Agree that Gourmet Vegetarian is too ambitious but maybe the next foodie get together should be there. I think it will be an experience for ppl who haven’t tried Chinese vegan.

For the record, I have nothing against the concept of fake meat… however, I’ve heard some good arguments that there’s a big difference between stuff that people have been eating and making in traditional ways and eating safely for years (tofu, tempeh, seitan / wheat gluten) and food made from processed soy, which as I understand it is often made from the byproducts of (chemical) extraction of soybean oil. Also, the ingredients aren’t always complete (especially the English language ingredients).

Anyway, I have been here a couple times, and I think it’s Ok, but I don’t think the food is better than the other veggie places in the LA area (though the atmosphere of the place is definitely nicer / fancier, and the staff is quite friendly). Also, the menu is really heavy on the fake meat, which I don’t like, not only because I eat vegan-ish and a lot of that stuff contains some amount of egg or dairy, but also because I try not to eat too much processed food, not to mention the recent allegations of a lot of fake meat containing real meat:
http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2009/06/15/212209/Half-of.htm). There are a few vegetable / tofu / seitan dishes on the menu, but not many.

Also, I think the menu at that place is a little too big… trying to do sushi, etc. in addition to Chinese food seems a bit overly ambitious. And their default soup usually has egg in it, which is problematic for me. I do like the kabocha porridge, though. I miss the place that used to be in that plaza maybe 8 years back (Veggie Delight, on the second floor, couple doors down from the plastic surgery place), as well as Ten In – somehow the places I like end up being the ones that close.

Have you been to Bean Sprouts in Arcadia? It’s a Taiwanese place that’s a little more contemporary in style than a lot of the other places around (though also pretty heavy on the fake meat). Some of the food is good IMO, and some is just so-so, but it’s relatively easy to get to from my work, so it’s one of those places I tend to go to multiple times a week. Some of the dishes (mapo tofu, curries) are awful, some are a little boring, but decent (dan dan mian, minced pork with pickled greens), and some are pretty good (house special noodle soup, veggie beef soup). I have always complained that for a place that advertises itself as a noodle place should have better noodles, but the good news is that the noodles they’re using now are at least a little better than the ones they were using before.

BTW, if you specify 全素 at most non-veg SGV Chinese restaurants, I think they will understand what you mean (no onions / garlic / cilantro / 韭菜 etc), though of course mistakes do happen sometimes. I know, because I frequently *want* to get those things in my food, and restaurants are typically very confused.

Stay in touch… maybe we can get vegetarian food on one of your veg nights!

I guess I’m still a kid at heart! Love the noodles…

Im glad you found the camera too