CHOIJIN TEMPLE RESTAURANT

After looking at yummy pictures of meals at Choijin Temple Restaurant on UB Foodies and asking around, I found it to be a great new fine dining venue for the city.

Oh my, it’s foodie heaven! Its Mediterranean cuisine was like Christmas and Tsagaan Sar rolled together. Missing out on a trip to Greece last December made me crave those flavors even more, so I felt like a little girl in a candy shop, or a wealthy retiree on a cruise ship.

Serving every dish on a wooden cutting board was a smart idea. It allowed us to share the meal and tantalize our taste buds. It is especially fun for explorers like me, who are eager to try a wide array of flavors. My hubby really liked the meat in the dishes we ordered, and suggested that the next birthday dinner in our family should be held there.

The wine selection is extensive and exciting at Choijin Temple Restaurant. However, my favorite for the season is Lindeman’s 2013 Sauvignon Blanc. It goes down well with all the feasts on offer. In my opinion, it has that sweetness most Mongolians like, and not the overriding bitterness most Mongolians hate.

The restaurant offers a nibble platter that is a meal in itself. I love cheese, I am besotted with smelly cheese. Michael Morrow, the executive director of Mongolian Artisan Cheesemakers Union LLC, would be proud of my palate. I am looking forward to a party where Mongolian cheeses are properly paired with foreign wines. Also, I am looking forward to Spring and Summer in UB, when I can sit outside, have a nibble and a sip of wine, read a book, and feel happy. Am I asking too much?

PS: The restaurant has a book exchange corner for hungry bookworms.

Location: Choijin Temple Restaurant, next to Choijin Lama

Museum Phone: 7703 4499, 8033 4499 Online: facebook.com/choijintemple Join the UB Foodies group on Facebook at https://www.

facebook.com/groups/ubfoodies/.