How does one prepare for a trip to an exotic location? Whether or not you are a vegan, one option is to prepare by sampling that region’s cuisine in your local restaurant scene!

In my region of Boston, Massachusetts, I am fortunate to find an expansive selection of ethnic cuisine restaurants. While most vegans are aware of their possible choices for cuisines such as Thai, Mexican, and Indian, other “exotic” cuisines provide vegan choices also. In the past month, I dined at quite a few of my city’s ethnic restaurants. Some of these places represent destinations that are becoming more and more popular with travelers. While on holiday, please remember to ask your waiter if the soup contains animal stock, rice cooked in animal stock, or if the dishes contain any butter or fish sauce. The meals I ate during my local ethnic dining spree were indeed vegan-friendly.

My first visit was to a Nepalese restaurant in the Boston area. The menu offered a few vegan selections. I chose a vegetable curry with rice. My appetizer was Golden Gobi, cauliflower florets tossed with garlic and onions in a tomato sauce.

The next stop on my list was the popular Vietnamese restaurant. My meal selection was the Vegetable Pho soup with rice noodles. For a more spicy taste, you may add some chili paste available as condiment. My beverage was a glass of durian juice. While the dreaded durian fruit is not permitted on public transportation in Asia due to its strong smell, the juice itself is sweet and pleasant to drink. People have varying opinions on this. I sampled the mixed plate of fruit(longan, lychee, and jackfruit) and the tri-colored bean dessert.

Another exotic locale which is visited by adventurous tourists, is Tibet. I am lucky enough to have two Tibetan restaurants in town. A popular Tibetan appetizer is momos. They are dumplings(steamed or fried) filled with vegetables and dipped in either a chili sauce or soy sauce. I adore them! My main meal consisted of a Tibetan vegetable curry with rice.

My final Asian meal took place at an Indian restaurant. Although vegan are familiar with most Indian food, this restaurant was different. They offered Indian “street food” and snacks. I thought it would be a great idea to try these, as street vendors are popular in Indian cities. I ordered three Indian street foods. Vegans need to verify that the bread used is not made with dairy or butter. Pav may contain dairy, as I was told. I tried several varieties of “chaat”, puff balls filled with with lentils, potatoes, and spices, as well as potato patties.

After my visit to Asian restaurants had been completed, my next goal was to dine at restaurants offering African cuisine.

Northern African restaurants offer the foods of countries such as Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt. One of the Northern African/Middle Eastern restaurants , had a menu boasting of items which are not as familiar to foreigners. I just had to try those items! My dinner one evening was the Middle Eastern Mujaddara dish consisting of lentils, rice, and onions. My beverage was a refreshing hibiscus tea.

The next Middle Eastern/Northern African restaurant where I dined also offered items not commonly known to all. I decided to try the pumpkin kibby(cracked wheat) as my main course, alongside of a plate of foul mudammes(Egyptian fava beans and chickpeas in tomato, onion, spices, and oil). The order was completed with a basket of pita bread and the region’s harissa hot sauce.

Every vegan is familiar with Middle Eastern falafel, hummos, and tabouleh. I had a wonderful falafel plate with foul fava beans one evening at a local restaurant. It is a great vegan option for a quick yet filling lunch or dinner meal.

Eastern African food was next on my itinerary. I dined at one of several Ethiopian restaurants in town. The cuisine is very vegan-friendly. Diners can select a vegetable combo plate consisting of greens(spinach, cabbage or collard greens) and various beans (lentils or chickpeas) in a spicy, tomato sauce. Injera, spongy bread is provided to scoop up the portions of greens and beans.

I was delighted to hear of a fairly new West African restaurant in Boston, so I just had to check out the vegan options there! The restaurant offered cuisine from the country of Senegal. More travelers are visiting western African now. For my appetizer, I selected the fried spring rolls called nems, filled with vegetables and topped with a tasty dipping sauce. My main meal was Mafe, the vegetable stew cooked in an incredibly scrumptious, ground peanut sauce with a side of rice. To complete the meal, I quenched my thirst with a delicious sorrell juice beverage.

Please do yourself a favor and check out the ethnic restaurant scene where you live. Take a look at your local newspaper listings, local magazines, and the internet. You may be pleasantly surprised at the wide variety of global cuisines offered in your area. The restaurants may not be displayed in a search for vegan establishments. However, a quick glance at the menu may reveal that they do indeed offer a vegan selection or two! Then go ahead and dine at one of these restaurants. It will give you a sense of what you can expect to find during your international holiday, as well as a feel for what you will enjoy eating!

Happy travels!!