After being vegetarian for 5 years (2003 - 2008), I reverted to carnivorism for the past 5 years. At the beginning I ate mostly fish and seafood, but meat crept back in insidiously. I was avidly anti-chicken, until I discovered Korean Fried Chicken, which then became one of my favourite foods. Though I remained a vegetarian cook, I would accept whatever was cooked for me and keenly ate meat when out. I particularly loved all types of ramen, dumplings, ribs, and of course, sashimi.
I came out of my second Vipassana course with remarkably the same feelings as the first time. I'd eaten 10 days of simple, tasty vegetarian food - truly free from any pretentiousness, everyday you get pretty much the same - carb, stew, vegetables and salad. It was basic food but nourishing for the body, and over time you realise that your body and mind feel good. And so you leave the centre without any craving for flesh, and it's easy to continue a vegetarian diet.
A few things I ate in January...
Tempeh narnie at 3 Williams. This cafe has gone viral on the internet after seemingly every Sydney food blogger started raving about it. I had had my eye on the beef brisket / pulled pork narnies before the course, but this tempeh narnie was wonderful. Lightly fried and maintaining the earthiness of tempeh, it's paired with Asian pickled vegetables, sriracha and lime mayo. The sprigs of coriander provided a perfect freshness. I didn't love the actual narnie that much as I found it too oily, but the contents are sublimely married.
Nazimi is a frequent haunt, but I'd never looked at their vegetarian options. This was a seriously excellent bento, offering a wide variety of nibblies. Agedashi tofu is fried separately to the carnivorous offerings (I know because my friends ordered some which came out looking distinctly different), adorned with spring onions instead of bonito. There are 2 slices of salad sushi roll with pickled daikon, and 3 nigiri (inari, avocado and poached shiitake). The main is grilled eggplant "steak" with a sweet sticky soy sauce, like nasu dengaku but with less miso. Rice, green salad and miso soup aside, there was also a handful of edamame, a potato croquette and a cube of tofu with peanut dressing. There are even two desserts - black sesame flavoured mochi with red beans, and sticky rice cake dipped in honey. This photo does no justice to how beautiful the meal was - a lovely surprise especially since I was mentally prepared to have salad and rice!
Paramount Coffee Project was another place I'd had my eyes on something carnivorous (fried chicken with watermelon.. or crab po boy?) but found a delicious vegetarian alternative. These baked eggs came in a capsicum, tomato and black bean sauce, topped with shavings of manchego. I was surprised by the three little golden footballs (I did think for one second that they were glorious balls of fried cheese) - these were polenta balls which added a nice crunch dimension to the dish.
I came out of my second Vipassana course with remarkably the same feelings as the first time. I'd eaten 10 days of simple, tasty vegetarian food - truly free from any pretentiousness, everyday you get pretty much the same - carb, stew, vegetables and salad. It was basic food but nourishing for the body, and over time you realise that your body and mind feel good. And so you leave the centre without any craving for flesh, and it's easy to continue a vegetarian diet.
A few things I ate in January...
Tempeh narnie at 3 Williams. This cafe has gone viral on the internet after seemingly every Sydney food blogger started raving about it. I had had my eye on the beef brisket / pulled pork narnies before the course, but this tempeh narnie was wonderful. Lightly fried and maintaining the earthiness of tempeh, it's paired with Asian pickled vegetables, sriracha and lime mayo. The sprigs of coriander provided a perfect freshness. I didn't love the actual narnie that much as I found it too oily, but the contents are sublimely married.
Nazimi is a frequent haunt, but I'd never looked at their vegetarian options. This was a seriously excellent bento, offering a wide variety of nibblies. Agedashi tofu is fried separately to the carnivorous offerings (I know because my friends ordered some which came out looking distinctly different), adorned with spring onions instead of bonito. There are 2 slices of salad sushi roll with pickled daikon, and 3 nigiri (inari, avocado and poached shiitake). The main is grilled eggplant "steak" with a sweet sticky soy sauce, like nasu dengaku but with less miso. Rice, green salad and miso soup aside, there was also a handful of edamame, a potato croquette and a cube of tofu with peanut dressing. There are even two desserts - black sesame flavoured mochi with red beans, and sticky rice cake dipped in honey. This photo does no justice to how beautiful the meal was - a lovely surprise especially since I was mentally prepared to have salad and rice!
Paramount Coffee Project was another place I'd had my eyes on something carnivorous (fried chicken with watermelon.. or crab po boy?) but found a delicious vegetarian alternative. These baked eggs came in a capsicum, tomato and black bean sauce, topped with shavings of manchego. I was surprised by the three little golden footballs (I did think for one second that they were glorious balls of fried cheese) - these were polenta balls which added a nice crunch dimension to the dish.
