Tank Noodle--help?

After reading all about this place on LTH, I tried to get to Tank on a June Chicago visit and found it closed on Wednesdays. Not to be deterred, I bided my time, and finally made it there last Thursday. Arrived around 4pm-- the place was about 1/2 full which might account for the not-too-bad service I had. The most memorable moment was the woman seated at the next table who talked LOUDLY--into her phone, to her companion and to the server who was trying to accomodate her increasingly LOUD REQUEST FOR A BIG SPOON, OH GO GET SOMEONE WHO SPEAKS ENGL... (She was only slightly sheepish when she finally saw the spoons on the table next to the napkins.)

From another (not CH) newsgroup rec, I ordered the vegetable soup w/ rice stick noodles, since I don't eat meat or fish. Now it was good, especially when loaded with the basil, sprouts, a twist of lime and big dose of sriracha. But it was probably not the experience you guys rave about. Looking thru the menu, I think I could get this same combo of veggies with different noodles or rice, but not much else, other than spring rolls. I wonder if Vietnamese food in general is more meat-based and therefore will always be "less friendly" to a veggie, than, say for instance, Thai food, which has a wide variety of curries and unique noodle/rice combinations which can easliy be made veggie? Or am I missing some dishes which could be converted to meatless which would be fun to try?

I believe most regular dishes (except those who have stuffing) can be turned into veggie dishes by either asking the cook to hold the meat/fish/shrimp or to substitute with tofu etc.

I've had rice noodle and vegetable dishes at Tank and found them quite good, although not quite the level of enjoyment I get out of a meatier pho.

veghead wrote:I wonder if Vietnamese food in general is more meat-based and therefore will always be "less friendly" to a veggie, than, say for instance, Thai food, which has a wide variety of curries and unique noodle/rice combinations which can easliy be made veggie? Or am I missing some dishes which could be converted to meatless which would be fun to try?

There is some discussion in this thread about a tofu bahn mi which sounds quite good.

Personally, I never consider Thai or Vietnamese food particularly veggie friendly due to the pervasiveness of fish sauce. A vegetarian co-worker of mine used to have many Thai lunches that contained fish sauce without realizing it. When I mentioned it to him after I discovered he was a vegetarian, he didn't believe me and inquired with the restaurant. He found that indeed many of his favorite dishes were made with fish sauce. In certain situations, he was able to have the kitchen omit the fish sauce.

Some vegetarians do not mind the presence of a mere tablespoon of fish sauce, but many do.

Best,
Michael / EC

eatchicago wrote:Personally, I never consider Thai or Vietnamese food particularly veggie friendly due to the pervasiveness of fish sauce. A vegetarian co-worker of mine used to have many Thai lunches that contained fish sauce without realizing it. When I mentioned it to him after I discovered he was a vegetarian, he didn't believe me and inquired with the restaurant. He found that indeed many of his favorite dishes were made with fish sauce. In certain situations, he was able to have the kitchen omit the fish sauce.

Some vegetarians do not mind the presence of a mere tablespoon of fish sauce, but many do.

Best,
Michael / EC

Veggie = Vegan or Vegetarian or both?

Nghe wrote:

eatchicago wrote:Personally, I never consider Thai or Vietnamese food particularly veggie friendly due to the pervasiveness of fish sauce. A vegetarian co-worker of mine used to have many Thai lunches that contained fish sauce without realizing it. When I mentioned it to him after I discovered he was a vegetarian, he didn't believe me and inquired with the restaurant. He found that indeed many of his favorite dishes were made with fish sauce. In certain situations, he was able to have the kitchen omit the fish sauce.

Some vegetarians do not mind the presence of a mere tablespoon of fish sauce, but many do.

Best,
Michael / EC

Veggie = Vegan or Vegetarian or both?

I guess when I say "veggie-friendly", I mean both. Some vegetarians I know eat dishes with fish sauce happily, many don't. Personally, I don't consider fish sauce to be a vegetarian item.

I can't imagine any vegan eating fish sauce.

Best,
Michael

While we are on the subject of sauce, can anyone tell me that oyster sauce is truly made from oyster-extract?

Nghe wrote:While we are on the subject of sauce, can anyone tell me that oyster sauce is truly made from oyster-extract?

It is absolutely made from oyster extract.

Best,
Michael / EC

eatchicago wrote:

Nghe wrote:While we are on the subject of sauce, can anyone tell me that oyster sauce is truly made from oyster-extract?

It is absolutely made from oyster extract.

Best,
Michael / EC

From http://www.passionatevegetarian.com/veg ... _sauce.htm:
Oyster Sauce is used as an ingredient in many now-classic Chinese recipes, especially Cantonese, but was invented relatively recently, in the late 19th century, by chef-entrepreneur Lee Kam Sheung. He later founded the food-manufacturing company Lee Kum Kee, which is still around and thriving...Do a bit of label-reading at your local Asian food store and you'll see that most vegetarian oyster sauces rely on shiitake mushrooms in lieu of oyster.

Yuen Chun Vegetarian Oyster Sauce - 420ml
Product of Malaysia Vegan Suitable
Ingredients: Sugar, Salt, Corn Starch, Water, Caramel, Mushroom extract.

veghead wrote:

eatchicago wrote:

Nghe wrote:While we are on the subject of sauce, can anyone tell me that oyster sauce is truly made from oyster-extract?

It is absolutely made from oyster extract.

Best,
Michael / EC

Yuen Chun Vegetarian Oyster Sauce - 420ml
Product of Malaysia Vegan Suitable
Ingredients: Sugar, Salt, Corn Starch, Water, Caramel, Mushroom extract.

Thanks veghead. Like many things, there absolutely is a vegetarian substitute for oyster sauce. Nevertheless, I would not ever assume that a restaurant is using a vegetarian substitute in a dish that contains oyster sauce. Standard oyster sauces are indeed made from oyster extract.

Best,
Michael