Though the wife and I do not get out much these days I can always count on my brother to ensure I stay on top of the happenings around town. Thus, when my brother showed up on my doorstep and told me he was taking me to dinner I agreed in a heartbeat.

Unsure of our destination I hoped the location would be able to fulfill my brother’s vegetarian/vegan preferences as well as my large belly’s needs. When we turned into a parking lot and the only thing I saw was a very large Gym I was a little worried that my brother had tricked me into some sort of overweight intervention. Then, however, I noticed a small unassuming storefront with a sign that said, "TreeHuggers".

Inside the Café is small, but not so tiny as too feel cramped. There are a few booths and right in the middle of the eating area stood a table surrounded by couches that looked very comfortable.

Promptly our server introduced herself and answered a few questions I had for her such as:

1. How long has the place been open? A little over a year.
2. Can I get vegan food here? Many of the dishes are prepared as vegetarian or vegan just ask ahead and we can accommodate you.

With the basics out of the way, the waitress brought us menus which explained that Treehuggers buys as much of the produce locally as it can while also using as many organic ingredients in each of its meals as possible.

I got a cup of coffee, which, as the menu explained, was fairly traded, roasted weekly, and ground fresh daily. I will not claim to know what that means as the last thing I traded was a baseball card when I was twelve, but I will say it was an extraordinary cup of coffee with a bold rich flavor.

As with most "healthy" eateries the menu is slightly more expensive than your average fare, but after eating the meal I think you will agree with me that the prices are very fair and the taste is anything but average.

Upon a recommendation, I tried the "Great Egret Zucchini Parmesan Panini" which was as much a mouthful as the name implies. Ultra-fresh bread capped this tasteful sandwich that is served with tomatoes and a dashing of olive pesto. The side dish was a mix of vegetables though on the menu it does announce "side dish varies". You do have the option of adding French fries or sweet potato fries for an additional fee.

Though I was so full I could not finish my whole sandwich, I did - in the spirit of this review. I sampled some of the sweet potato fries that my brother had leftover and I recommend them highly if you stop in at Treehuggers.

For dessert I ordered a vegan chocolate chip cookie - if you didn't know any better there is no way you'd guess it was vegan. It was the perfect cap on the meal along with a second dup of coffee.

Normally when I think of places that are health conscious like this I think of areas like Tremont, Cleveland Heights, or even Ohio City, but Treehuggers Cafe is helping me rethink the way I search for better quality foods.

They also are huge supporters of the local Cleveland businesses which in my mind makes a trip to test out their menu worth it right there. The more we can look to ourselves to make things better the quicker it will get better around here. And if eating healthy means eating this good then count me in!