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FOODIE
‘So’y Delicious
Food At Tula Kitchen
By Luann & Diane / foodie@longislandernews.com
If a vegan, a vegetarian and a meat-eater all want to go out
for dinner, where do they go?
Tula Kitchen, of course.
The Bay Shore restaurant, which will soon celebrate its three-year
anniversary, boasts a modern renaissance, Mediterranean-influenced
atmosphere and open-minded dining. It’s a place where
the vegan dish with the soy meat-substitute is just as flavorful
as the delicately prepared chicken dish, and every diner leaves
satisfied, no matter his or her culinary preference.
“That’s what this is about – people coming
together under one roof,” said owner Jacqueline Sharlup.
“Tula” means “balance” in Sanskrit, and
the concept of the restaurant is based on balancing life and
finding a healthy way of living through food, Sharlup said.
Before entering the restaurant business, she was a personal
chef, even preparing food for cancer patients and the like.
Sharlup found that careful attention to diet often changed
her clients’ lives dramatically.
“My mom instilled in us if you eat right, you can cure
things,” said Sharlup, who also has a soft spot for animals.
She plans to sponsor a fundraiser for Little Shelter, an animal
adoption center in Huntington, in the near future.
An invested owner in more ways than one, Sharlup spends most
of her time in the kitchen at Tula, whipping up an eclectic
blend of tasty dishes.
“From soup to nuts, I’m doing it, and I’ll
keep doing it until I pass out,” said the 36-year vegetarian.
But don’t let the fact that Sharlup doesn’t eat
meat fool you into thinking Tula Kitchen is only for the vegetarians
and vegans out there. There are plenty of meat and fish dishes
to go around, and they are doubly good – good tasting
and good for you.
All beans and grains used in Tula Kitchen dishes are organic,
and the dishes are baked, not fried. The tradition of starting
a meal with bread and butter is a notion of the past. Instead,
placed before you as you take your seat are triangles of pita
bread alongside a refreshing medley of whole chic peas and
black beans, chopped peppers and shaved carrots.
Unobtrusive lighting supplemented by candles gives the dining
room a warm glow against red, clay-colored walls. Curtains
at the entrance and draped in the middle of the modestly-sized
dining area, paired with dark wood tables and pillows on bench
seating and chairs contribute to a comfortable and relaxed,
yet sophisticated atmosphere.
The vegetarian in our party started with the roasted vegetable
salad ($12). The colorful dish comes with broccoli, eggplant,
summer squash, red onion and roasted garlic, and is topped
with lemon and feta. Add chicken, shrimp or grilled tofu,
if you like. We opted for the tofu, which really soaks up
the flavor of the dish.
Another salad that caught our eye included a grilled shrimp
salad with bleu cheese, toasted almonds, pear crisps and baby
spinach ($18).
The meat-eater in our party opted for something a little different
and was pleasantly surprised with the outcome – the “stick
to your ribs” tempeh teriyaki ($16). A vegan-friendly
dish, tempeh – a grainy meat substitute made of soy –
comes covered in a zesty teriyaki sauce with sesame broccoli,
carrots and snow peas atop mashed sweet potatoes. The tempeh
is an instant hit, healthy, but not lacking in flavor, and
the taste is complemented perfectly by the zesty teriyaki
and sweetness of the mashed potatoes.
We’ve also heard good things about the sesame crusted
tuna ($26), the coconut and almond crusted tilapia over roasted
potatoes topped with mango avocado salsa ($22) and gemelli
pasta with shrimp ($19), as well as Jackie’s “famous
turkey loaf” ($17).
Even dessert has an organic angle – chocolate pecan pie,
for example, is made with organic pecans.
With a large selection of wines, a sleek bar and creative
drink selection (we were told to try the pomegranate martini),
Tula Kitchen looks like it could be a hip main street stop
on a Friday or Saturday night. They also offer “in our
house or your house” catering, as well as an early bird
special, where $19.95 gets you a three-course meal.
Visit the endearing Jacqueline Sharlup and her hip operation;
tell her the Foodies sent you.
Tula Kitchen
41 East Main Street
Bay Shore
631-539-7183
www.tulakitchen.com
Atmosphere: Hip, relaxed, welcoming
Cuisine: Balanced, organic, eclectic
Price Range: Moderate
Hours: Tuesday-Wednesday 5-10 p.m.;
Thursday 11:30- 3 p.m. lunch, 5-10 p.m. dinner;
Friday: 11:30- 3 p.m. lunch, 5-11 p.m. dinner;
Saturday 5-11 p.m.; Sunday 5-9 p.m.
Main
Menu
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