Vegetarianism
Hey, I just wondered if there were any other Vegetarians out there? If so do you have any recommendations? how do you get by in a city that is distinctively meat-orientated?
Not a very long time ago I can remember when Pure Lotus at Lido holiday Inn was both great quality and cheap, but the latter doesn't really apply any more. It's still good for a one-off night though. Meanwhile I'd also recommend the Vegetarian Buffet restaurant on Guo Zi Jian (by the Lama Temple).
'You can travel the seas, poles, and deserts and see nothing. To really understand the world you need to get under the skin of the people and places. In other words, learn about geography'- Michael Palin
Re: Vegetarianism
http://www.thebeijinger.com/blog/2009/03/16/Top-5-Places-to-Eat-Vegetari...
Jerry Chan, Editorial Director
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Re: Vegetarianism
yunnan food (if you can avoid the cured ham) seems pretty amenable to vegetarian dining ... what with the abundance of mushrooms and cheese
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Re: Vegetarianism
Both the Beijing Organic group and the BJ food Allergies and Special Diets yahoo groups both discuss things you'd be interested in.
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/beijing_organic_consumers/ and http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/BJFoodAllergiesSpecialDiets to join
Liora Pearlman
Moderator, Beiing Organic Consumers' Association (BOCA)
http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/beijing_organic_consumers
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Re: Vegetarianism
Check out this list as well
Jerry Chan, Editorial Director
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Re: Vegetarianism
Good recommendations above. Just adding my two cents. I find that it depends on the restaurant. Western and veggie-only restaurants aside, Chinese restaurants have a variety of meatless dishes: tofu, vegetables, stir-fried rice, noodle soup, etc. There are also a few dishes that you can ask for without the meat - just tell them "bu yao rou." However, make sure you say it more than once--they often forget to tell the chef. With the exception of Xinjiang (Muslim) restaurants, other wait staff typically doesn't understand the sans-meat ordering. Chinese also don't classify little bits of ham as "meat." My conclusion - it's pretty easy to find a meatless meal in Beijing. Real difficulties arise when ordering. I also have trouble when I'm the only foreigner in a group of Chinese at a local restaurant: "What are you going to eat?," they wonder.
Kara Chin, Managing Editor
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