singapore

Singapore’s multi- culturalism reflects in its cuisine. Much like the melting pot of cultures the city is, it also throws up a mix of eclectic food choices, with a host of vegetarian options.

My personal favourite in the city is the Thai restaurant named after the famous Jim Thompson (www. ), which offers distinctive Thai cuisine at Dempsey Hill. Their most popular vegetarian dishes include Phad Pak Ruem Mitr Hed Hom (wok-fried mixed vegetables with mushroom and oyster sauce), Phad Pak Boong Fai Dang(stir-fried morning glory in garlic with bird’s eyes chillies in a yellow bean and oyster sauce). For dessert, i would recommend Tam Tim Grob(crunchy waterchestnuts heavily coated with tapioca flour and served in coconut milk with shaved ice) or you could try Kati, a classic Thai coconut ice cream. Meal for two: s$50 (without liquor).

7 Sensation (www.7-sensations. com) offers an extensive and superb veg fare. You can choose from singaporean, Western, Thai and Japanese cuisines. i like the avocado and mango salad tossed in a honey mustard dressing, the 7 Sensation Moussaka where meat is replaced with braised lentils and, a must try, the portobello mushrooms, which are baked with sundried tomatoes and cheese and topped with mesclun salad. For the main course, the angel hair pasta, al dente with tomato puree, shiitake mushroom with sprinkling of parmesan cheese is a simple and satisfying option. The bailing mushroom with spinach is also worth a try. Orni Orni (yam paste with pumpkin and ginko nuts) or the avocado mousse work well for dessert. a main will cost only between $10-$15.

For soulful Chinese cuisine, LingZhi vegetarian restaurant (www. ) is very popular. The restaurant prides itself at being one of the few places serving Chinese vegetarian gourmet. The place is well known for its colourful Crispy Wild Mushrooms with Aeroponic Vegetables Salad and Kung-pao style Sautéed Monkeyhead Mushrooms with Dried Chilli and Fragrant Pineapple Fried-rice. another great dish is Sautéed Broccoflower and Fungus in Chef’s Special Sauce and the vegetarian roast duck. Meal per person: $20-$25 (no liquor served). Make reservations, the place is usually packed.

i must also mention a Mediterranean restaurant i have come to like here. Original Sin (originalsin. com.sg) is known to plate some exquisite veg Med. i love their spinach salad with baby spinach leaves, semidried tomatoes, onion, olives, cashew nuts, roasted capsicum, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and crumbed fried feta cheese served with balsamic vinaigrette! Follow this up with polenta with a porcini, button and portobello mushroom ragout, with grilled asparagus in a fresh basil tomato sauce drizzled with balsamic reduction. i recommend the Spanakopita (baked ricotta, spinach, feta and filo pastry served with grilled portobello and mixed vegetable ratatouille) and also the Bosco Misto(spinach, feta and tofu patties coated with crushed almonds and sesame seeds, asparagus and a button mushroom plum sauce). The pastas and pizzas are great too. You can also choose from the two set lunch menu, priced between $27 to $30 per person.

Paradise Pavilion (www. .sg/paradise_ pavilion.html), located in the heart of singapore’s finance hub, Marina Bay, has a wide selection of classic Chinese. The desserts are the crowning glory; try Crystal Sweet & Sour Dough with Honey Peach or Deep-fried Durian Ice-cream with Mango Puree. a sommelier can recommend from over 100 wines. set menus: $35 to $168 per person.