Zen Oasis - vegetarian buffet

I had a major craving for vegetarian food and reminisced the last time i visited Zen Oasis (especially their milk green teas). So it was decided we would venture to Berrima to endulge in some Zen on a saturday morning, and booked a table in advance on their website.

It was a nice drive south, about 1.5hrs from sydney. We turned off at Berrima and found Zen Oasis' sign at the start of a very long driveway. Lined with beautiful pinetrees on either side of the driveway we finally sighted the tiny wooden cottage which is the restaurant. I loved the serenity of the place - a massive manmade pond with a beautifully well groomed japanese style garden outside.





We knew it was going to be quite packed as it is only opened on saturday and sunday for 11.30-1.30 session only (unless you have a private function in the afternoon). For $31 per adult, it is an all you can eat buffet but a $10 surchage applies if there is excess food on your plate. But why would you not finish it all when it is so finger licking good =)



Without a doubt there is a lot of culinary skills and thought behind the creation of each dish. I love how it isn't the traditional chinese vegetarian food you would expect with flavoured gluten and steamed tofu, but food that appeals to your senses and surprises you with their flavour. The dishes are replicas of actual meat dishes minus the meat, but with the same appearance and textural satisfaction.

There is a wide selection from fried sweet seaweed strips and vege curry puffs to dim sums, tempura 'prawns' (which taste like real prawn with the same bouncy firm texture), cream and mushroom 'chicken' and sweet n sour 'pork' with lychee. Not to mention the myriad of drinks and desserts on offer!!





My favourite is indisputably the sweet seaweed strips!! Deep fried with a sprinkling of sesame seeds, it was a crunchy sensation that is so addictive i literally couldn't stop.

I also liked the sweet and sour pork with lychee. The 'pork' is skewered with a stick of sugar cane and is absolutely delish when accompanied with the juicy lychees.













At the dessert stand, little pieces of goodies are lined up waiting to be tasted. Fruit, puddings, cakes, mochi, chocolate cake, cookies and plum jellies, the choices are limitless.



My favourite was the plum jelly. There was more gelatine than the normal wobbly jellies which made it texturely tougher but the flavours were so authentic. It was a solidified version of the chinese sour plum juice with a dried prune suspended in the middle. Irresistably good.



Zen Oasis
2 Medway Rd
Berrima
Tel - 02 4877 1285
www.zen-oasis.com