WESAK DAY DINNER
The extended Ng family had a vegetarian dinner at a restaurant in USJ on 1 May Wesak Day, courtesy of Mom.
Our dinner was a 8 course set dinner staring with imitation shark fin, followed by 4 seasons cold dish, fake sweet and sour meat dish, make belief buttered prawns, look alike fried fish, etc. It cannot be denied, the clever imitation of the dishes in terms of presentation and taste but the novelty edge tends to wear off after the first time. Why go for imitation seafood and meat dishes with lots of artificial seasoning, coloring and flavours when you can go to another restaurant for the real thing at the same price?
It is a nice change to go vegetarian once in a while. Wesak day is definitely an appropriate day for the whole family to mark the occasion together with a vegetarian meal. But a feast full of wanton meat dishes is rather ironic as it some what negates the very essence of a vegetarian meal. Whether it is for health reasons, religious belief or a lifestyle choice a bona fide vegetarian will be put off by the disarray of meat dishes in a vegetarian restaurant.
The most logical choice for a vegetarian meal will be at a eatery that serves healthy wholesome organic food. I am sure my brother Sam will agree with me whole heartedly on this. Although he did not vent his objection in so many words during dinner ( he is too polite to do that) his silent protest was loud and clear. He refused to touch any of the dishes, eating only rice and the tiny decorative sliced cucumber and parsley that lined the side of the dishes. I think it will be a long long time before the whole Ng clan will set foot together in that restaurant again.
5.5.2007
Our dinner was a 8 course set dinner staring with imitation shark fin, followed by 4 seasons cold dish, fake sweet and sour meat dish, make belief buttered prawns, look alike fried fish, etc. It cannot be denied, the clever imitation of the dishes in terms of presentation and taste but the novelty edge tends to wear off after the first time. Why go for imitation seafood and meat dishes with lots of artificial seasoning, coloring and flavours when you can go to another restaurant for the real thing at the same price?
It is a nice change to go vegetarian once in a while. Wesak day is definitely an appropriate day for the whole family to mark the occasion together with a vegetarian meal. But a feast full of wanton meat dishes is rather ironic as it some what negates the very essence of a vegetarian meal. Whether it is for health reasons, religious belief or a lifestyle choice a bona fide vegetarian will be put off by the disarray of meat dishes in a vegetarian restaurant.
The most logical choice for a vegetarian meal will be at a eatery that serves healthy wholesome organic food. I am sure my brother Sam will agree with me whole heartedly on this. Although he did not vent his objection in so many words during dinner ( he is too polite to do that) his silent protest was loud and clear. He refused to touch any of the dishes, eating only rice and the tiny decorative sliced cucumber and parsley that lined the side of the dishes. I think it will be a long long time before the whole Ng clan will set foot together in that restaurant again.
5.5.2007
Comments