Mata G Vegetarian Kitchen, ABQ

SI read about Mata G Vegetarian Restaurant in the Alibi Feb 7-13 2019. I was so impressed by Robin Babb’s food review that I had to check it out for myself. Mata G is a white, bright, and airy restaurant on the corner of Amherst and Silver just south of Central.

We were a little too late for the hot dishes. We arrived after 4. The hot dishes change daily: Monday Asian, Tuesday Moroccan, Wednesday Italian, Thursday Indian, Friday Lebanese, Saturday Mexican, and Sunday Mata G Sunday Brunch. But there were two refrigerated cases filled with vegetarian and some vegan food.

I wanted to bring home everything in the fridgerator cases. Ok, not the water and juices but all the food items. This is mainly a take out place with very limited seating.

We were offered samples of the hummus, tabbouhleh, and a tofu salad that were absolutely delicious. As we were deciding about what would be good to take with us for dinner, the Chef/ Owner Gurubachan Kaur Khalsa, came over to talk to us. She asked us if we were vegans or vegetarians. Believe me, this is such a cool question to be asked anywhere or any place. She was happy that we were vegetarianish because there were not as many vegan options in the refrigerated case. I was really interested in a package that wasn’t labeled. It’s vegetarian kibbie. I have always loved kibbie, fjust not the meat part.

I guess I was gushing with excitement when I told her I thought there was a great selection of food in the refrigerated cases. She told me that in the 70s when she became a vegetarian, people thought she was weird. I told her that in college when I became a vegetarian, all I ate was a lot of salad which is why I went back to eating meat. Gurubachan Kaur Khalsa said that she was from Mexico and came from a Lebanese family. I quickly figured out the kibbie connection. I love Lebanese food! (I love food).

But back to the food, we picked out a pasta salad with spinach, cauliflower and peas, and of course the kibbie. I also selected a Mexican dish with beans and rice(13.50). Gurubachan Kaur Khalsa told me I could freeze it. This was wonderful news because sometimes my eyes are bigger than my stomach. (Can you imagine??) Our total order was 39.98. It was well worth the price because we were eating this great food for several days. We had the sides for dinner at High and Dry Brewing. We had some more for lunch the next day. We saved the Mexican enchilada with rice and beans for lunch the day after.