For today's lunch, I decided I wanted to try something new. So, I found a vegetarian Chinese restaurant that is in my neighbourhood. Welcome to Simon's Wok.
(Some tasty wontons. MMMMM.)
(The front of Simon's Wok. Image courtesy of Google street view.)
Chinese food has a long history. According to historical records, more than 5000 years ago, China already had grilled food and fish. During the Zhou Dynasty, food was mainly grains such as beans, millet, barley and brown rice, though they are not the same as they are today. The eating of rice originated in the late Zhou Dynasty, as a dish those of the higher class would eat. Later, in the Qin Dynasty, sour flavours were welcomed by the people. Other foods, such as bamboo strips and plum sauces were very popular at the time, and still are to this day. These ingredients were mainly used to mask the strong tastes of fish and meat. In the Han Dynasty, salty flavours were preferred by the people. During the time of the Han Dynasty, China opened the Silk Road, a merchant road where they traded foods, spices, and goods. Through this, they were introduced to pepper, sesame seeds, and vegetables like cucumbers, carrots, and spinach. In later Chinese history, the people were introduced to Buddhism. Through Buddhism and the introduction of the Liang Wu Di of South Dynasty, vegetarian dishes slowly made more of an impact on people's lives.
(The teacup and teapot at Simon's Wok.)
When I sat down, I wanted to try something new, and something I would like. So, I ordered the "chicken" (Faux chicken) with pineapple and ginger. Alongside it, I ordered some fried rice and some wontons.
(The "chicken" and veggies in a sweet/sour sauce.)
The "chicken" (tofu) was very tasty, with a sweet sauce and a great texture, similar to chicken itself. The peppers were cooked well, so there wasn't much of the toughness to get through the skin as there would be on raw pepper. I am not really a mushroom fan, but I found the mushrooms were generally A-OK. It was even better when you put it on a bed of the fried rice, as it gives some sauce absorption and more texture. Overall very good.
(Mmmm, fried rice.)
Fried rice is a very unique food, as it has the texture and flavours of rice, but with a yummy fried taste as well. Mixed in vegetables are excellent additions to this, as they add to the flavour of the dish. However, the real place that rice shines is its utility of with other foods. You can put almost anything on rice and it will taste better.
(Some lovely, tasty wontons)
Have you ever heard of a wonton? I sure hope you have. They are often a type of dumplings served around China. However, these particular wontons are basically just little fried pastry sheets (the same ones used to make egg rolls). While these deep fried delights might not be the healthiest of choices, they are simply delicious. Crispy, tasty, and even better with the add-on sauce. They are a great snack/appetizer, and they make you want more and more.....
So that's it! That was my visit to Simon's Wok! It was a lot of fun going and eating such amazing vegetarian food, and the WHOLE RESTAURANT is vegetarian. Pretty crazy. I loved this restaurant and I hope that you feel inspired to try it, as I am sure you will find something you love.
And... my overall rating for this meal..... (in chillies of course)
Four and a half chillies! Superb! Seems like you too should try this restaurant out.
Thanks for reading!
Sam.
Sources:
History of Chinese Cuisine. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.topchinatravel.com/china-guide/history-of-chinese-cuisine.htm.
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