Whether it’s crispy, sizzling cilantro pancakes or a protein-packed tofu rice bowl, you’re sure to find something tasty on your next visit to Taichung! The IBS Bodhisattva Temple in Taichung, Taiwan boasts exposed concrete walls that blend harmoniously into the lush greenery. Here, visitors can enjoy the temple’s famous, reservation-only rice bowl meal and even take free vegetarian cooking classes! In this episode, Aggie experiences the kindness of Taichung’s local temple worshippers, who provide all the ingredients for the temple’s free rice bowl meals. The meal Aggie enjoys combines different cold and warm dishes, including protein-rich tofu skin with carrots, stir-fried bitter melon with pickled mustard greens, seasonal vegetables and cold-tossed celery strips. All of these dishes are served together in a traditional bowl called a “patra,” which can be used as both a cooking vessel and a ceremonial object. In Buddhist temple tradition, these singing bowls are played to create soothing sounds that calm the mind and bring inner peace. The temple’s cooking instructor Wang Pei-ren runs her own YouTube channel @MAMA-gl6sl, where her video on how to make scallion pancakes has earned millions of views! In this episode, Chef Pei-ren shares a vegetarian version of her recipe, made with cilantro instead of scallions. This makes the pancakes suitable for vegetarian diners who don’t eat onions or garlic for religious reasons. Watch the full episode to see what Aggie thinks of these crispy, tempting fried snacks.