A beautiful monastery, a feeling of peace sinks in the moment you cross the threshold.
The main hall contains three stunning bronze statues, no photography allowed. I don't photograph a lot of buddhas anyway - seeing with my eyes is enough.
The kitchen makes a set lunch of vegetarian fare, which I suspect is also vegan, and there’s a regular vs deluxe for two with a negligible difference in price.
The food is simple here, standard seasonings, mostly salt. No presentation, just the ingredients on a dish, just like you’d make at home. The dining area is full of tables in close proximity.
The dishes come out in rapid succession. There is no order in there, nor does there need to be.
A viscous soup is a starter, made with wood ear and tofu skin. Add your own spice - the chili sauce turns it into hot and sour soup.
Spring Rolls stuffed with...cabbage. Just fresh cabbage. Chili sauce saves the day.
My favorite is the Fried Bean Curd in a lemon sauce. The sweetness is a welcome contrast to all the salt.
A colorful stir fry of mushrooms is peppered with sugar snaps and occasional asparagus and cashews. This food is fuel for the Buddha climb.
If you haven’t had enough cabbage, they make whole sheets of it, all of it fresh and refreshing. This dish has a little savor thanks to the occasional shiitake.
After sleeping off last night’s meat-heavy food coma, vegetarian is a welcome fare. The food reflects the Buddhist simplicity, minimalism on a plate. No frills, look elsewhere for creativity or complexity; this is not a meal that will change your life. But this food WILL fuel you for the stairs up to the giant Buddha statue without feeling nauseous and gross, and all this fiber will bring you inner peace.
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