Thursday, March 12, 2009

Vegan Taiwan - Gallery #1

If you're a vegan (like me) and you really love to eat, then you should go to Taiwan! The food there is awesome. (Warning: the following photos may make you hungry.)

"Cold fruits" juice with cherry tomatoes and tiny limes.

Just-add-water noodle soup from 7-11.


Veggie Dim sum (素的點心)!


Fenqihu (奮起湖) train lunch box served in a bamboo box.


Microwavable 7-11 lunch box.


Nourishing noodles with vegetables and mushrooms!


Steamed taro bread (饅頭) and fresh soy milk (豆漿) for breakfast.


Hotel breakfast with congee (粥), toast, veggies and tofu (豆腐).


Seasoned black rice and jicama salad.


Green herb risotto with mushrooms.


Noodles and roasted veggies.


S H A V E I C E !


A vegan lunch box with lots of tasty faux meat.


A vegetarian banquet with: tea oil noodles, sauteed greens, fried tofu,
bamboo, peanuts, faux chicken, potato soup and sweet bean roll deserts.

Sauteed bamboo with mushrooms and chilies.


Fried tofu with greens and chilies.


A quick lunch from a Buddhist buffet.


Fresh pineapple-carrot-bitter melon juice at a night market.


Wild mountain berries and fresh mountain "passion fruit-tomato".


Fried rice and lotus root soup with fried tofu.


Green tea and fresh juice cocktail served in front of an indoor waterfall.


M O R E F R E S H F R U I T !


These are just a few of the wonderful things I've eaten over in Taiwan. Some other delicious things, that I don't have photos of, include: You tiao (油條) (fried dough sticks), chou dofu (臭豆腐) (stinky tofu), aiyu (愛玉) jelly, and vegetarian mapo tofu (麻婆豆腐) and hot pot (火鍋). As you can see, the vegetarian food in Taiwan is almost as good as the oolong tea!

6 comments:

Nicole said...

I still get hungry when I see a 7-11. Crazy how we got such great eats at a convenience store!

Anonymous said...

Wow, that all looks delicious, I am so jealous!

Pamela & Sarah said...

Wow! I'm hoping to visit Taiwan with my boyfriend (also vegan) and your photos are making me drool in anticipation!
-- Sarah

Christopher Gronbeck said...

Oh, my goodness...those photos make me so hungry, and I only just finished breakfast! I'd love to hear any other practical advice you have for being vegan in Taiwan, since I hope to travel there this year. Thanks for being such an inspiration!

- Christopher
christopher@susdesign.com

Will said...

I don't know how strict you are, but keep in mind that a lot of the processed fake meat contains dairy (usually whey or casein), as Buddhist vegetarians don't avoid dairy specifically, only eggs. While most Buddhist cooking is essentially vegan due to dairy not being that traditional in Chinese cooking, if you are worried about small amounts of dairy, it's better to avoid fake meat other than fairly traditional stuff made from gluten, yam, tofu skin, etc. Also, some of the products occasionally contain eggs or egg whites. Vegetarian restaurants that aren't 全素 may also have egg in some dishes.

That's all not to mention manufacturing issues where actual meat is accidentally (or intentionally) added.

See:
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2009/12/08/235600/Veggie-meatballs.htm
http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=976592

May be less common in Taiwan than on the mainland, but I believe stinky tofu will sometimes have fish products of one sort or another (dried shrimp, for example) added to the brine. Wikipedia suggests that fermented milk or meat products may also be used.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinky_tofu#Production

I have heard talk of a non-vegetarian product (I believe fish related) used in some you tiao; apparently the makers are often very secretive about the recipe, so might be difficult to get a straight answer. other than that, they should be Ok, though.

Brett said...

Thanks Will!

I am a strict Vegan here at home, and I try my best when I'm in Taiwan.

I will never eat any meat but I can ignore a little dairy or egg used as an ingredient while I'm in Asia.