My Vegan Night at Wild Ginger

Tonight was date night and I just had the most excellent vegan meal for two at Wild Ginger China Bistro, in Brooklyn, Ohio.

I have been at this restaurant many times for lunch, but never for dinner.  The ambiance and mood take a dramatic shift for the night: dimmed lighting, soft, soothing oriental music and nothing but couples also having, "date night."  Very relaxing and romantic - this place may become one of my favorite restaurants!

I was very excited, because I got to order for the two of us and anyone who knows me, knows that I love variety in a meal!  I did my usual homework, checking the online menu, in order to formulate a game plan and make sure that the restaurant had some vegan options.

The meal started with an appetizer order of Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps - diced tofu & vegetables quickly wok tossed and served with cool lettuce wraps (I like mine with that sweet & sour orange sauce, typically served with vegetable rolls).  I love the crispness of the iceberg lettuce and the yummy tofu filling.

Next, an order of the Veggie Maki Combo - a combination of the California Veggie (avocado, cucumber, asparagus) and the Veggie (carrots, cucumber, asparagus, red bell peppers) Maki Rolls.  A touch of soy sauce and a slice of marinated ginger make these vegan sushi rolls out of sight!


Main course time!

An order of the Vegetarian Pad Thai - fresh mixed vegetables sautéed with rice noodles, egg, bean sprouts, tofu, red & green peppers, and onions topped with roasted peanuts - hold the peanuts and egg.  So delicious!

Of course, no Chinese meal would be complete without a nice hot cup of tea, white ginger tea in my case.

That's it!  One appetizer, one order of sushi and one main entree turned out to be just the right amount of food for us to share.  We were filled to the point of satisfaction, but not stuffed to the point of immobility.  I'm actually glad that the side order of steamed broccoli never appeared - I think that would have pushed us over the edge.  I left the restaurant happy that I had just consumed a relatively healthy meal, full of veggies and avoided all the indulgences that would have made me hate myself in the morning.

And true to form, I am hungry a mere hour later...sigh.  Since Wild Ginger does not have a vegan dessert option, my evening has been topped off with a slice of homemade vegan pumpkin pie.  Not exactly Chinese cuisine, but it hit the spot!

And is it me or are the fortunes in the fortune cookies sounding less and less fortuney (in bed)?

Gan bei!
The Hoff