Are you feeling brave? Are you ready to have your preconceived ideas turned upside-down? Are you prepared to look at vegetarian food in a whole new way? Basically, what I'm trying to ask is, are you ready to experience the up-to-the-minute version of vegetarian cuisine – fine-dining style?

Amala Restaurant, at Prana Resorts & Spa in Bang Rak, is simply delightful.But before I talk about the amazing food that comes out of the kitchen, I'll tell you a little bit about the place itself.For a start, it has a super location, being on the quieter western end of Big Buddha Beach. Think pristine white sands with coconut palms swaying in the cooling sea breezes and you've got the picture. And these features are not only to be enjoyed as backdrops to a night's fine-dining.You're welcome to come along for some food during the day, have aswim in the sea or in the 15-metre infinity pool which runs along the small resort's beach frontage and use their day-beds for a spot of sun-bathing and relaxing.

There's a pleasing mix of design styles at Prana, with the natural rock and solid wooden features blending seamlessly with modern stressed-concrete walls. Go through the reception area and you'll see the expansive Amala Restaurant straight ahead. And you can choose to eat in the interior section with its sofa-style or more formal seating, which can accommodate 30 diners, or go outside to the whicker-style seating on the long outer terrace which borders the swimming pool and beach. And,weather permitting, you can even dine at especially set-up tables on the beach itself.

Right! Now we come to the truly amazing vegetarian cuisine (they'verelaxed atmosphere. actually got their very own hydroponic garden upstairs!). There's a wellthought-out menu at Amala, with various sections offering all manner of healthy, nutritious and, above all else, absolutely delicious dishes,including the incredible Ravioli di Ricotta e Spinaci – a homemade ravioli with spinach and ricotta cheese topped with pink cream sauce, and the Chickpea Massala – a South Asian spiced chickpea curry served with homemade raita and poppadoms. But I'd thoroughly recommend optingfor one of the set-meals (offered with or without wine pairing), especially if you're not familiar with meat-less meals!

"…and they've actually got their very own hydroponic garden upstairs!"

And just to give you an idea of the wealth of different dishes involved in the set meals, this is what's included in one of them: Amala Antipasto – soft rice paper rolls packed with fresh herbs vegetables and grilled tofusatay served with various sauces (paired with Little Yering Chardonnay 2009); Amala Salad – refreshing salad with mozzarella di bufala and an avocado and tomato salsa topped with extra virgin olive oil and pesto reduction (paired with Stonefish Sauvignon Blanc 2010); Zuppa di Pomodoro – classic Italian-style tomato cream soup served with homemade garlic bread (paired with Cipressetto Toscana Rosé IGT of Antinori 2009);Khao Ob Sap Parod – stir-fried rice with curry powder baked in pineapple with raisins and vegetables (paired with Sensi Collezione Pinot Noir 2010); and, finally, the Choco di Fondant – homemade chocolate lava cake served with vanilla reduction and pistachio sorbet (paired with a sparkling
Chamdeville Pinot Noir Rosé NV).You'd better sit down before I tell the price of the above. Are you ready? OK, it's just 950 baht per person (without the wine). And for such a tasty five-course meal in a lovely restaurant like this, it really is terrific value for money.

    When you eat a meat-less meal at Amala you won't actually be aware of anything missing at all. In fact, it will feel like you're getting a whole lot more! And it's for that reason that Amala's the only vegetarian restaurant recommended in Samui Dining Guide.The restaurant is open from 7:00 am with the kitchen closing at 9:45 pm.

For reservations and further information, telephone
0 7724 6362.