Vegetarians and vegans are no longer pariahs at the fine-dining table, at least not at a modern European restaurant off Soi Sukhumvit 26 that’s embracing the upcoming vegan fest with a tasting menu starting tomorrow.
Downtown joint Mia announced that throughout October it will serve diners a wholesome, eight-serving “100% Vegan Tasting Menu” to celebrate the Tedsakan Gin Jay, Thailand’s vegan fest that falls in or around October.
According to Mia’s head chef Michelle Goh, the idea of month-long vegan offerings came from a friend’s complaint that she had a hard time finding vegan food in a fine-dining setting.
“So we decided to give it a go,” said Goh, a veteran of Freebird and Sühring, who along with husband Pongcharn “Top” Russell now heads Mia’s kitchen operations since it opened last year.
It’s yet another option for meat-avoiders next month, coming on the heels of 10 plant-based courses recently announced by Ekkamai fine diner Haoma.
“I’m not a vegan or vegetarian, but I feel like sometimes the food industry makes them out to be something bad, which I completely disagree with,” Goh said. “I think having vegan or vegetarian options really pushes you to think outside the box and be creative with what you have to work with.”
At Mia, the zero-meat culinary journey will start with four snacks – deep-fried chickpeas and hummus, pea tartlets, tomato concasses and shiso tempura – followed by a variety of modern European mains with Asian edges. Some of the highlights are cauliflower cooked three ways with bergamot, grapes and green curry veloute sauce; avocado cream with bell pepper sorbet and tomato consomme; and artichokes served with miso and a seaweed vinaigrette.
Deep purple-hued shiso sorbet, coconut custard and savory-sweet Petit Fours will finish things off.
The course is THB2,150 per person, plus a 10% service charge and VAT.
According to Goh, a veggie tasting menu will be served on request even after October. All diners gotta do is just ask.
“Actually, we cater to vegans all the time. So if anyone ever wanted to come in for a vegan menu, whether in October or not, just mention it to our team during the time when you make your reservation, and we can always organize it in advance,” Goh said.
Mia is located on Soi Attha Kawi 1 just off Soi Sukhumvit 26 and can be reached by motorbike or taxi from BTS Phrom Phong. It’s closed Mondays. More details are available online.
Related
New vegan festival takes root at On Nut green space next month
Broccoli Revolution recruits vegan reinforcements: chocolate, wine, ice cream
Pandemic be damned, new vegan diner offers mac ‘n’ cheese, laksa and more
