Former marketing manager – and now trained plant-based chef – Lexi Monzeglio has opened her dream eatery in the heart of bustling Sandton City, Johannesburg. Lexi’s Healthy Eatery, while featuring a handful of sustainable and free-range beef or fish dishes, is primarily focused on encouraging a plant-based lifestyle.

The bright interior at Lexi’s Healthy Eatery. Photo supplied.

The menus feature very little to no animal products, as well as no refined sugars or products containing gluten. The restaurant’s fresh interior is mirrored by the colourful produce-focused food served from breakfast through to early dinner.

A post shared by Lexi’s Healthy Eatery (@lexiseatery) on Jun 24, 2018 at 10:09am PDT

The breakfast rush kicks off with options like the Sunshine Glow bowl with seasonal citrus, coconut cream and a biscuit crumb, or a hearty-sounding polenta breakfast stack with mushrooms, grilled cherry tomatoes and polenta cakes. Come lunch and dinner, the dishes take on a more gourmet slant. Starter nibbles like beetroot falafel, carrot hummus and crudités are followed by main events like slow-roasted cauli-steaks, sweet potato and chickpea activated-charcoal burgers, and black rice porcini risotto with sautéed leeks and butternut puree. Desserts come refined sugar-free and include the likes of frozen chocolate ganache with shortbread crumb and sticky caramel.

A post shared by Lexi’s Healthy Eatery (@lexiseatery) on Jul 3, 2018 at 10:34pm PDT

Lexi’s interest in sustainability can be seen in everything from the biodegradable takeaway packaging to the non-deforested wood used for the chairs. The Lexi’s Healthy Eatery team have also eliminated the use of plastic straws and support only local suppliers as part of their greater vision to be more environmentally conscious.

A post shared by Lexi’s Healthy Eatery (@lexiseatery) on Jul 8, 2018 at 6:12am PDT

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