Vegetarian Eateries.

Blub2k4

Peanut wrote:

Ok well I'm pretty sure it's specifically mentioned as a replacement for onions, garlic etc. in the Hare Krishna cookbooks, at least if not there, then certainly in a lot of other places.

I can't see the mustard seeds having a more similar flavour than the hing, the hing definitely has the stimulating sulphury characteristic that is not a million miles away from the alliums..

wikipedia -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asafoetida
"..However, its smell becomes much milder in cooking and presents an onion-like taste. In India, it is used especially by the Brahmin caste of the Hindus and by adherents of Jainism, who are not allowed to eat onions. "

Fair enough but not according to Katayani when she gave us the cookery courses.

Hingh is not supposed to taste of anything in the meal, it's foul and sulphurous, its purpose is not as a flavouring. If you can taste hingh in the meal you have used too much, again all information from Katayani when she does the Hare Krishna cookery class.

Mentalmiss

Tar.Aldarion wrote:

Does nobody have such picky tastes as me that they can't eat out.
Have to have a sandwich or something.

I am with you on this one.
I can force myself to go to a restaurant that is 100% veg on a special occasion but I would prefer to prepare my own food. I have worked in restaurants and know what shortcuts can be taken.
I could not under any circumstances eat in a place that also serves meat regardless of the occasion. I actually take my own food to weddings and get them to serve it to me.

Peanut

I semi-grudgingly go to Christmas parties etc. in non-veggie places
Mostly it's ok I guess, sometimes you suspect there is dodginess in certain places...

It's so hard to balance your own beliefs/tastes with society at large, when you are in the minority, some things have to give.
You do your best.

Blub2k4

There is another hot tip for Veggies looking for a quick lunchtime snack who are in the city centre.

Madinah on Moore Street has a hot counter down the back and they do a large take away tray of food for 5 euro.
They serve both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food, things like Saag Paneer, and Aloo Saag and Dahls, plus being hindu they are religious veggies so no worries about contamination etc.
The meat dishes are good too, but that's for another forum

Blub2k4

I cant edit that last post anymore for some reason, but I was in Madinah today and would have to advise against it since I had a look at it again, the meat was too close to the vegetarian stuff. I'd say the aloo saag has contamination from chicken it was so close.
So bare that in mind if you are very strict or if meat sickens you.

Peanut

They have a new restaurant open on Mary St., looks nice at least from a quick look. Interestingly, they have two separate menu sheets for veg and non-veg, here is the veg. - (large image)
madina veg. menu

(hmm I wonder have they been reading boards )

Tar.Aldarion

Nice menu for people, I'll tell people about it, although I hate most things on the list.

Went into Cornucopia recently, saw the one person i don't want to see in the world was working there now.
At her sight, abruptly turned and left, no more eating at my favourite restaurant then!

Shabadu

LMAO @ the 'extreame hardcore home spice's' on the bhindi bhajii. EXTREME hardcore!!!!!!!!!! [/pepsi commercial]

Laughing aside, it looks good, I'll definitely go. I probably won't try the extreme spices on the bhindi bhajii though, I hate okra. Bleurgh.

beefa

Im sick of having to go to specialised restuarants for vegan food, if normal restaurants have a vegetarian options why can't they have a vegan option also? :mad:

Shabadu

Have you tried calling annd asking them before going? Every restaraunt I've worked in has catered for vegans as long as we had a little notice to prepare something. The reason we don't always have a dish ready/on the menu, is because there simply isn't a good enough market for it, and you end up with a lot of waste.

Chuchu

Its such a shame that there are not more options as someone already mentioned... there was a great place that was actually right opposite Juice on George's st called Marx Brothers, it was yum, tastier and less expensive than across the road but alas now a distant memory. Maybe its location was a factor in its closing (its now a Mexican restaurant I think). All other Dublin veggie eataries have been mentioned above... but I think there is still one in Bray (can't remember the name) and if people are not bothered by eating in regular restaurants that do veggie otions I would suggest giving the 101 on Talbot St a go, always have at least 2 veggie starter and main options that are a bit different (aka not just pasta!) and always yummy!:)

Nature Boy

The one in Bray is not veggie anymore. But it still has lots of veggie options (about half the menu). I didn't go into it yet cos it was full the time i tried!

Peanut

Peanut wrote:

Ho-hum.. shop next to Cornucopia is now 'the bag shop', planning permission notice taken down.. well I guess they could expand out onto the footpath a bit more !

Wrong again, Cornucopia have a note up on their door saying they got planning permission to expand the premises (early next year I think).

mcaul

beefa wrote:

Im sick of having to go to specialised restuarants for vegan food, if normal restaurants have a vegetarian options why can't they have a vegan option also? :mad:

I'm married to a vegan and we have never gone to a specialised vegetarian restaurnat (I like my meat) - but we never have a problem.

For everday dining / lunch - Italian or Indian - both will have plenty of vegan / vegatarian options. - The original pizza did not contain cheese!

For special dining we simply inform the restaurant a day prior when we are booking that there is one vegan diner - so simple and we have never been let down. - in fact I can very highly recommend Abbeyglen castle in Clifden who even printed a menu just for hereself.

And watch out for a new pizza chain opening in the UK (and eventually Ireland) Hell - who even have tofu on their pizzas!!! (they're from NZ)

dereko1969

cafe paradiso in cork is far and away the best vegetarian restaurant in ireland and possibly anywhere - superb cooking and a great vibe in the place too - it is a little expensive but if any of the dublin based people here are ever in cork they should go there as a treat to see what is possible in a vegetarian restaurant. nowhere in dublin even comes close unfortunately, i think there could be a real business opportunity for someone to 'copy' paradiso up here. i've only been to juice twice and was really disappointed both times. cafebardeli is really good for vegetarians and is great value too. govindas i would go to only in an emergency, i can't wait for cornucopia to expand as they've nice food. fallon & byrnes on exchequer street always have nice veggie food too and are surprisingly good value too.

rockbeer

I just have to agree with what Dereko1969 says about Cafe Paradiso. It's far and away the best veggie restaurant I've found in Ireland, and I can hardly think of a better one anywhere (outside of India at least) in over 20 years veggie dining. If you haven't already been, do yourselves a favour. It's worth a trip to Cork by itself.

I had an excellent Masala Dosa in Madina Mary St. last week, and looking forward to going back soon to work my way through the rest of the menu. The dosa (and especially the sambar) had the authentic flavours of South Indian food - not the toned down Indian-for-westerners most places serve up. For half an hour I could have been in Kerala ( hint: if you want to experience this effect, sit with your back to the window )

As for Juice - I think this place is horribly overrated. I had one of the worst veggie meals there ever, and wasn't at all impressed on my other visits, so I don't think that was just a bad day. Generally their food is bland, badly matched (i.e. conflicting rather than complementary flavours on the plate), and way overpriced.

Anyone who opened a 'proper' veggie restaurant in Dublin - along the lines of Cafe Paradiso or Cork's other excellent veggie restaurant the Quay Co-Op - would surely make a killing, even in this meat-obsessed culture. I sell my own veggie food at a farmers market, so I know first hand that there are some people out there who don't want something dead every time they sit down to eat. People are surprised that my food has strong flavours. The first challenge to getting good veggie food in Ireland is getting over this bizarre idea that veggies like bland & boring food.

Tar.Aldarion

That Cork place is surely worth a visit by me if I am ever in Cork.

Peanut

rockbeer wrote:

...The first challenge to getting good veggie food in Ireland is getting over this bizarre idea that veggies like bland & boring food.

Very true, there is still the perception that veg should only be seen as the inferior accompaniment to meat. I blame a lack of imagination on behalf of caterers, and a chronic lack of openminded-ness for trying something new in a lot of the population. Also Irish Hotel food, you know the type that are popular for Sunday lunches etc... they have a lot to answer for!!

But at least the situation seems to be getting progressively better (slowly).

rockbeer

Peanut wrote:

Very true, there is still the perception that veg should only be seen as the inferior accompaniment to meat. I blame a lack of imagination on behalf of caterers, and a chronic lack of openminded-ness for trying something new in a lot of the population.

You want the veggie option? That would be the stock-cube pasta then :rolleyes:

It's always good entertainment at the market watching people try stuff. They start out highly sceptical so I have to go through the ritual of pursuading them to try something. The look of delighted astonishment on their faces as they realize it actually tastes good is priceless.

I never sell anything unless I offer up samples. Depressingly few people will risk a slice of cashew nut and wild mushroom wellington without tasting it first.

Peanut wrote:

But at least the situation seems to be getting progressively better (slowly).

I agree, it is improving. It's good that people are willing to take more risks and want something healthier.

Tar.Aldarion

rockbeer wrote:

You want the veggie option? That would be the stock-cube pasta then :rolleyes:

This is why I can't eat in most hotels, just really expensive ones...