Dann’s Daily Pescetarian Cafe

pescetarian

Let me start by saying that I have never been a health nut. In fact, I am the poster girl of an unhealthy lifestyle because I don’t eat my meals at regular times (and often I skip meals altogether), I party, drink, smoke, sleep late, wake up late, I don’t workout and I luuuurrrvv my red meat. Oh right, fried food too. But with that said, I am also all about positive living and wellness; I started doing yoga back in 1992 before it became trendy, I believe in the Law of Attraction and practice the life philosophies made popular by The Secret, I burn ceremonial sage, I love my tempeh, I subscribe to traditional Chinese medicine and get acupuncture often, and I am big on recycling/eco-conscious living. A rather bizarre combination, right? Welcome to my existence. ;P

So. When I came across Dann’s Daily Pescetarian Cafe, I was firstly intrigued by the word “pescetarian” and had to look it up.

Pescetarian (also spelled Pescatarian) is the practice of a diet that includes seafood but not the flesh of other animals. A pescetarian diet shares many of its components with a vegetarian diet and includes vegetables, fruit, nuts, grains, beans, eggs, and dairy, but unlike a vegetarian diet also includes fish and shellfish. The Merriam-Webster dictionary dates the origin of the term “pescetarian” to 1993 and defines it to mean: “one whose diet includes fish but no meat”. [Source]

Even though I’m not a tree-hugging, granola-munching kinda gal, I decided to give the food at this cafe a shot because I think life should be about moderation and one can’t go on every day diving into a plate of bloody ribeye or chugging champagne. Besides, I’m always game to try new cuisines and expand my food vocabulary. Dann’s Daily Pescetarian Cafe is owned and run by Christina, a soft-spoken and gentle lady who started this cafe after years of experimenting in her own kitchen, creating healthy food options for her son, Dann. I’ve been around enough young children to know that they can be quite fussy when it comes to eating and when I was told that Dann loves the healthy alternatives that his mom has lovingly prepared for him, it peaked my curiosity towards how good the taste might be.

Incidentally Dann’s Daily Pescetarian Cafe is Singapore’s first and only cafe offering this food genre. I personally think it is a great initiative because most people who want to try eating healthy usually gets turned off at a vegetarian-only menu. So Dann’s Daily fills that gap nicely by including fish and the overall menu is so creative, I think carnivores like me will enjoy it tremendously. This definitely isn’t a place with fake chicken or gluten char siews. This place serves REAL wholesome quality food.

Toasted Wholemeal Sandwich filled with Otah and Japanese Cucumber
This is such a great snack as the otah contains real chunks of fish, paired with crunchy slices of Japanese cucumber and sandwiched between perfectly toasted wholemeal bread slices. I love the wonderful texture of the filling. The otah isn’t very spicy and I like that I can taste the fish (unlike most otahs out there that taste pasty).

Low Carb Set: Premium White Fish, Veggie Patty Trio, and Sprouts Medley Salad.
Organic Quinoa (Additional side which I requested as a bonus.)
This is a very hearty and healthy meal on a plate. I love the poached white fish a lot, it is extremely delicious because it’s been seasoned with herbs and grilled to perfection, retaining its moistness. The quinoa, isn’t part of the set but I requested it as an additional side because I am a big fan of quinoa. I highly highly recommend it to everyone as a substitute for rice. Go easy on the carbs, folks.

The three veggie patties in this set are Mushroom Beet, Pumpkin Zuccini and Curry Potato. Initially I was eye-ing them suspiciously because they appeared dry, but I was wrong. They were moist and densely packed with the described ingredients. These are prepared fresh, without any preservatives, and I must say they are surprisingly flavorful. My fave patty is the Pumpkin Zuccini!

Frankly, there wasn’t anything which I didn’t like in the set. I love the fish, the patties, the quinoa and even the Sprouts Medley Salad. I think alfalfa sprouts are fantastic to begin with, but these are even better! The medley is made up of Sunflower Sprouts, Brocolli Sprouts and Red Cabbage Sprouts, tossed in extra virgin olive oil and a wee bit of sea salt. Served raw and outta-this-world yummy as heck! I don’t mind being a rabbit if I can eat this salad every day served on a crystal goblet, thank you very much.

Dessert was Gula Melaka Strawberry Steamed Cupcake, with Gula Melaka Frosting. This was soooooooooooooooooo airy and fluffy. I don’t know how you make steamed cakes, but I have a feeling this is way healthier than a cupcake. Guilt-free dessert that tastes good! Yay.

Last but not least, I washed down my meal with Almond Milk with Chia Seeds. What seeds…??!? For someone who spends an average of two hours in organic/hipster supermarkets (Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s) browsing the aisles and reading packaging labels, I had never even heard of Chia Seeds before. I soon learned that they originate from Mexico and are very rich in Omega-7 (up to seven times more than salmon!). They look like sesame seeds mixed with poppy seeds but pretty much tasteless. However, when immersed in liquid, they form a thin jelly-like outer layer which is reminiscent of basil seeds.

7 Good Reasons To Start Eating Chia Seeds [Source]

Help weight loss:Chia seeds are popular for weight loss. They reduce food cravings by preventing some of the food that you eat from getting absorbed into your system. This blockage of calorie absorption makes them a great diet helper.
Feel fuller faster:They can also help your diet by making you feel full. This is because they absorb 10 times their weight in water, forming a bulky gel.
Hydration for athletes:They are also great for athletes because the “chia gel” can hydrate the body.
Reduce your blood pressure:There’s evidence to suggest they can reduce blood pressure.
Omega-3:They are the richest plant source of Omega-3 (the vital fats that protect against inflammation—such as arthritis—and heart disease). In fact, they contain more Omega-3 than salmon!
Benefits for diabetes:Because chia seeds slow down how fast our bodies convert carbohydrates into simple sugars, studies indicate they can control blood sugar. This leads scientists to believe chia seeds may have great benefits for diabetics.
Easier to digest: Chia Seeds are easier to digest than flax seeds and don’t need to be ground up.

SOLD!!! This is seriously awesome stuff. I was so intrigued by this never-heard-of-before superfood that I bought a jar from Dann’s Daily to bring home so that I can introduce it to my family and friends.

In conclusion, if you think that eating just fish, a bunch of sprouts and veggies don’t fill you up, then you are gravely mistaken, my friends. Yes, you will be full and satisfied, but you won’t have that rock-in-belly feeling from eating too much. I think the serving portions at Dann’s Daily Pescetarian Cafe is “just right”. The food is so wholesome and prepared unpretentiously, using superior ingredients, and I know that my body appreciates all the nutrients and vitamins obtained from this meal. I am already planning to go back there to have the grilled white fish again (and the sprouts). ;9~