Vegetarian in Taiwan has more than one meaning
In Taiwan, 素食 can mean several things, so ask your guests which one they follow. 全素 or 純素 is fully plant-based (vegan). 蛋素 allows eggs, 奶素 allows dairy, and 蛋奶素 allows both. Many vegetarians in Taiwan also avoid the five pungent plants (五辛: onion, garlic, scallion, chives and leek), while 五辛素 or 植物五辛素 allows them.
When you send us counts, give the type as well, for example "6 蛋奶素, 2 全素 without 五辛". That one line prevents most problems on the day.
How we handle dietary needs
- You tell us the counts and the specific needs: the type of vegetarian diet, foods avoided for religious or personal reasons, and the exact ingredients for any allergy.
- The team checks each dish with the supplying kitchen and tells you what can be prepared and what cannot.
- Ask for vegetarian boxes to be marked and buffet dishes to be labelled; the proposal states how it is done.
- Anything the kitchen cannot confirm is said plainly in the proposal. We do not guess.
Allergies need a direct conversation
A menu label is not an allergy guarantee. Restaurant kitchens handle many ingredients, and shared equipment means cross-contact can happen. For a serious allergy, name the exact ingredient, tell us how severe it is, and our team will tell you what the kitchen can and cannot control. Some guests with severe allergies prefer to bring their own meal, and that is a reasonable choice.
Halal and kosher food need certified kitchens. If you need certified food, say so in your request and the team will tell you honestly whether it can be arranged for your date, rather than offering a dish that only avoids pork.
Planning a mixed menu
For a mixed team, plan vegetarian dishes that everyone will want, not a single tray in the corner: vegetable dumplings and buns, tofu dishes, noodle dishes, salads and desserts. Put vegetarian dishes first on the buffet line or in their own clearly marked area, and order vegetarian portions for the vegetarians, with a little extra, so they are not finished by others first.