Perfect Vegetarian Foods: Temple food at the Flying Dragon Mall in front of Wong Tai Sin Temple
After our temple visit, we decided to have an early light dinner at the vegan restaurant adjacent to the temple. Pretty sure it was put up there to cater to the people visiting the Dao as most of them are strict vegetarians.
Vegan desserts, the most popular being the gelatin based tea flavored sweets
They also have their version of rice glutinous cakes (malagkit) which are better known here in Manila as Puto. Most of the sweets are filled with sugared red beans though, pretty much like buchi only as a pastry.
Popular vegan take outs; Buchi, vegetarian buns (Siopao) Radish cakes and spring rolls (lumpia).
I came in pretty hungry as I arrived all the way from Shenzen to visit the Dao temple. Luckily, they serve ready appetizers:
Vegan version of an Asado roll.
It has vegetarian sweetened mock-meat inside. Pretty good actually, even the carnivores agree
For the main course, we all wanted something light as we all had another dinner set later on. I opted for the popular vegan barbecue which is present in pretty much any vegan restaurant with its popular smoky sweet and spicy seasoning.
Vegan barbecue
Vegan sushi, on fau-fax pork crumbs and sashimi top
I was never much of a fan of the vegan industry’s rendition of sushi or sashimi. Sashimi and other raw sea catches just don’t bid well with soy-based alternatives. This is because sashimi is eaten fresh and raw and without artificial seasoning or breadings to enhance its natural flavors, so you can imagine what a far-cry any soy based concoction, which relies on flavoring, would be to imitate the taste.
Bokchoy (Taiwanese pechay), tofu and mock ham with mushrooms and carrots on light sweetened gravy
In Cocogreen, (www.cocogreen.ph) we practice serving an 80-20 or 70-30 ratio of vegetables-soy products. A lot of vegetarians prefer the soy based vegetarian meats, and although it is healthy, it should not be consumed more than the greens itself. Vegetarian mock-meats are made to break the monotony of cooking vegetables, not to dominate much more replace it. It is meant to bring in variety, and should not be consumed solely.
Tea flavored gelatin
Light but satisfying, this little gelatin cakes are the perfect dessert for that refreshing feel.
Mini Mooncake
The manager gave me a free moon cake! And I didn’t even announce it was my birthday, and even if I did, in Hongkong there is no such thing as a complimentary treat. Which makes this occasion, pretty damn special.
Blessed water from the shrine
Yes, it is Holy water and it cost us 40 HKD. I drank half of it and told myself I was cleansed. You know what they say about fate.
With my date, Momo Wu
Oh a curious thing happened, when the bill arrived I paid 500 HKD for our 200 something consumption. Upon receiving my payment, the attendant immediately handed me my exact change without even heading to the counter first. She knew how much we would pay even before we gave it to her.
Calculated guess?
Or precognition?
Either way, Im a believer.