Hearty Vegan Fare at Consummation of Life Vegetarian Restaurant, Farlim

Long gone were the days when vegetarian food seems to be perceived as boring and strictly for penitentiary or fasting purpose as most of the food would be plain and purely based on vegetable ingredients. Vegetarian food were always associated with religious purposes, and when one is observing a fasting/abstinence period by avoiding meat which are generally perceived as luxurious or celebratory items.
Those were the days, as today vegetarian food is no longer shunned with the wide varieties available, as a result of the revolution of creativity injected into making vegetarian food more appealing to everyone. In fact, one does not need to be a vegetarian (or a vegan) to enjoy vegetarian food, because today, it has become one of the interesting cuisines around and is so enticing that it has definitely drawn its own fan base with its growing popularity.
The fame of vegetarian food has led to the emergence of many vegetarian food outlets, stalls and restaurants everywhere, and there is just a long list to name in the island of Penang alone, which is simply a vegetarian haven with the number of restaurants and stalls they have here.
It is not surprising that the island is famed for the 9-day vegetarian festive period which takes place in the Lunar 9th month annually, in observance of the Nine Emperor Gods' Festival.

Consummation of Life Vegetarian Restaurant, located in Farlim, on the ground level of the local neighborhood flats, is one of the hidden gems of a vegetarian restaurant probably only known to the local Penangites residing in the area.


It is not surprising though, with the many vegetarian restaurants available, this would, to many, add to the list of the vegetarian restaurants on the island.
However, for the vegetarian cuisine enthusiasts, this adds to another choice on the list for one to explore as one goes restaurant hopping.

A family run business, the place serves made-to-order home-cooked style meals from their humble kitchen and their menu boasts of the many interesting types of dishes which could leave one spoilt for choices.
One would not be bored with the varieties here; as even the simplest of dishes is given a unique twist with their own twist in the sauce or the use of ingredients in the cooking style.

They serve home cooked herbal drinks too, which to me, are better options compared to the canned drinks. Herbal drinks are traditional remedies to expel heat and toxins from the body and are favored as one of the common mild methods to ensure a healthy body system practiced until today.

Sugarcane drink (MYR1.60)



Now, the reason we would need a good cooling cup of herbal drink is due to the following hot and spicy Tomyam Ramen soup



Generous amounts of the ingredients; lemongrass, chili paste, lime and kaffir lime leaves are the main players behind the rich and aromatic flavor of the tom yam soup. It can be quite addictive and is enough to make one sweat with the piping hot soup (both in temperature and taste).

The bouncy texture of the hand-pulled noodles; or ramen is just another of its attraction complemented with the lavish varieties of ingredients of large cubes of tomatoes, bean curd sheets, cabbages, mock fish balls, and mock prawns, they are just part of the equation to make this one great bowl of vegetarian tom yam soup.


Vegetarian Sweet and Sour Spare Ribs (MYR12)
Made of wheat gluten and mushroom stems then wrapped around the sugarcane sticks, served with sweet and sour tomato sauce on banana leaf and topped with cubes of cucumbers, tomatoes and bell peppers, this is made to almost resemble the real mccoy.


Deep fried fish served with special sauce (MYR12) is again, wheat gluten paste topped seaweed and made to shape like a fish.
The sauce was indeed an appetizing start; spicy with a tinge of sourish sweet taste which reminded me of the typical Nyonya sauce with a aromatic scent.




Most of the dishes here are prepared with careful attention to the details, and it is amazing that vegetarian dishes are these days evolved to resemble the actual meat and seafood that it is hard to tell sometimes, that they are meant for vegans.
While there are those who are against these mock meats which are termed as sinful and has sparked controversy among the vegetarians that these are swaying away from the notion of observing pure vegetarian diets, these are still favored by many; non-vegetarians and even long term vegetarians themselves.

It is not purely based on the desire to sin; and perhaps in a positive way, the introduction of such mock imitations are meant to encourage more to enjoy vegetarian food and helping those who are converting to vegetarian with a smooth transition process.
For long term vegetarians or purely religious vegetarians, that would probably be another story.
After all, vegetarian food can be fun and colorful too, with a little creativity in it once in a while to produce a fresh concept to appeal to all ages and groups, right?
*Just my two cents of thought*

A Vegan Affair

If you are a vegetarian and you happen to be in Malaysia, you are in for a treat. Choices are varied and the flavors are just bursting from the creativity from the local vendors serving these good food in restaurants, stalls or anywhere that you see a vegetarian shop. The colors and the uniqueness from the creative dishes are such popping eye candies that lure even the regular meat lovers to consider being a convert once in a while.
While it depends on the location in which you are in at the time (there may be challenges in availability of vegetarian outlets in certain states), generally it is still a relatively vegetarian-friendly country.
Perhaps it is fair to say that Penang; the little island with a big tourism reputation on the western coast of the Peninsular hosts a number of vegetarian restaurants and eateries.

Due to the population of the Chinese folks here, the vegetarian cuisine here is heavily influenced by the exotic style of cooking mixed with the local flavors from the island favorites. Indian vegetarian can be found here too, if you are looking for the Indian style of vegetarian.
However, you should try out the Chinese vegetarian which just tempts you with the various innovations in their dishes while attempting to substitute the usual meat or non vegan fare with their unique choices of mock options created using simple plant-based ingredients such as mushrooms, seaweed and perhaps a little wheat or gluten occasionally.

Vegetarian choices can be so alluring in their imitation of the usual meaty fare that you might even forget you are actually on a vegan meal.

Take for instance, this tempting bowl of vegetarian Tomyam noodles served with mock shrimps, fish balls, and fish fillets all made with probably flour or a little gluten.





Fragrant flavors from the natural aromatic lemongrass, tamarind and the usual spices just makes this such an irresistible mouthful; sending shouts of excitement from the spicy hot soup.
Perfect during the cold weather (it tends to be rainy on some days here)

Braised fried fish fillets with special black pepper and mushroom sauce

The fish fillets were made of the dried soy sheets and wrapped with the seaweed; and appears to be slightly covered by the generously sliced mushrooms.

What do you make of these?
Sweet and sour braised mock pork ribs


The use of wheat flour/gluten lends these a chewy and crunchy texture; in emulating the actual tastes from the real ribs?

This was from one of the Chinese vegetarian specialized restaurant I visited last year, and there are many more such restaurants on the island which I look forward to visiting, for I am a fan and a vegan wannabe myself :-)

How are the vegan choices in your country/place?
Do they have dishes like these, or they are unique in their own ways?
I would love to explore vegan choices in other countries too~

Simple Healthy Vegetarian Food

Healthy living is all the emphasized concept on today; from daily lifestyle and habits to incorporating a flexible and realistic exercise regimen and not forgetting about the food and drinks that we consume into our system. It is no wonder many entrepreneurs are adopting this concept of promoting healthy living into their businesses; as we see the word 'healthy' appearing in almost every advertisement; from clothing to shoes, home appliances and food.  Be it processed food to little stalls/vendors, and even restaurants, there is no end to the continuous focus on this theme setting out to woo their health-conscious customers or maybe, to even convert the avid average joes and janes to embrace the healthy living concept.

One of such business to reap the benefits is that of the vegetarian restaurants, or food in general. What was once shunned as tasteless or uninteresting is now taking a new face; as creative business owners are injecting fresh colors in innovating the flavors of their menu. Compared to its understated heydays, vegetarian food are no longer the food reserved for religious reasons (the Chinese typically observe a vegetarian diet on the first and 15th of the Lunar Calendar). Many have discovered the benefits of going vegan and are starting to incorporate it into their daily lifestyle and the creativity infused into the menu offered by many restaurants have made it easier for the converts and vegetarian food are no longer treated as abstinence food as many can now enjoy the various flavors and yet maintain the health benefits of the vegetarian food.

I am no stranger to the concept of vegetarian, and I must admit that I am rather taken by the creativity spurted by most of our vegetarian cuisines in our region; and proudly, I dare say that Malaysia is probably one of the best places for vegans to enjoy the exotic and daring flavors cleverly spun by our budding vegetarian chefs here. Trust me, you will not find the varieties and vegetarian food which are so interesting that you may forget they are vegan-based. (There is an ongoing debate on whether this is the right concept to promote on vegetarian food, but that is another topic altogether).

Simple Life Vegetarian Food was a fast growing vegetarian chain of restaurants opening in malls and had quickly garnered a crowd of ardent fans with its claim on the healthy food they are serving. While the variety is not of a textbook, the simple menu did promise a rather modest variety to satisfy the diversity of templates out there. I chanced upon this restaurant as I was out with my family, and as my parents had been wanting to try this place out upon noticing crowds at this restaurant, it was then the venue for dinner that very instant.
(After all, it is never easy deciding on the place to dine and once there is an option, stick to it, don't you think?)


Nasi Lemak (MYR13.90)



A modest set of fragrant rice served with radish soup, crackers, sambal, cucumber, acar, vegan rendang mutton, a slice of watermelon and sunny side up.




An actual egg served as a vegetarian dish - I was told that long-term vegetarians are allowed to consume dairy products and eggs as their main source of protein.

Claypot Kung Pow Lion's Mane Mushroom (MYR18.90) - I can't remember if this was the actual name/price of this set



Mee Hoon Kueh in Organic Black Bean Soup (MYR12.90)



Organic Brown rice is served in their set meals.


Vegetarian Assam Fish Set (MYR18.90)


The vegetarian assam fish



We tried some of their desserts which were just enticing to miss.

Organic Seven Color Beans (MYR5.90)





 Longan Coral Seaweed (MYR5.90)


Overall food was not too bad although I find the servings rather small given the price tag.
Prices can be a little steep compared to the other vegetarian outlets as well.
It pays to be healthy...who said vegetarian food comes cheap?
While many may compare the vegetarian food with its many mock attempts at meat, seafood and finding it less worth of its value due to its vegetable origins (soy, wheat, etc), however, vegetarian food are often valued at the craftsmanship in the presentation and in tempting the usual meat lovers.
Vegetarian food has definitely rose in its popularity and is also reaching the heights of being fashioned as a delicacy to be served in fine dining cuisine. Yes, there are also vegetarian fine dining - hopefully I can share on that once I get around to trying the fine dining version of vegetarian food?

Worth is in the eyes of the beholder, and vegan being perceived as abstinence food is definitely a thing in the past.
Time to look at vegetarian food in a whole new perspective, folks.... :-)

Stir-fried sweet potato with carrot

I have to admit, for a non-potato fan like me, I sure have a lot more potato-related posts than one can imagine in one week although, this is the last post for the potato buddy.

This is like the potato version for the usual Mengkuang Char (also known as stir-fried jicama); only that the main ingedient of jicama is replaced with the crunchy sweet potato.

A simple dish whereby the two vegetables are sliced and then tossed into the wok and stir-fried.



Alright, to be fair, I am not going to be biased on this as it would deem really unfair to all the potato-fans out there and that is almost the majority of the population around the world.
I would prefer the jicama version though; and the carrot...the carrot always get to stay, especially when they are crunchy and fresh!:)

Vegetarian Roll

A family friend; a retired teacher, who was a friend of my MIL, made this at home during her free time and shared it with her friends during the festive season.
She was a vegetarian herself, and she enjoys creating her own vegetarian courses (lucky for us!)

I am no cook myself, and I am sorry that I do not have the recipe to share, but I can only share the lovely photos and the memories of the taste of this wonderfully tasty rolls.

Made of soy and stuffed with mushrooms and vegetables, and also a teeny bit of gluten-based vegetarian mock meat, it is then rolled with fried bean curd sheets to create the cylindrical shape.

It was not too oily, despite it being deep fried before serving and though I seldom say this, it was best taken when it is hot from the kitchen.
The rolls also emitted a rather fragrant and aromatic scent of soy and mushrooms when one bites into the juicy part of the roll.

Although I do love homemade stuffs, I do wish she would sell it so that we can have it once in a while when we crave for it, get what I mean?


Let's just hope she decided to get her creative juices flowing again, and she will make this another time, or just invent another new recipe:)

Delicious vegetarian with rice @ Sweet Root Vegetarian Restaurant

This is probably my third or fourth visit to this restaurant which has won the hearts of my family members, with their variety, good tasting food and reasonable prices.

Instead of the usual dishes we order to share, we tried their ala carte individual rice sets, priced at RM5-9 per set and they were good, yeah, I liked it :)

I am a vegetarian food lover, really, something that I can't live without having it once in a while:)
(I am sure you noticed it from the number of vegetarian posts that pop up once in a while, or sometimes quite frequently too!)

(I heard the vegetarian lovers/bloggers/readers saying, "Ah, finally, a vegetarian post again....too much seafood stuffs! :p )

Assam Fish with rice

Assam is a type of sourish and spicy soup made with tamarind juice and seriously, my favorite with fish or almost anything:)
I love the okra and long beans, perfect company!
The vegetarian mock fish is made of soy sheets and seaweed.

Sweet and sour vegetarian pork ribs

Awesome taste with the rich sauce, with light touch of cornstarch and the pineapples, my favorites!:)

Closer shot of the mock pork ribs; made of gluten wheat flour

Really great taste, trust me!;)

Mummy saw someone having the vegetarian claypot chicken rice, and she just simply had to have one!

For the first time, Mummy ordered the most expensive set amongst us (she's always a saver, and we loved her for that:)


It tasted good, no disappointment, and although it was higher in price compared to our normal rice sets, it was because of the portion it came in.

Mock chicken meat made with soy and gluten wheat flour.

Braised vegetarian fish with fermented bean curd sauce and mixed vegetables

Something lighter and non-spicy, compared to most of the dishes above, but still a good one.

Bittergourd with chicken rice

Of all, I didn't really taste this as I am not a fan of bittergourd, seriously!
It looked good (ignoring the bittergourd), and I am sure it tasted good too (ignoring the bittergourd again) :p

Maybe someday, I will learn to try the bittergourd...or, maybe that can wait...yeah, someday :p

I like the food and the environment here, and the reasonable pricing and my love for vegetarian food will definitely see me returning for more!~

Are these Vegetarian Too?

It's finally Friday today, and usually on Fridays, Catholics observe the tradition of going meat-less.
For some of us (points to myself), that means going vegetarian and I am definitely not complaining about it.

I know I have already posted on vegetarian in my last post, and before I hear you groan "Not Again?", allow me to share these few photos for you to judge whether they are Vegetarian-like or not.


Braised lean meat with ginger and soy sauce
This tastes so chewy and good, and the spicy ginger just pumped up the level of excitement in this dish!


Fish in sweet and sour salad sauce (made of tomato ketchup mixed with chili sauce)
No need for me to elaborate further, that this is one of my favorites!:)

I am a fish fan; vegetarian or not!


Stir-fried broccoli and cauliflower with tau kua (beancurd), carrots, and mushrooms, and mock lean meat made of gluten wheat.
This is a simple yet crunch-worthy dish which I adore; and is definitely my all-time favorite veggie vegetarian dish.

Now, don't you think this look so similar to the real meat and fish?
Had I not mention it at the start of the post, would you be able to guess?

All these creative vegetarian dishes are not homemade by yours truly, but were bought from a stall in the market.
Most of these vegetarian dishes are made of gluten wheat, and for the fish, there is also seaweed involved.

Did I hear you now regret your groan? ;)
I promise you more exciting food next week, after we ALL enjoy our weekend (bloggers do need to take our weekends off too, sometimes:)

TGIF folks, and have an awesome weekend!!:)

Economy Vegetarian Buffet @ Evergreen Vegetarian House

In conjunction with my Vesak Day post here, I have decided to post on vegetarian food; particularly this vegetarian cafe in Penang which offers economy vegetarian buffet.


This is one of my favorite vegetarian haunts when I am in Penang, because of their wide variety, reasonable pricing, one-stop (they have from rice to porridge to noodles, desserts, pastries, everything!), and friendly service and these few alone are more than enough to keep me coming back.

Now, the concept of economy buffet is different from the usual buffet you have in restaurants or hotels where you buy a standard price and you get to eat all you want.


The concept of economy rice here in Malaysia, is that you still get lots of variety of food and you can choose what you want on your plate, which you then bring to the cashier and they charge you based on what you take.
Yes, it's that simple, and before you scream out that the food is going to be overpriced, well, that's where the word economy comes to the rescue.
Unless you really overloaded your plate with a mount of food which resembles a mini Himalaya, usually the price of 2-4 types of dishes will only cost approximately RM3-5 (~USD$1-1.70)
Do I have your attention now? :)

This is an especially convenient concept for office workers during their lunch hours, and even for urban city dwellers who don't cook (like yours truly) where you can have a few types of dishes on your plate with either rice or noodles to call it a meal.

If you choose to dine at home, you can take a paper box stacked on the side to put your food in it (or if you plan to buy the dishes, you can take plastic boxes which they charge for RM0.30-.50 each) Of course, you can use your own container too.

(spot the box in the background, yeah, that's how you do it)

There are even disposable spoons and chopsticks provided, which usually the cashier will just pack it in your bag after you make your payment.

Note: the following photos will be an overview of the array of food/dishes offered at this cafe and there is no focus on one food in particular, so enjoy the visual feast.
(You can try to guess what they are made of, or what they are, although there will still be descriptions along the way;)


Mock meat


From top left: Fried gordon bleu sausages, fried wantons, fried mock fish
Bottom: Assorted curries


Top row: Fried beehoon (rice vermicelli), fried maggi mee (instant noodles type), fried yellow noodles
Bottom: Deep fried yam rolls, Deep fried spring rolls, deep fried vege rolls wrapped with bean curd sheets


Curry and potatoes


Assorted fried noodles


My favorite stir-fried cauliflowers and broccoli, and jicama and carrots stir-fry


Vegetables


Dishes made of bean curd sheets


More mock meat dishes

Dry food; pastries and biscuits are also on sale here for vegetarian snacks


This is a very conducive place for meals, and for Buddists, you will find comfort in the Buddhism hymns played softly in the background.


There are also hot and cold desserts available; from soy bean curd pudding to red bean soup, and even herbal drinks and jelly.



During major Buddhist festivals, there will be even more varieties of food as
most go on one-day vegetarian diets.

Of course, even prices will be slightly higher on those days, and they will voluntarily inform and even apologize to you.

If you are drooling over the food, maybe it's time you follow suit to try some delicious vegetarian dishes like these once in a while?
I know I love them!:)