海兒@Pixnet

• Published: 8/10/2010 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: Realtime

This week's subject isn't written only for the occasion. Regardless that the Vegetarian Festival is kicking off today, Loving Hut, a 14-month-old meat-free restaurant, should become a favourite destination for keen vegetarians as well as unconverted meat eaters.

This laid-back restaurant is among over 100 Loving Hut outlets worldwide. PHOTOS: ANUSORN SAKSEREE

Loving Hut is an international chain vegetarian restaurant founded by a Taiwanese philanthropic entrepreneur. With support from the United Nations, one of the restaurant's missions is to help save the planet - meaning to combat global warming, water shortages, air pollution, animal extinction, land degradation and deforestation - simply through what we eat.

Studies show that to produce one kilogramme of beef requires 50,000 litres of water, while it only takes 2,500 litres to produce the same amount of rice. Methane emissions from livestock is also a substantial contributor to climate change, and clearing forests for animal-based industries has led to land degradation and the extinction of many species.

Therefore, with more than 100 outlets in 20 countries including Australia, France, Germany, Japan, Korea, Panama, the UK and the US , Loving Hut offers an accessible starting point for those interested in a transition to a plant-based diet.

Peking ‘duck’ rolls.

However, this is by no means a "tree-hugging" article. And to my palate-orientated readers: keep reading on.