By Joe Yonan Food and Dining Editor December 22

One of the most common questions I get is, What food do you miss most?

As a relatively new vegetarian, and one who believes strongly that vegetables should be celebrated, not apologized for, I usually resist answering. Or I demur by saying something like, I cant really think of anything.

The truth is, there is something. I often miss sushi. I know I can get plenty of vegetarian sushi, but its almost exclusively in the form of maki rolls, with little julienne carrots or avocado or cucumber, or sometimes woo-hoo! all three. Yawn.

What I miss is nigiri, the style of sushi that focuses on the ethereal, elegant, delectable combination of a single, perfect piece of fish and vinegared rice beneath it, perhaps with a punch of wasabi (or what passes for it) and a little dab of soy sauce, along with some other minimal garnish, if any. Its not that I want the tuna or the yellowtail or the mackerel per se, but very few Japanese restaurants in the District, Kaz Sushi Bistro is a rare exception seem to apply those same principles to, say, a mushroom.

Id never really thought to take matters into my own hands, literally, until the book A Visual Guide to Sushi-Making at Home crossed my desk. The nigiri chapter includes such stunners as marinated roasted red bell pepper, looking for all the world like ruby red tuna, topped with a bright green slice of jalapeo. It made my mouth water, and not just for trompe loeil effects, either. My other favorite was a grilled royal trumpet mushroom slice, scored with a diamond pattern and draped just so over a perfectly formed, oblong mound of rice.

The books authors, Hiro Sone and Lissa Doumani, walk readers through all the crucial steps in expert sushi making, including how to properly cook rice, mix it with vinegar (fanning all the while) and in a two-page spread gently form it into those signature bricks.

Ive streamlined those instructions in the accompanying recipe, but the upshot for me is this: When I make it myself, theres nothing left to miss. At some point perhaps for a New Years Eve party I might even share.

Here is the original post:
Weeknight Vegetarian: Giving vegetables the nigiri treatment

I try not to over-associate being vegetarian with being somehow fancy or trendy organic-diet this or macrobiotic that. While I prefer to think of it as a rather everyday lifestyle, the oshare (hip) association in Japan runs strong.

Still, Im not going to deny that I thoroughly enjoyed my fancy, organic quiche at Le Pain Quotidien last week.

A late morning appointment had brought me to Omotesando and so, taking in the crisp winter air and feeling spontaneous, I decided to see what this cafe could offer a stray vegetarian for lunch.

Le Pain Quotidien is a bakery and cafe from Brussels that has locations worldwide. Using simple, old-fashioned ingredients, this boulangerie boasts a beautiful array of freshly baked bread and homely meals such as shepherds pie, risotto and macaroni and cheese.

Inside the Omotesando cafe (3-5-15 Kita-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo; 03-6721-1173; http://www.lepainquotidien.jp) one of six locations across Tokyo I was greeted with a rustic, casual feel, topped off with a Dont panic, its organic! sign and tasteful Christmas decor. Though oshare to be sure, the wooden tables were open and inviting enough for casual, solo diners.

Tempted by the quiche on the lunch special, I had assumed Id have to ask for it with no meat or settle for a plainer dish. To my delight, the quiche of the day was vegetarian, as was the soup.

A quick glance at the menu revealed all sorts of other vegetarian options: quinoa salad, a hummus platter, a cheese plate even the shepherds pie was vegetarian! Faced with such hard choices, I knew Id found a truly veg-friendly place. Vegan items are even marked with little leafy signs.

Though not surprisingly a little pricey (full salads start at 1,190), the lunch set was fairly reasonable at 1,290 and included quiche, a bowl of soup, a small salad, bread and a generous pot of tea.

The most delectable part here was not the delicate, mouthwatering quiche or even the warm, dill-accented minestrone; it was the bread or rather the assortment of 10 different toppings provided on the main table that brought me the most satisfaction.

I got myself a little dish of morello cherry and hazelnut spreads, speculoos and fig jam, and saved a bit of bread just so I could go back for some rich, buttery praline spread. And, because its the holidays after all, I indulged in some Belgian dark chocolate spread to finish the whole thing off. I made sure no one was watching me as I cleaned the last bit off my plate with my fingers and made a note to remember this place.

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120.14 /$ (4 p.m.)

Ishant Sharma in action during Brisbane Test.

In light of a recent report about Ishant Sharma and Suresh Raina having to leave the Brisbane Cricket Ground to find some vegetarian food, an Indian restaurant in Brisbane called Miss India says it was ready to serve the Indian team vegetarian food, but they couldn't because the person designated to collect the food from the ground for the team arrived at the wrong time. (MS Dhoni leapfrogs Pataudi in record of zeroes as India captain)

"Brisbane's most famous Indian restaurant chain, Miss India is no more than 30 metres from the stadium's gate and offers a multitude of delicious vegetarian options complimented with hand-made chapatis and naan bread straight from the tandoor.

We were well prepared for the high demand here and would have had no problem in solving the Indian cricket team's lunchtime woes," said Ravi, the executive manager of Miss India Franchising & Management, which is owned by an Indian, Raymond Prasad.(Also read: Shane Watson 'shaken' by bouncer blow to head)

"With 30 restaurants across Australia, Miss India has been tried and tested over the years by India cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar besides a host of other cricketers and celebrities. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too has tasted the fare during the recent G20 summit here," added Ravi. (Sledging backfiring on MS Dhoni's Team India: Gavaskar)

Interestingly, the hotel staff did receive an order from the Indian team management for 50 chapatis, but the food could not be delivered. Ravi explained why.

"Our staff received an order for 50 chapatis that were to be picked up at 11:30am. Instead, the catering management's staff arrived unannounced at our store at 10:45am (45 minutes early) and expected the order to be ready almost an hour before the requested pick-up time.

The order was obviously not ready as our staff was hand-making them fresh for the Indian team. Whoever is responsible for the management of Team India's catering needs to be more organised and it is they who came up short, not us," said Ravi.

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Ind vs Aus: Miss India Was Ready to Provide Veg Food to MSD & Co.

Melbourne, Dec 23: India's Ishant Sharma and Suresh Raina were upset with Cricket Australia (CA) during the 2nd Test in Brisbane as they had no vegetarian food to eat at the ground. If it repeats in Melbourne, they will have some options.

India-Australia series schedule

Both Ishant and Raina had to step out of the Gabba ground to find vegetarian food with CA not making arrangements for the same.India lost the 2nd Test by 4 wickets and are trailing 0-2 against Australia in the four-match rubber.

Ishant Sharma was upset in Brisbane

Now the teams have moved to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, which starts December 26.

If both Ishant and Raina do not get vegetarian food again, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), they have few good restaurants in the city to keep their hunger away.

During the Gabba Test, on the third day, both Ishant and Raina went out of the ground to get vegetarian food. They were accompanied by ICC's Anti Corrutpion and Security Unit (ACSU) officials and team director Ravi Shastri.

"Miss India" restaurant was ready to give vegetarian food for the duo but the person designated to pick it up arrived at a wrong time, according to a report in "Mid-Day".

Indian team had ordered 50 chapatis at the restaurant, which is about 30 metres away from the ground, the report said.

Here are some of the restaurants that they can choose from, in Melbourne

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Ishant and Raina can try these restaurants in Melbourne