Asian food and the vegan question

[Guest guest]

As an aside, I have to mention, gently, that I am

shocked to hear about these " suspicions " of Asian

food. A great deal of thought and care and culinary

history goes into the preparation of Asian vegetarian

food.

 

Shangri La's kitchen undergoes an annual kosher

inspection, so they might be used to and receptive to

your questions. Their menu states clearly that you can

request egg for hot and sour soup, otherwise it

doesn't come with. They are not snuck in.

 

There are also so many Buddhist Asian restaurants in

SF who, on special days, provide tons of absolutely

vegan dishes.

 

I also always hear about how Asian soy milk is bad

because it is not refrigerated, etc. In fact, if you

find a warm bottle of soy milk, buy it! It came from

the plant that morning and the fresher the soy milk,

the better it tastes.

 

As to the gravy-like quality to the sauces in Asian

foods, the secret is cornstarch and mushroom sauce.

Mock meats are not weird or mysterious, they are easy

to make, even at home.

 

If you go to a fast-food style Chinese restaurant like

Andy's, you might get chicken broth in a vegetable

dish. But all Asian restaurants are not the same and

they are not all governed by the same principles,

(especially ones that are geared toward non-Asians

like Andy's or Panda Express!)

 

Instead of investigating and regulating

restaurants,you can go to a Buddhist temple and ask

them where to eat. Seriously, they will be happy to

tell you and they won't judge you. I do it all the

time when traveling. Trust me, many Asians also take

vegetarianism quite seriously, it is a respected

component of regular society. I'm wondering if some of

the wariness comes from a western perspective in which

vegetarians are considered a " fringe " or " lifestyle "

group?

 

As to the eggs in the mock meat story, I don't know,

but I kind of doubt it because it would make the

product more perishable which food producers tend to

avoid.

 

Thanks,

 

Amanda

 

 

PS I'm on the lookout for a mexican restaurant that

serves fresh nopalitos and/or veggie mole (with an

accent over the e), any suggestions?

 

 

 

 

The New Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo

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[Guest guest]

I concur with Ananda re: Asian cuisine.

Im would also like to add that Asian cuisine includes Indian food and

there are several (15+) Vegetarian Indian restaurants in the Bay area.

 

NOTE: Even among the Vegetarian restaurants- there are MANY MANY

dishes that are VEGAN.

-Further, Veg. oil is often used INSTEAD of Ghee (Butter)in Most

dishes.

- and a discreet ( & polite!) inquiry to Chefs will reveal this, esp.

as customers who prefer Vegetarian(not Vegan) Indian cuisine often

prefer Ghee(butter)*..(hence Veg.Oil use is not trumpeted).

 

-Hindu temples & most Vedantic based Ashrams/Centers etc are also a

source for recommendations (abt 25+ in No Cal)

 

*(BTW-No brownie points for miscommunicating your inquiry to the

chef- and blaming the entire Indian/Indo-phile population) :-)

 

Sam Rao

 

SFBAVeg , a <amkpay> wrote:

> As an aside, I have to mention, gently, that I am

> shocked to hear about these " suspicions " of Asian

> food. A great deal of thought and care and culinary

> history goes into the preparation of Asian vegetarian

> food.

>

> Shangri La's kitchen undergoes an annual kosher

> inspection, so they might be used to and receptive to

> your questions. Their menu states clearly that you can

> request egg for hot and sour soup, otherwise it

> doesn't come with. They are not snuck in.

>

> There are also so many Buddhist Asian restaurants in

> SF who, on special days, provide tons of absolutely

> vegan dishes.

> SNIP SNIP