What's a World Vegan Day without some Vietnamese vegan delicacies!

We tried the vegan version of what former US president Barack Obama had and here's three cheers to that!

Vegan. A lifestyle that's perhaps catching on fast for some, yet loathed by many hardcore foodies - even the famous Gordon Ramsey is famously anti-vegan. The famous foul-mouthed chef recently admitted on a late night show that he could maybe try it once in a decade. So here we are, self-confessed foodies, daring to test our taste buds on two new experiences - Vietnamese and vegan. And with World Vegan Day on November 1, we thought what better time than now to give this exotic South East Asian cuisine a shot.
It was a breezy Friday afternoon when we ventured out to JLT to try out some vegan dishes at Vietnamese Foodies. Since the restaurant sits right next to the lake (in cluster D), and the day being pleasant, we opted to sit outdoors. Once seated, we were given a warm welcome by Lily Hoa Nguyen (she's from Ho Chi Min city), a cookery instructor-turned-restaurant owner. Sensing that we were novices, Lily put us at ease as she took us through the finer details of Vietnamese cuisine while suggesting some must-try dishes. So that was it, 'Twas Lily's choice for lunch.
"Vietnamese cooking is very unique, we use a lot of fresh herbs and veggies. We don't use much oil, we substitute it with broth. Unlike some other South East Asian cuisine, our dishes are simple, not too spicy, oily or sweet, it's a delicate blend of flavours, and it's healthy," Lily said, as she tried to convince us about the goodness of Vietnamese cuisine. Once the brief  was over, she took us through the menu and ordered what she thought would be the best dishes for us start off with.
And guess what? We were mighty thrilled to know that one of the dishes being served to us was what former US President Barack Obama shared with the late Anthony Bourdain in Hanoi when the two met in the country a couple of years back. Recently, in his tribute to Bourdain who died in June, Obama even tweeted a picture of him and the famous chef and TV host in a Vietnamese restaurant, sitting on low plastic stools, and enjoying among other things, a Bun Dau Sa Ot, and we too enjoyed it, albeit a vegan version of the dish (Obama's dish had grilled meat).
We began our experience with a Soda Chanh Duong, a fresh, homemade, sparkling mint lemonade that sharpened our taste buds for the vegan feast.
Starting with Goyza, water chestnut and carrot filled dim sum, we moved on to the Goi Nam Kim Cham (Phew! That's a mouthful to pronounce). This unique dish featured a Enoki Tempura salad with green mango, julienne cut cabbage, carrots with herbs and vegan Nuoc Cham sauce and the result, an amazing combination of new flavours (at least for us).
Next up was the Dau Hu Xao Rau Cu with beans, tofu and crispy stir fried veggies. The best part of this dish was the veggies, it was sautéed to retain most of its original flavour.  Combined with the sauces and herbs and a serving of steamed Jasmine rice, it made us go for a second helping.
Moving onto the main course, we tried (more tough names to crack here) Ca Tim Om Dau Phu, a tofu and eggplant combo served in a claypot, and Bun Dau Sa Ot (the Obama dish) which, for us, was the dish of the day. It featured cold, glassy and slippery rice noodles served with lemongrass tofu, vegan Nuoc Cham (dipping sauce), lettuce, mint, basil and coriander. It's here that our Vietnamese host came to the rescue. The dish is served in a platter, spread with herbs, veggies and a bowl of broth. Now there's something like a DIY happening here as we watched Lily shred the herbs (literally with her fingers) into small pieces and mix it all up in the broth. Next we were told to dip the noodles or veggies in the broth, like you'd do for a dip, and savour every morsel.
We ended our maiden vegan sojourn with a Tau Hu, a soya pudding (more like a soufflé) topped with mango puree. It was sweet!
For first timers, we found our vegan experience to be thoroughly satisfying and would surely make a return to Vietnamese Foodies.
With great views of the lake, prompt service and affordable, flavourful and healthy Vietnamese dishes, the place is worth a try. Happy Vegan Day folks!
Other vegan restaurants to try...
Menagerie
This chic botanical inspired eatery serves up vegan food good enough to hook even the most committed meat-eater. There's pancakes and then there's their Matcha and Vanilla Pancake, complete with a cashew dip, figs and maple syrup, it's a spiritual journey in itself. At Mirdif 35 Mall, Mirdiff, 04 288 5004
The Hub 7
Your search for variety Asian vegan cuisine ends here. The Hub 7 gives you dishes from around the world, with a menu covering Japanese and Filipino dairy-free options. Their mushroom-topped Mario sushi roll are worth a try and if you're into bubble tea, they have an entire range of dairy free teas. At JLT, 04 369 7649
Life'n One
All vegan, all natural. This hidden oasis is tucked into a corner of Jumeirah. From refreshing Acai bowls and brownies to delicious zoodles and hearty burgers, you really can't go wrong. This cozy joint has their ambience down pat, making it a perfect spot to unwind. At Jumeirah Beach Road, 056 534 2899
 
michael@khaleejtimes.com 

• Food and Dining
• Dubai