Dining Out:

Whether you recycle, drive a hybrid car or eat organic fruits and vegetables, you do not have to be a former vice president to know that serious measures must be taken to save the planet. Of course, you should never embark on any crusade on an empty stomach. Fortunately, there is a place in Burbank where you can eat a sandwich, drink coffee and indulge in frozen yogurt and help the environment all at the same time.

Honeydew Cafe is a sandwich shop with a purpose. When they say on their menu that they want to help protect the Earth, they mean it. Food containers, cups and utensils are made from compostable products. Napkins come from recycled paper. Cleansers are all biodegradable. Fruits, vegetables, meats, cheeses, sugars and dairy are all organic. The oxygen-bleached coffee filters keep chemicals from seeping into your coffee. Even the tables outside are made from renewable wood sources.

While I admire their eco-friendly practices, even Ed Begley Jr. would no doubt agree that a restaurant has to serve good food to survive on any planet.

When Ron took an unexpected Tuesday off from work, I decided to treat him to a lunch at Honeydew Cafe.

The first thing you should know about Honeydew Cafe is that they do not have a parking lot, and street parking can be a problem, especially during the lunch rush. Expect to walk a block or two.

There is no indoor seating, and there are only a few sidewalk tables. You step inside the doorway about two steps and find yourself at the order counter. This is great if you plan on eating back at your desk, but a little inconvenient if are grabbing a bite to eat on the run. And during the lunch rush, expect a line.

Honeydew Cafe specializes in breakfast burritos, gourmet sandwiches and salads. They have three choices of frozen yogurt and a few toppings. The yogurt is hormone-free and organic dairy. They rotate flavors that include chocolate, vanilla, mango, honeydew, lychee, strawberry and kiwi. We tried the honeydew and found it creamy and flavorful but a little tart.

They offer more than a dozen gourmet sandwich selections plus a build-your-own sandwich. There is a wide variety of sandwiches that offers something for everyone, from the traditional roast beef or turkey to a tuna melt or vegetarian sandwich.

One sandwich that immediately had my attention was the muffeletta.

A specialty of New Orleans that was created by the Central Grocery in 1906, the muffeletta is a Sicilian word that translates as a hollow loaf of bread stuffed.