Right From the Heart

America is still a rich country, one with rich tastes and the clogged arteries to prove it. So thank you, Gratis, for providing healthful cuisine worthy of a more favorable review (“Lean and Mean,” by S. Irene Virbila, Aug. 21).

And shame on you, Ms. Virbila for not inviting a more health-conscious friend to join you. Had you brought along me (I am a registered dietitian) or one of my cardiac rehab participants, you would have learned that many people no longer enjoy the rich taste of butter, cream and oil.

Finally, there’s a chef who understands that a vegetarian meal is not simply a steamed vegetable platter.

Mary Felando

Culver City

*

Having read Virbila’s review, one must wonder what her physical condition is. Surely, she is less than fit, given her unwavering support of fat

Richard Kunz

Pinon Hills

*

The headline of the review was “Lean and Mean.” I have a feeling that refers more to Virbila than to Gratis.

Ruth Shapiro Singer

Los Angeles

*

Instead of looking at Gratis as a half-empty glass, perhaps Virbila should look at it as a glass that is half full and brimming with good intentions.

Sherrill Kuffel

Los Angeles