SUCCULENT soy chunks, roti snacks and tofu are just a few of the tasty items on the menu at Yeoville's eccentric little eatery, Sweet Pot.

For many people, some meals can scarcely be imagined without meat, yet meatless versions of their favourites filled the table for Sunday lunch.

"I used to love meat [but] I became a vegetarian a few years ago. Ever since then, people tell me I look younger and more relaxed," said 30-year-old Mduduzi Nkutha, who lives in Yeoville, while enjoying her dish of red beans and rice.

Timothy Banks, another regular at Sweet Pot, became a vegetarian after converting to Rastafarianism seven years ago. He feels that meat is not something people should eat. "Every day I feel like flying. I feel healthier than ever, like I can do anything one can do using their body," Banks said.

Wedged inconspicuously amid the rows of hip fashion boutiques along Rockey Street, Sweet Pot is one of a crop of vegetarian restaurants springing up and offering various meat-free dining options.

According to Elijah Phekani, the owner, his restaurant incorporates the philosophy of the Rastafarian diet, which uses only natural produce from the land in cooking. "We are a vegetarian restaurant and believe that for food to nourish our bodies, it should be prepared with the best ingredients and with much love and care."

A vegetarian of more than 20 years standing, Phekani has long wanted to open a restaurant that reflects his faith as a Rastafarian. He takes prides in offering a menu that is free of animal matter of any description.

"Eating healthily is a way of life. Your food should be your medicine," said Phekani. "We need to eat healthily and create a healthier nation."

He started the restaurant, he said, because there was a growing demand for vegetarian cuisine from the expanding Rastafarian community in the area. "Yeoville has a large number of Rastafarians and I thought it would be such a great idea to introduce a vegetarian restaurant that caters specifically for their needs."

Rastafarians are better known for music and "the holy weed". "But from the beginning, Rasta people have always lived a vegetarian lifestyle, meaning that anything that moves is not supposed to be eaten," he explained.

Sweet Pot has been open for business and flourishing for over six years. Phekani feels the location allows for a diverse clientele. "The diversity is amazing ... Anyone is welcome. I would like to see more people come here."

On the menu are dishes using potatoes, mushrooms and a wide variety of vegetables. None of the dishes contain dairy products, eggs, meat or fish. "We try to cook a lot of familiar foods because we want to be there for the non-vegetarians and vegetarians, but we also want to attract the everyday customer," Phekani said.

On average a plate of food costs between R25 and R35 - and one of the greatest treats of visiting Sweet Pot is that you can serve yourself as much food as you want. And then there's the music: reggae floats out via satellite throughout the day.

To provide quality food in his restaurant, Phekani grows his own vegetables at his smallholding. "I have a plot in Walkersville where I grow organic onions, cabbage and carrots for my restaurant ... I am still trying to learn how to grow mushrooms."

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