CookSmart (19th Issue) Page10

EatSmart Restaurants Snaps

Herbivores A Taste Veggie Delight - Herbivores

When it comes to vegetarian cuisine, one might think of braised gluten puff or green salad, which are either too greasy or too bland for some people. “Herbivores”, a local vegetarian restaurant, tries to change such perceptions with its innovative vegetarian delicacies.

Still a student in Communication, Wendy gave up in her final year of study and decided to pursue a culinary career. She went to France to attend Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Pâtisserie, which paved the way for her current career as a young chief chef of Herbivores.

Wendy LEUNG, chef and one of the proprietors of Herbivores, witnessed the inhumane way of animal slaughter and the environmental impact of livestock farming when she studied culinary art in France. To promote healthy eating and environmental protection, she decided to open a vegetarian restaurant.

They don't even know they are having vegan dishes

When she started her first shop in Central, Wendy was worried about not having enough vegetarians around. Yet with a dedicated team of chefs and attentive service staff, the restaurant built up a loyal clientele in just a short time. Last year, they opened a branch in a mall in Causeway Bay.

However, she expresses that vegan dishes are still not a main popular dishes in the locality. “Some customers hurry out of the restaurant after they have found out that we only sell vegan dishes.” On the other hand, some eat heartily there without knowing that they are having vegan dishes in fact.

More innovative recipes with only vegan ingredients

Wendy says, “As a vegan restaurant, we do not cook with meats or sauces containing animal ingredients such as Worcestershire sauce, oyster sauce and gelatin. Our cooks have to be extra creative when developing recipes.”

Herbivores offers a mixture of Italian, Japanese, Malaysian and Thai cuisines. They often combine ingredients of different textures and flavours to enrich the overall taste. Some of their innovative dishes include “rice topped with steamed Japanese egg” and “Italian rice balls with curry sauce”. Vegetable main courses at Herbivores include roasted mushrooms steak and roasted stuffed tomatoes.