Temple’s Fine Cuisine

If you are in that neck of the woods and fancy a healthy, wholesome vegetarian meal, drop by Annalakshmi restaurant at the Temple of Fine Arts in Penang. 

TUCKED away in a corner of Penang is a tiny oasis that is little known to the public. This cultural centre-cumrestaurant offers the public a place to eat tasty, wholesome vegetarian Indian food in a relaxing setting. 

The Temple of Fine Arts (TFA) was founded in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, in the early 1980s by Indian Hindu monk Swami Shantanand Saraswathi who believed that mankind could be served through the arts, particularly through music and dance. It would also allow the children to discover their cultural heritage. Like their other centres in Perth, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Johor Baru, the Penang branch in Bebington Avenue, within walking distance of the General Hospital, is dedicated to the promotion of art and culture to the local community.

Here, the government-recognised non-profit organisation runs music and dance classes for students of all ages. Every year, they share their experiences with the local community by staging some fairly major dance and music productions. Twice a week, the centre also offers free medical aid to the less privileged through their Klinik Derma ShivaSanta in River Road. These artistic and charitable activities are sustained by contributions from their vegetarian restaurant Annalakshmi, where everyone is welcome to eat and “give according to their capacity and take according to their needs”.

Discreetly positioned at the back of the centre, the restaurant is calm and quiet. Some beautiful pieces of rustic Indian artefacts give the place an ethnic feel, and the soft, relaxing ambience is further enhanced by the occasional twang of sitar music, playing softly in the background. The food is prepared by volunteers who give of their time willingly, and this is apparent in the simple but tasty food. Beancurd (taufu) and mock meats feature much in their dishes.  

“As we also have Buddhist monks who eat here, no onions or garlic are used in the preparation of the dishes unless specifically requested,” explained Shanti Soma, one of the temple’s full-time volunteers. Guests can help themselves to starters, nine to 10 main courses of mild or spicy curries made from vegetables or dhalls, together with breads and rice. On Tuesdays, they have paal appam, a pancake of sorts, and on Fridays, there is also their popular mee rebus, made with sweet potatoes. In the evenings, diners can choose from an a la carte dinner menu of some 10 to 12 standard items and three to four specialities like nut cutlets.  

There is usually a local sweet or fruit for dessert, and water or cordial to accompany the meal. And if you’re a non-meat eater who longs for vegetarian versions of Penang specialities, then Saturday nights will appeal to you. Saturday evenings are when they have a “Penang Buffet” with local favourites like Mee Goreng, Fried Kuey Teow, Pasembor, and more. It’s a casual but warm place, somewhere to go when you are next in the area and fancy a healthy, wholesome vegetarian meal.  Some guests visit the place regularly – at least once a week. As Shanti put it, “Money is not our goal. Our motto is simple: Serve, Love, Give.”  

The centre is open every day except Mondays, and the restaurant serves food from 11.30am to 2.30pm for lunch, and 6pm-9.30pm for dinner. For details of the restaurant, shows or classes, call 04-228 8575.

Drawn to the greens: The lunch crowd at Annalakshmi.		Vegetarian delights: Beans, dhalls and ladies’ fingers.
Relaxing: Located at the back of the centre, the restaurant exudes a calm ambience.

 Restaurant Annalakshmi
1, Babington Avenue, 10450 Penang.
Tel: 04-228 8575     Fax: 04-228 8503
Email: tfapen@hotmail.com