ANNE BRALY: Having been to Mudpie several times, I didn’t even have to look at the menu. It was Monkey Hips for me. To make you feel a little better, Holly, I went without the meat and didn’t miss a thing. This dish has so many flavors going on, it doesn’t need meat. Monkey Hips is an amazing concoction of rice, black beans, tons of cheese and green onions. For you meat eaters, there’s smoked sausage or chicken, if you wish. This place is owned by a Cuban couple, Maria and Angel Chavez. When they purchased Mudpie about a year ago, they didn’t change the menu, only infused it with some flavors of their homeland. I adore Cuban food.

HOLLY LEBER: Mudpie was one of the first places I encountered when I moved here. I think my mother and I went there twice in my first week in Chattanooga. In a city that’s rife with carnivores, I really appreciate a restaurant that can appeal to both the meat eaters and the veg heads. A plain salad isn’t a legitimate meal option, and iceberg lettuce is not legitimate food, so Mudpie’s multiple hearty vegetarian options make me happy. I went with the Mudpie burrito, a mix of black beans and rice in a whole-wheat tortilla topped with diced tomatoes and onions. It’s normally served with cheese, but I asked for guacamole instead, and the gentleman behind the counter didn’t even blink at the request. Leaving out the cheese let me focus more on the flavors of the beans and spices.

ANNE: Aha! So we’ve found a place where we can both be happy. I, too, appreciate the many options you can find on the menu, so that when I feel like denying myself meat, I won’t be denying myself tons of taste. Like the veggie pizza, for instance. But you know what, I was a little surprised there was no one else there when we arrived. I know we got there early, at 11 a.m. on the nose. Think we were a little eager? One last thing ... Don’t let the vegetarian thing fool you. This is not a low-cal place to dine. Particularly if you splurge and top off the whole Monkey Hips production with real sour cream, like I did.

HOLLY: Or you go the way I did and get a side order of sweet potato fries. They’re the right mix of soft and crisp, not too oily with a bit of salt. If there’s brown sugar available, try sprinkling some on. It’s the best way to eat sweet potato fries. But the Size 2 gods of dieting will not be smiling on you. Mudpie is worth the calories though, and the food is relatively healthy if not slimming. Take the plunge, enjoy every bite, and have a salad for dinner (but skip the iceberg).

E-mail Anne Braly at abraly@timesfreepress.com

E-mail Holly Leber at hleber@timesfreepress.com

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