To try and decide each week where and what to eat around the basin can be a challenge – there are so many amazing choices. In this feature we’ll dive into dishes that will surely satisfy those hunger pangs and leave you wondering where to go next.

In Japanese, “yaki” means grilled, broiled or pan fried – essentially something cooked over direct heat. In the case of Mountain Lotus, “yaki” means damn tasty. While this week’s feature is usually referred to on the street as a build your own stir-fry, this dish is carefully constructed in the Mountain Lotus kitchen to bring you maximum flavor.

The base consists of a jasmine turmeric rice which if you’ve ever dealt with turmeric, you know it’s bringing the golden hue like back in the goldrush days of California. It’s topped with your choice of protein (crispy ginger tamari tofu, cilantro honey chicken, or chili-garlic beef), shiitake mushrooms, local seasonal veggies, date teriyaki sauce, local microgreens, a house made kimchi and finished with sesame seeds.

The best way to eat this dish is to mix it all up together and just dive right in. That way you get the complete rainbow of flavors without sacrificing textures. And while everything feels fresh and healthy, it still provides a deep richness that is quite impressive.

The rice is soft and fluffy while bringing in the bright earthiness of the turmeric, which marries nicely with the sweet and salty notes of the date teriyaki sauce and the slightly spicy hints from the kimchi. While I went with the cilantro honey chicken as my protein, I would be equally excited to try the other options based on how much it elevated the dish.

The portion size was perfect, too. Just enough to make you feel full, but not too much to where you’re walking out the door wondering if you need to unbutton your pants after you get in your vehicle to drive away.

Mountain Lotus Café is located at 10124 E St in Truckee. For menu, catering, or private chef experiences, visit them online at mountainlotusyoga.com/thecafe or reach them by phone at 530-583-7500.