then. But not all vegetables qualify as microbiotic food. For example, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, spinach and eggplant should be avoided altogether. But on the other hand, using cabbage and carrots is a highly recommended combination. 

   As a starter, we were given a vegetable soup with small pieces of wholewheat pasta in it. I am not wild about pasta in a soup, even though it is common in a minestrone. The soup was quite thin and there was no salt. Good news for those who suffer from high blood pressure (as I do) but I could not taste any other spices either, such as herbs. The main meal consisted of a tasty risotto, which had olives in it (very good) and a nice relish made out of cabbage and carrots combined with cooked beans and a wholewheat pasta with a sauce. The risotto, veggies and beans were tasty and nice, but I have to say that the wholewheat pasta was totally overcooked and did not look very appetizing either. All this was washed down with a glass of warm japanese bancha tea. 

  Afterwards we went to the macrobiotic shop, which is right next door to the restaurant. I stocked up with honey, bisquits, cabbage and the bancha tea. There was a good selection of all kinds of organic and natural products, including freshly baked whole wheat bread. 

 Would I go back? Perhaps. I felt really good for many hours after the meal. However, I don't think that I would be able to follow a totally microbiotic diet - too restricted. And I do need some salt. Tomatoes also appear on our dinner table every day.  But every now and then, why not?