I was very excited to try these dishes in Germany because I'd never tried them outside of the U.S. before. I didn't know if it would taste different because the foods were made to be vegan. Most times, the appetizers and main courses are already vegan but, depending on the cook, the flavors and textures could be very different. As for dessert, it's usually difficult to make a vegan dessert close to the real thing. I was mostly curious about what the apple pie would taste like, since you can't use butter or eggs in vegan pie.
Once I tasted the dishes, I could tell that they were prepared with the same flavors that I was used to. I noticed that the dough was crispier than what I've had before, and I feel that is because of the oil it was fried in. Brown rice and vegetables were healthy alternatives included as the sides, and the apples, granola and sunflower seeds in the apple pie also made the meal healthier. Since the pie did not include eggs or milk, you could feel the difference in the softness of the crust.
Since Zodiac offers so many types of international foods in one restaurant, it is a great sign that the people of Essen are interested in global cuisine. The restaurant is owned by people of Asian descent who live in Germany, and has been very successful. All of the food being either vegetarian or vegan is reflective of the changing local environment too, since vegetarian and vegan diets in Germany are on the rise, especially with younger people. In fact, some websites argue that Berlin is the vegan capital of the world right now!
