Bo.lan, Bangkok, Thailand

Prepare to be wowed. Also... prepare to have smoke blowing out of your ears.

I found myself in Bangkok with my best friend and Mr. Lamb in January. Yep, right in the middle of the political unrest, when International SOS and Australian Smart Traveler were advising us not to go.... We'd had the trip booked for months, as an opportunity to meet up with my friend on a stop-over in Asia. Despite the closed roads and heavy traffic, we were very safe, and actually benefitted by being able to make a couple of last minute reservations - one of them being at Bo.Lan.

Walking in to the cool, dim, open restaurant floor, we were met by beautiful staff demonstrating the best of Thai hospitality. We immediately felt comfortable and excited, even more so when we discovered a vegetarian tasting menu. Fantastic - we'll have three of those. I love those easy decisions when I fell completely welcomed and catered for in a top restaurant. No uncomfortable questions or inconveniences.

We were in Bo.Lan's hands, from speciality martini's to sweets - and at each bight we were wowed by speciality Thai spices and fruits. We'd asked for two 'mild' and one 'medium' heat sets, and each plate resonated with unique flavours, many of which we couldn't put our finger on. When it came to the coconut milk curry, I was salivating and ready to enjoy the creamy, round flavours. I took a nice spoon full.... and had an immediate reaction to the chili. So hot! I think this dish was pre-made and simmering in hot, hot chili for some time. I was immediately embarrassed by my reaction in the middle of this lovely dining room, but I had really been taken by surprise! My weak chili tolerance aside, we were so impressed and enjoyed every moment of this experience. A true recommendation for vegetarians looking to enjoy the best of Thai cuisine.

Add: 42 Sukhumvit 26 Soi Pichai Ronnarong Songkram Klongtoey Bangkok 10110, Thailand ~ MOVING!!
PH: +66 2 260 2962
Web: http://www.bolan.co.th

Yen, Taipei, Taiwan

A trip to Taipei for my birthday, and our 5 year wedding anniversary, was a perfect reason for a booking at Yen, the Cantonese fine dining restaurant at the top of the W Hotel.

Upon making the reservation, we were pleased to know that a vegetarian set menu was available, however when we sat down I couldn't help but feel underwhelmed by the list before us. There was fungus, fungus, and white fungus in each and every plate. I actually thought the veggies on the a la carte menu looked more interesting, but was encouraged to stick with the set. So fungus it was.

The stand-out feature at Yen is the view. We were lucky to have a window view, although not looking over the famous Taipei 101. We'd had a nice drink in the bar before hand, and watched the sun go down over the mountains surrounding Taipei. Instead, from our table, we watched the hoards of scooters buzzing around on the streets below. From the arial view, the traffic looks exceedingly uniform and rule-abiding, which seems counter to what you'd expect on a back-drop of a very Chinese looking city. Taipei was wonderful - the people were so friendly, and the Putonghua so clean and easy to listen to. We had a great time walking around, finding our way to various temples and coffee shops. There's a calmness, and an easy buzz to the streets, which are teeming with design stores, food stalls, and leafy, open-air shopping. I reflected on the fact that I could live here happily as we sat and watched, chatting, waiting for our food.

The meal was very nice, and had the characteristic lightness of Cantonese fare. We had blanched vegetables, soup, a rice dish, and yes, plenty of fungus. For a restaurant famous for it's duck, they'd done a nice job of a vegetarian banquet. However I found myself more impressed with the decor and our own company, as opposed to the food itself. The wait staff were friendly and professional, but as we were sitting at the far end of the restaurant we received little attention apart from when new food arrived. A nice evening for sure, but I found myself writing home about the vegetarian restaurants we'd discovered on the streets of Taipei, rather than Yen!

Phone: +886 2 7703 8887
Address: The W Hotel, 31st Floor, 10 Zhongxiao East Rd, Section 5, XinYi District, Taipei
Web: http://www.yentaipei.com/en/