Category: Vegetarian

Vegetarian

Padmanadi Calgary: Indonesian Vegan Restaurant Review

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I took my parents out for lunch. I was initially going to take them to Pho Pham in Chinatown, but I noticed there were no vegetarian options. Boss Lady suggested Padmanadi so that Ludwig could have a wider selection of food. Let’s listen to Dai Dai for this post.

The last time I took my parents and in-laws out for dinner at Emerald Garden, Boss Lady complained that I hadn’t ordered enough lobster. I should have ordered two. That way, she said, everyone could eat lobster to their heart’s content. She was right. I tend not to order much because I don’t want to overeat. Boss Lady reminded me that I don’t have to eat it all. I just have to make sure there’s enough food for everyone at the table.

I took her unsolicited advice to heart when I ordered lunch. For the three of us, I picked: Satay with Peanut Sauce ($10), Deep Fried Tofu ($13), Roti Canai ($13), Curry Chicken ($22), Rendang ($20), Kwetiau Goreng ($19), Jasmine Tea ($3.75) and a small bowl of Jasmine Rice ($2.75). I didn’t order a fourth main dish because I wanted to leave room for dessert after Boss Lady spotted the deep-fried bananas with ice cream.

Our server, Hufsa, stood out for how genuinely thoughtful she was. Rather than having us order individual teas, she suggested we share a pot. I also appreciated the restaurant’s personal touches, from the bright yellow mugs with their sleek handles to the fresh lemon slices in our water glasses.

Ludwig watched eagerly as the food began filling our table. He quickly reached for a piece of tofu, but I barked that we hadn’t taken our pictures yet. He pulled his hand back, visibly annoyed, and sat looking a little sullen while we snapped a few photos. It was completely out of character for him. Normally, he sits back patiently and waits for Boss Lady to tell him which dishes are vegetarian. 

I knew Ludwig would like the tofu dish. The plate was piled high with puffed-up, golden cubes of tofu. The outside was a thin, delicate layer while the inside was light and airy; it was like eating delicious, crispy air. The dipping sauce was sweet soy sauce, thick and dark like balsamic vinegar. Ludwig ate each piece like popcorn, a delighted smile stretching across his face. 

I knew Boss Lady would enjoy the satay skewers. The faux chicken was soft and chewy, with crisp edges. The peanut sauce was generously applied and sweet, but not overpoweringly so. When I asked Boss Lady what she thought, she said everything was good. However, next time, she suggested skipping the chicken skewers and ordering the rendang instead, as she found the two dishes too similar.

The rendang was delicious, though it wasn’t as spicy as advertised. The faux meat was softer than beef, with a texture more akin to bean curd. Rather than swimming in curry, it was coated in an almost dry sauce with rich, nutty and roasted flavours. Some of the potatoes, however, were slightly undercooked.

Boss Lady closed her eyes with the first bite of kwetiau goreng, looking downright ecstatic. She pointed out that the bean sprouts were still crunchy and not overcooked. The thick, luscious noodles had the most delectable chew and were fragrant with smoky wok hei. 

As Ludwig took a bite of the noodles, his face lit up. Gleefully, he announced that he was going to quote me, repeating a line I often use on my blog: “I would order this again!” I made a mental note to find some new material, though, in my defence, that’s genuinely how I judge whether a dish is good.

The yellow curry and noodles were my favourite dishes. The curry had a pleasant heat, and the mix of cauliflower, carrots and broccoli retained a clean, snappy bite. The faux chicken had a texture remarkably similar to the real thing, firm and springy, while the creamy curry was so good I could have drunk it. Boss Lady and I shared a bowl of jasmine rice to soak up the sauce.

The roti arrived piping hot. Ludwig tore into the bread with gusto. I enjoyed peeling apart its delicate, flaky layers before dipping each piece into the curry.

Boss Lady recalled the time she humoured Ludwig by going to a vegetarian restaurant in Richmond. Her assessment was blunt: the hostess looked mean, the restaurant was filthy, and she walked out. Padmanadi, she declared, was the exact opposite: modern, bright and spotless, with exceptional service. She’s right. Hufsa packed our leftovers, kept our teapot filled with hot water and, after noticing what messy eaters we were, brought us extra napkins. She even offered to take our picture at the end of the meal. Hufsa the kind of server other restaurants should be trying to poach.

Ludwig noted that food goes down so smoothly when it’s vegetarian. I agreed though Boss Lady did not, as she moaned that she had eaten too much. She was even too full for her favourite dessert, deep-fried bananas with ice cream.

Boss Lady now wants to bring my siblings here when they visit. Padmanadi also offers catering, something I’ll have to keep in mind for our next big family gathering. Hitting the Sauce gives Padmanadi two phat thumbs up.

Chinese · Vegetarian

Padmanadi: Vegan Takeout

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My father is back in town! To celebrate this joyous news, Chew Steel and I brought takeout to my parents’ house. I thought long and hard about where to order from and decided on Padmanadi, a vegan restaurant in Calgary’s Heritage / Kingsland area. Let’s listen to If You Leave by Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark for this post.

I’ve eaten from Padmanadi Restaurant and Eatery at work events. I still remember how shockingly delicious their faux chicken drumettes and satay skewers were in 2024. This was the first time Chew Steel and Boss Lady had ever eaten at a vegan restaurant.

I ordered noodles, the Kwetiau Goren ($19), Ginger Beef ($21), Curry Chicken ($22), Coconut Rice (four orders, $12), Mushroom Tofu ($18), Spicy and Savoury Eggplant ($18) and the Fried Enoki Mushrooms ($16). The prices were reasonable for the quantity and quality.

The employee on the phone recommended adding fried enoki mushrooms for texture. When probed, he responded that the mushrooms hold up really well in takeout containers. He’s correct. This dish did add a contrast to the softness of the curry and rice. Boss Lady stated she liked all the dishes, though she nibbled the most on the enoki mushrooms. 

Chew Steel’s favourite dish was the ginger beef, made from soy beef strips. Ludwig noticed a meaty chew to the ginger soy, with strands that mimicked the toughness of flank steak. I reassured him it was not meat.

The flat rice noodles were slick and smooth, thick and chewy. There was a generous amount of mock meat, and crunchy strands of carrots and bok choy. Ludwig thought the noodles were superb. We all appreciated the spicy heat. The noodles are a winner.

I was especially impressed with the heavy coconut curry. The faux chicken even had ridges that reminded me of chicken breast texture. The vegetables still retained their freshness and shape. The rich sauce was beautifully absorbed by the fluffy coconut rice. I would get this again.

For me, the standouts were the noodles and the curry chicken. I also liked how the vegetables in all the dishes still had a clean bite. It’s no small feat to time them so precisely, especially for takeout. Even the snow peas snapped lightly, with a touch of sweetness.

Chew Steel remarked that all the dishes tasted distinct from each other. Neither he nor Boss Lady missed eating meat. Ludwig was overjoyed that he could eat everything, as he’s normally restricted by his diet. He went back for three rounds.

We’re already looking forward to our next meal. I’m thinking of adding soy beef redang, roti, and the sweet-and-sour ‘shrimp’ to our order. Thanks, Padmanadi you were a parental success! Hitting the Sauce gives Padmanadi two phat thumbs up.

Bars/Lounges · Beer · Restaurants · Vegetarian · Wings

Edinburgh review: Salt Horse – where to drink craft beer

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We took a day trip to Edinburgh from Newcastle. It’s a 1.5-hour train ride away, and staying in Newcastle meant we saved around $500 on our hotel room. For this post, let’s listen to the Arctic Monkeys, Do I Wanna Know?.

My brother, Narc, strongly recommended visiting Edinburgh Castle (£24), and his wife suggested the Palace of Holyroodhouse (£25). However, he texted me “Hollywood”, so the entire time we were in Edinburgh, I told locals who asked me where I was going next that I was heading to Hollywood Castle, instead of “Haw-Lee-rood” Palace.

We arrived at the train station and walked up the Royal Mile. Holy, I’ve never seen such an impressive mile in my life. We walked down cobble streets aligned with towering medieval and Renaissance buildings. The piercing sound of bagpipes, mournful yet inspiring, almost stopped us in our tracks. The sight of the buildings, churches, and ancient castles was even more stunning to me than my visits to Dubrovnik or Greece. Chew Steel asked me if my father had ever visited Scotland. No, I responded, he hasn’t, likely because Scotland doesn’t have enough composers to compel him to fly over.

In no time, we made it to Edinburgh Castle, just as the rain began to fall. Not the warm summer rain I’m used to in Calgary, but a sharp, bone-cold drizzle that chilled my bare legs and arms like a bottle of wine. I miscalculated the weather. In Liverpool and Newcastle, a heatwave occurred, and I incorrectly assumed the weather would be warmer.

No worries, I wrongly thought again, as I would be warm once inside the castle.  Edinburgh Castle is perched on a rock, and most of the tour is outside, exploring the main gate, the open plaza, the main courtyard, and the artillery areas. The warmest spot was the prison, which was cozy with its puppet light show and rows of hammocks and blankets. I was shivering so badly I wanted to crawl into one of the beds.

I also realized too late why my brother liked this castle so much. It was all military-related: the Mons Meg, a medieval cannon; the One O’Clock Gun; and a section dedicated to a vast array of medals, swords, and other symbols of military valour. The castle was originally a royal residence, but it later evolved into a military fortress. Edinburgh itself has a very long military history.

When we left, the sun came out again and dried my clothes. For lunch, we headed to Salt Horse, which is located in the centre of the city, a few blocks away from all the action. We sat down, a table away from an Asian female and her Caucasian partner. This detail will make sense in the following paragraphs.

The bartender knows his craft, not just about the history of the brewery or the style of beer making, but also about current anecdotes related to certain bottles. I told him about a delicious raspberry I tried at the Broad Chare. He recommended I try Timmermans Black Pepper Lambicus (£6.80), a bubbly Belgian beer. Chew Steel ordered Kriek Boon (£6).

What a lovely beverage! Thick and fragrant, the black cherries tasted and smelled a little like fresh pink roses. The black pepper was subtle and complemented the dark fruit. I’m a fan. Chew Steel enjoyed his beer was well.

As we sipped our beers, our bartender dropped off a plate of wings at our table. I told him we hadn’t ordered this, and he looked genuinely puzzled. The woman sitting next to us chimed in, “That was ours.” He laughed and said, “Oh well, you can see why I got confused about who ordered what. Right?” He gestured to us and then to them. One interracial couple exchanged a glance with another, and a silent moment of recognition passed between us. I joked to our doppelgangers, “We all look alike.” She laughed and offered to share the wings, which was very Asian of her. I declined, even though I really wanted one, and introduced myself, because we’re probably related, somehow.

Her name was Lisa; she was originally from San Francisco and now lived in Paris. She and her husband were heading to Montreal and Quebec City. I gave them some travel tips — where to go and, just as importantly, where not to go. Lisa wished us goodbye, and her husband disclosed Lisa was after some haggis, as she’s a devout foodie. For once in my life, I bit my tongue, but my eyes registered with Lisa’s husband, and I nodded in understanding.

For food, Chew Steel and I both ordered the Bowhouse (£15), which features dry-aged beef and bone marrow, accompanied by homemade, twice-cooked fries. This is a tasty burger! I could taste the bone marrow in the patty, which complemented the dryish texture well. I would come here again.

After our meal, we made it down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, which was much more hospitable. The palace was full of interesting twists and turns, like the royal portraits and Mary, Queen of Scots’ private chambers, where her secretary was murdered by her husband. We finished the tour with a walk through the royal gardens.  

We checked out some other areas, famous streets, and the most impressive statue honouring writer Sir Walter Scott, housed under a towering Gothic structure. Exhausted, we headed back to Newcastle for the night. One more day in London and we were back home! To be continued.

Restaurants · Vegetarian

Where to eat in the Beltline / Victoria Park: Ten Foot Henry and Shelter

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Lululemon and I met up on Saturday for dinner. She said there was one stipulation: I wouldn’t fight her for the bill. I said sure, only if I got the next one. We debated which restaurant to visit and ended up at my recommendation, Ten Foot Henry. I like this spot for the wine list and the vegetarian options for Lululemon. Let’s listen to Mr. Sandman for this post.

I wanted to try the cauliflower gochujang ($23) and the gigli pasta ($25). Lululemon added the charred cabbage ($21) and the tomatoes with feta ($18). I told her this was too much food for the two of us. She ignored me and over-ordered. I informed her that she must have been Asian in her past life. Lululemon mentioned she had a Chinese childhood friend, and she did pick up on some traditions from her.

For drinks, she ordered a flute of Tomato Wheel Lambrusco ($15), and I ordered a glass of Chablis ($17). Lululemon enjoyed her sparkling red, and I told her that all the wine peeps, such as Vine Arts, Business and Pleasure, and Juice Imports, recommended Tomato Wheel. I read that the person behind the label is a Calgarian, and she buys the wine from Italy.

The tomato appetizer came first; this dish is a crowd-pleaser like all previous visits. I could smell the smoky char from the thick slices of warm bread. Blistering hot and sweet tomatoes mixed in with the feta made for total comfort food. All I needed was a small bowl of tomato soup, and I’d be in heaven.

I heard a lot about the gigli kale pesto pistachio pasta. The noodle itself was soft and wet. I liked the pop of flavour from the nuts and what I thought was lemon and cheese. The woman sitting next to me asked if she should order it. I nodded enthusiastically but later questioned my judgment when Lululemon noted that pasta had only one note and needed something sharp, like garlic or onions, to punch it up. After her comment, my bites of the pasta became less enjoyable.

We had another drink. Lululemon picked an orange wine while I tried a sparkling rosé wine from Maloof, a winery Juice Import brings in. This wine was just right; it tasted like strawberries.

The cabbage dish arrived, piled high and lusciously sauced. The leaves were soft and charred, tangy from the walnut vinaigrette and rich from the cheese. Lululemon loved the cabbage and confided it was the Ukrainian in her. I get her—rice is life for me.

We both thought the cauliflower was the best dish of the night. The gochujang sauce was thick and savoury, with a dry heat and notes of ginger and sesame. This dish was so good that I felt it could compete against any Korean restaurant in Calgary. I would order this again.

We weren’t done for the night. After dinner, we moseyed across the street to Shelter. We scored a seat at the bar, and Lululemon and I ordered some stellar cocktails. The bartender slayed, creating cocktails tailored to our whimsical requests. We oohed and awed as he poured a liquid into the glass while igniting it aflame. Thank you, Lululemon, for a fun night.


Want more like this? Check out my running list of Calgary’s best restaurants, date nights, and cheap eats.

Banh Mi · Vegetarian

Banh Mi Nhu Y Calgary Review: Veggie Banh Mi Worth Ordering

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L and I had just finished sharing a spicy Italian sub from the Italian Centre Shop when Lululemon texted me that she was picking up subs from Banh Mi Nhu Y and asked if I wanted one. Even though I was full, I enthusiastically replied with a resounding yes! Let’s listen to “My Sharona” by The Knack.

She and her husband Books love the Bean Curd ($8.50) sub. Books, who typically order the beef sandwich banh mi, said that the bean curd version was even better than the beef. I’m all about replacing meat if the substitution is superior, so I was game.

The bean curd, though surprisingly thin, made the sub appear smaller compared to the piled-high beef satay sub. However, its unique flavor more than made up for volume. Chewy and juicy, the crepe like bean curd tasted like a woodsy shiitake mushroom generously soaked in umami. The vegetables didn’t overpower the bean curd as I had feared. The shredded pickled carrots were sweet and tangy, while the hot peppers added a fierce kick that prompted me to remove a couple. The mild, crunchy quartered cucumber and plain white onions provided a refreshing balance. This vegetarian banh mi is worth every bite so that no ‘beef’ exists. If Nhu Y Sub added an extra layer of bean curd, this sub could convert any carnivore.

I can’t compare this sub to others since it’s vegetarian and I usually eat cold cuts or beef, but I would happily eat another bean curd sub. I have two more banh mi dates to reach my goal of 19. When I see Lululemon next, I’ll pick some up from Bee the Banhmi or somewhere equally delicious. Lululemon, I salute you!

Best bánh mì in Calgary → full list here: Best Banh Mi in Calgary.