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live harp and violin performance by Lisa Gracia and Jonny Hutagalung accompanied 20 people who were enjoying vegetarian meals at the second newly opened vegan gourmet restaurant, Burgreens, on the rooftop balcony of the Organik Klub organic grocery store in Tebet, South Jakarta.

Hanging out in the restaurant means giving a treat to your eyes, too, as the expansion unit on the balcony is overlooking the city-owned 1,800-square-meter Honda Park. The first branch of Burgreens was established in a green space in Rempoa, South Jakarta, by a young couple, Helga Angelina, 24, her boyfriend Max Mandias, 26, and Banyubening Prieta, 24, in 2013.

Helga said the outlet had become a gathering place for vegetarians, vegans and all who were concerned with health and wellness.

'€œPeople are aware of our presence through word of mouth, Instagram and communities they were in, such as self-healing, yoga and nature lovers'€™ clubs,'€ she said.

The operation of the restaurant has made the three-story building a complete one-stop place for healthy food enthusiasts. Burgreens specializes in vegetarian burgers and its signature '€˜Turmeric Twisted'€™ drink, while the Organik Klub sells organic food ranging from vegetables to fruit, meat, spices and oil, as well as kitchen appliances.

Eric, a 45-year-old American, said he was happy to find the hub because there were few restaurants for vegans like him in the capital. '€œI can find a lot of vegan restaurants in Bali, but not in Jakarta,'€ he said, adding that he knew the place from a friend in a vegan outlet, Slam Dunk Sandwich, in South Jakarta'€™s Santa Market.

Hesty Martha, a non-vegan, said she enjoyed the food and the green scenery at the event.

Meanwhile, Balinese food blogger Gaby Risanto, coming as a customer, said that food bloggers should post more about healthy and green eateries, not only cozy places with yummy food.

Certified nutritionist Genti Saputro said she saw the vegetarian lifestyle as feasible because humans could fulfill their protein needs with beans, lentils, mushrooms and much more. Being a vegan did not necessarily mean living a healthy lifestyle if someone did not have plant-based diet.

'€œIf a vegan only eats mushrooms and potatoes every day without eating raw vegetables and fruits, it means nothing,'€ she said.

Helga said that she and her boyfriend came up with the idea of establishing Burgreens after having benefited from being vegetarians. She said she had been vulnerable to illness when she was younger and was diagnosed with liver and kidney disorders at the age of 15. She, after reading many health books, tried to cure herself by starting a diet of raw food and becoming a vegan. In two years, her disorders gradually went away.

The Organik Klub was one place Helga chose to buy organic food. The shop was established in 2004 by Nursanti and Satrio Wibisono, a couple who opened the business some time after becoming familiar with organic food for their son, Kay, who had a multi-food allergy.

Nursanti said she get their products directly from farmers they know personally, making the products 85 percent local. '€œWe procure fruits and vegetables from West Java, onions from West Nusa Tenggara, cashew nuts from Southeast Sulawesi and coconut oil from East Java,'€ she told The Jakarta Post. (rbk)