Vegan Vietnamese Eats Peaceful Food & Restful Minds

Do you think of Cultured & Aged Cashew- based Artisanal Cheeses with creative flavors such as chili turmeric, passion fruit, lemongrass, black garlic, and miso, to name a few various varieties, when you think of Vietnamese Food? Well, you should consider it as the new generation of Vegan Fusion dishes exploding in their local communities and worldwide.

I attended an event in Da Nang, Vietnam that showcased several local purveyors with their products. I was blown away by the creative quality of the products and packaging I viewed. I had not experienced many dried teas, fruits, and artisan products I viewed that night. I was eagerly educated by many of the creative minds behind the new items I discovered. Some of which have healing and health properties associated with them.

Pho Mai Thuan Chay Tashi and homemade Vegan Crackers are made with care by the Chickpea Eatery to pair their various cheese and spread selections. The family has also developed a sure-proof way of sealing and packing their Chay Tashi (cheese), enabling products purchased to travel well and stay fresh. The Chickpea Sisters are part of the new generations of culinary pioneers emerging from Vietnam, elevating and expanding their tastes worldwide.

Chickpea Sisters are part of the new generations of culinary pioneers emerging from Vietnam, elevating and expanding their tastes worldwide.
In 2022 $1.88 billion was made from meat substitutes marketed in the United States. The vegan food market in 2021 was worth $16 billion and is expected to grow to more than $18 billion shortly. Many experts see this way of life continues to expand. People choose healthier lifestyles, environments, or a sense of well-being. More innovative vegan products are coming into the marketplace with all accessible price points giving consumers more options. The benefits of decreasing blood sugar levels, improved energy levels, and weight maintenance and loss are some excellent reasons to attempt meatless Mondays.

I had the pleasure of meeting the Chickpea Sisters of the Chickpea Eatery, a “Vegan Food Nirvana” as they describe themselves. I would tend to agree with them. For a frame of reference, “Chay” is a general term for no-meat vegetarians and vegans in Vietnam. Seeing the word “Chay” is how you will often see it listed on the menus and outside restaurants. It is a good idea to check with each purveyor if you are vegan. Many “Chay” establishments use eggs and dairy in their dishes. 

While visiting the Da Nang location, I meet the head of the Chickpea Family, the lady’s parents. Chickpea Mom, Thu, and Chickpea Dad Thanh are charming and welcomed me into their intimate restaurant, where each dish is prepared to order by this lovely couple right before you. The Food was fresh, healthy, and so delightful. You will likely forget that it is vegan or gluten-free. Their philosophy, “Peaceful Food, Restful Mind,” is showcased in the relaxing surroundings the minute you enter their peaceful space.  

The vibrant energy this couple devotes to assembling each dish is a treat not only for the palate it warms the soul. Each location prepares a slightly different menu. Mom Chickpea often creates dishes off the menu, so it is worth asking her about the day’s special if you visit the Da Nang location.

Did you know that the Chickpea Sisters are part of a popular movement, especially among the Millennial Generations and Generations Z, which accounts for 40% of vegans in Vietnam. As of 2022, approximately 10% of 99,584,000 individual Vietnamese are vegan. 

That is compared to other countries:

• Israeli, with 5% calling themselves vegan and up to 13% classifying themselves as vegetarians 
• India, this country has more vegetarians than any other country. Vegans make up around 10%
• Taiwan, 14% of the population calls themselves vegetarian.
• Rounding out the top ten countries are: the United States, Singapore, the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Canada, and Thailand. 
• In contrast, only 1.1% worldwide population is vegan, hovering around 88 million in 2023

Da Nang, Vietnam, is where their Cultured & Aged Cashew- based Artisnal Cheeses are produced. Pho Mai Thuan Chay Tashi is a creation that one of the sisters came up with to promote their vision to inspire more people to go vegan in Vietnam and the world.

Making their cheeses with regional flavors and surrounding areas invite non-vegans alike to appreciate the taste and texture of these hand-crafted cheeses in many different applications. After sampling one variation of their vegan cheese (pho mai thuan chay), I took a short drive to the Hoi An location. Upon arriving, this is where all five Chickpea Sisters work together, cooking, managing, and welcoming their guests to delectable vegan Food and desserts. Hoi, An Chickpea Eatery, sits within a beautiful outside garden with additional inside seating. The setting is set off the road, so it is very peaceful. The wind chimes softly ring while dining adds to the pleasurable, relaxing atmosphere enhancing the natural foods served. 

I marveled at how the Chickpea’s all worked in a tight kitchen without any hiccups. Chickpea Sister Hoa, Tra, Linh, Lai, and Dung, the youngest Chickpea, all were smiling, and their first focus was to ensure that the Food being prepared was freshest and best quality. 

On one of my first visits, I came later in the day, and they had sold out of the most popular dessert Vegan Cinnamon Rolls and Banana Bread. The sisters prepare these desserts daily, along with freshly baked bread and homemade kimchi. 

When I visited the second time, I was fortunate enough to come earlier in the day and order Vegan Cinnamon Roll and Brownie. Both were delicious and worth the second trip back to the Chickpea Eatery.  

The Cheese platter was genuinely outstanding, and a must-order! It provides so many selections to sample, along with what I was told was Vietnam “strawberries,” which were extremely small and very deep, like a blackberry. The flavor was sweet and had a texture with a slight bite to it. The tiny berries had to be macerated to bring forward more of their delicate sweetness. 

Pairing it with the vegan cheeses brought a great contrast between sweet and slightly salty tangy flavor on top of one of the Chickpeas Eatery homemade crackers with sesame seeds was the perfect bite.

Ever curious, I looked further into this lovely fruit called a “strawberry” it turns out to be a variety of Mulberry usually grown in North Vietnam near Hanoi. 

I appreciate that the ladies use locally grown products whenever possible. One mission of the Chickpea Sisters is to preserve the ecosystem for future generations. 

Whether you live in Vietnam, Singapore, or The United States, new innovators like the Chickpea Family are motivated through their Food to positively impact the environment, promoting healthy lifestyles and preventing animals suffering. 

They are introducing tasty new products for everyone, not just vegetarians or vegans, that are delectable. 

Although a plant-based diet doesn’t work for everyone, nutritional evidence points to the benefits of incorporating more plant proteins and reducing saturated fats in one’s daily diet. 

Becoming a conscious eater is a pivotal aspect of a healthy diet regardless of whether you are meat-eating, vegetarian, or vegan.

Chickpea Family, thank you for the warm smiles and Organic Vegan Vietnamese Fusion delights. 

When visiting Vietnam, don’t miss out on the chance to experience a meal, dessert, or fresh smoothie at the Da Nang or Hoi An Chickpea Eatery, Vietnam. 

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” 

-Lao Tzu 

Supporting the innovative food landscape,

Shelly

The Food Scholar