There’s a new place in town serving a variety of make-your-own bowls – delicious combinations of proteins and vegetables. And good news! They have vegan options.
Restaurant: Bolay in Winter Park, Orlando, Florida
Dish: Small Bol
Reading: The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
If you’re looking for a quick and healthy – and plant-based – meal, Bolay is a place you might want to try.
You walk in and order your “bol” – large, small, or kid’s size – your way. You choose a base – rice or quinoa or greens or veggie noodles. You add protein and vegetables from the selections. You top with an add-on like avocado or minted tomatoes and a sauce, and you’re good to go.
It’s made in front of you, and after paying, you take your bol and find a seat. So, like Chipotle or Subway. Fast food that’s good. Or good food that’s fast.
And if you can’t decide or don’t want to go the make-your-own route, you can pick one of the “chef crafted bols.”
With so many options, it will take a while to try everything. Or if you find a combination you like, just order that every time.
On my recent visit, I ordered a small bol with Jasmine rice, Brussels sprouts, balsamic mushrooms, miso glazed tofu, minted tomato, and chopped cilantro. The bol size comes with a certain number of proteins and veggies and toppings. The larger bol has more options.
I really liked the flavors of the bol I ordered. The rice was well-cooked, not sticky or underdone. The tofu was lightly seasoned with sesame seeds and a slight sweetness. It was cut into big pillowy cubes.
The mushrooms were thinly sliced with just a hint of seasoning from the balsamic, plus a little garlic. Nothing overpowering. The Brussels were cut in quarters and looked pan roasted. The minted cherry tomatoes were a little spicy with a nice tanginess.
I didn’t add one of the three sauces on top because one has a dairy base and the other two have ginger in them, which I’m allergic to. I imagine the sauces are spicy and they sound tasty.
Overall this bol was a well-balanced, tasty, and fresh mix of plant-based flavors. And I felt healthy afterwards, not heavy or stuffed.
It reminded me of the food I ate when I spent part of a summer in China teaching English as a second language at a Teaching College. The meals were very similar – a big pot of rice and five or six plates of vegetables served family style. Each person made their own bowl. One of my favorite vegetables was chopped tomatoes sprinkled with sugar. They were so good when combined with sliced cucumber, mushroom, onions, and scrambled egg. But I’ve never seen sugared tomatoes anywhere else. And I’d even forgotten about them until today. I might have to make some at home.
While there are plenty of vegan options at Bolay, they do also serve meat, and some options are made with dairy, such as the cilantro noodles and a cilantro pesto. Everything is gluten-free, too.
This is a great spot for the solo diner. It has a fast-casual vibe, but you can sit for a while without feeling rushed.
And in case you’re wondering about the name, there’s this explanation from the website: “The word Bolay itself combines the signature dish, the bol, with ‘olay’ to evoke the excitement around the brand, good health and great living.”
Can I make this at home? Sure, everything I had in today’s bol is fairly easily cooked at home. But not as fast. And some things would be harder to find, like sweet potato noodles.
With locations throughout Florida, this is one place to keep in mind where people of differing food needs can eat together.