Putting meat on hold order of the day

In a restaurant overlooking Vulcan Lane, where the tofu burger rules supreme by Gwyneth Paltrow royal appointment, two men on holiday from Hawaii are pondering their states of being.

It is the eve of World Vegetarian Day.

"Are we vegetarian? Yes, we are. Well, almost."

Tai Blackford and Peter Pobocik eat fish. It comes with living in Hawaii. And they will eat meat if there's nothing else going, but they won't cook it.

"It seems like if I fill my body with good organic food, my energy, happiness and well-being is a lot better," says Mr Blackford.

"We have the best fresh fruit and vegetables in the world. So on Hawaii we're more health conscious than the usual Americans."

Both men are sucking Raw Power's juice of the day - carrot, raspberry and pear. They have ordered a juice of the day every day so far in the first week of their holiday.

The word McDonald's makes Mr Blackford's lip curl involuntarily. Hawaiian McDonald's have a spam burger, he says.

By and large it's vegetarian all the way for the two men.

"I dream of this place when I go home," Mr Blackford says.

Raw Power is a haven to those for whom the vileness of meat shalt never pass the lips.

Hence actor Gwyneth Paltrow's visit with her partner, Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin, as they searched for a macrobiotic kick.

New Zealand has 75,000 vegetarians, according to the NZ Vegetarian Society, and 35 totally vegetarian restaurants.

Mr Blackford and Mr Pobocik are quite excited about World Vegetarian Day.

They think they might pop in to Raw Power to celebrate. They might even have the juice of the day.

Just for something different.