BEST VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
Voted Best Vegetarian Restaurant by the 2022 Chinese Restaurant Awards, 4 Stones offers Taiwanese cuisine rooted in the Buddhist tradition. In Taiwan, Buddhism and Taoism are the two major religions.
BEFORE THE BEYOND BURGER
Buddhist faux meats have existed for centuries, making the Beyond Burger look like a baby. These plant-based meats were originally intended for people making the transition to vegetarianism. It also gives people something to offer (in place of chicken or fish) when going to the temple for special holidays. The 4 Stones’ vegan meat alternative, used in their dumplings, is made from soy protein, gluten, tofu and bean curd.
NO ALLIUMS ALLOWED
Buddhist cuisine shuns the “five pungent vegetables” (wuhun), which includes onion, garlic, scallions, shallots, leeks and chives. They are considered harmful aphrodisiacs that could inflame the carnal passions of Buddhist monks.