It’s a vegetarian menu I look forward to every year at Elegant Inn during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival and beyond. While the festival ends on Sunday Oct 18, you could still enjoy this unique and fine vegetarian set till Nov 8.
Chickpea Tofu with roasted pepper sauce, Pan Seared Organic Spinach Red Crystal pouch, Baked Rose Aroma Barbecued Gluten Puff
First the three appetisers – Baked Rose Aroma Barbecued Gluten Puff, Chilled Homemade Chickpea Tofu with Roasted Pepper Sauce, and Pan Seared Organic Spinach Red Crystal Pouch. The delicate pouch burst in my mouth, and I have never liked spinach as much as at this moment.
I liked the smooth, creamy chick pea tofu with the flavourful crispy topping and the sauce. The topping was residue from the ground chickpea, seasoned and fried till crispy.
The gluten puff tasted like a delicious char siu so, complete with fluffy pastry, but with a mushroom filling.
Slow Boiled Soup with Yacon, Assorted Gourd & Cashew Nuts in Whole Coconut
Slow-boiled Soup of Yacon, Assorted Gourd & Cashew Nuts in Whole Coconut has natural sweetness distilled from the vegetables steeped in coconut juice and a little richness from coconut meat. The soup had lots of flavour and depth. We couldn’t resist scooping some meat from the coconut – so good!
Crispy Stuffed Morel, Taro Cake Parcel, Broccoli in Creamy Taro Sauce
Three main courses follow. Crispy Stuffed Morel, Homemade Taro Cake Parcel & Broccoli with Creamy Taro Sauce, Assorted Fungus Vegetarian Roll Braised with Premium Wild Porcini and Truffle Oil Teriyaki Eggplant Steak with Organic Cabbage Rice.
Anything with taro has my vote. This taro parcel has crispy edges; the centre bits are sticky and powdery. And what a delicate stuffed morel!
Assorted Fungus Vegetarian Roll Braised with Premium Wild Porcini
The cabbage roll filled with fungus, topped with wild porcini, and bathed in the aromatic braising sauce made tasty, juicy and lightly crunchy bites.
Truffle Oil Teriyaki Eggplant Steak with Organic Cabbage Rice
The Truffle Oil Teriyaki Eggplant Steak laid on top of the cabbage rice made us think of unagi. But banish the thought. I loved the tender and sweet grilled eggplant sticky with the sauce and finished with sesame seeds. It paired deliciously with the cabbage rice.
Desserts — Yan Xi Lotus Pastry, Longevity Herbal Jelly wiith Chilled Japanese Pumpkin Cream
Dessert was Longevity Herbal Jelly with Chilled Japanese Pumpkin Cream and Yanxi Lotus Bloom Pastry. Lightly sweet pumpkin cream was poured over the herbal jelly – not only did it taste good, you also know it’s super good for your health.
The vegetarian set menu at Elegant Inn from now till Nov 8