My family likes to eat out fairly often, which I don't really like because the vegetarian choices are usually really limited. I'm trying to gradually go vegan(phasing out the eggs now, and have been drinking soy milk for a while) but never see anything besides salad(and only plain green salads) that would be vegan on menus. Occasionally i get to eat at this vegan restaurant(out of town) but that's pretty rare. What do other people do at restaurants to get a decent meal without compromising their beliefs? Thanks for any replies, R
Well, I usually just peruse the menu and pick something out. If there is nothing on there I can eat I just ask to have something modified. If you think that might be a problem just ring ahead and speak to the chef about having something nice prepared in advance.
I'd beware of making too much fuss unless it's a restaurant that you know *very* well (i.e. the head chef and manager know you personally). Having worked in a few kitchens, I can tell you that very few kitchen staff (in mainstream restaurants, naturaly) give a shit about making sure a veggie dish is really veggie. Remember, you can't sue them for putting beef stock in your veggie soup!
Well, you can if they tell you it's definately vegetarian, they knowingly put beef stock in, they know beef stock is not vegetarian, and you can prove all this happened. Like that will all happen though. But seriously, it's not really making a fuss to say, hey, that veggie pizza on you're menu? Can you please just make it but leave the cheese off? Thanks! And smile sweetly. If there's nothing that can be adapted that easily I just don't eat there, full stop. I guess I'm lucky enough to live in an area replete with restaurants, so when I eat out I can just walk next door.
That was an idea me and bernie had, was to open an all vegan and vegetarian cafe. Hopefully one day we will forfil this dream....
Do you live in a small town or a fairly large city? I never have any problem getting something that isn't salad when eating out. At the very least, you can almost always get a plain baked potato and some steamed veggies. Do you eat at chain restaurants, mom and pop places, fast food? Many Mexican restaurants now offer lard free refried beans or black beans. There are at least four Mexican restaurants in Boise that offer vegetarian burrito or vegetarian fajitas. If you're careful to ask about ingredients, most asian restaurants can provide vegan cuisine relatively easily. I eat at a Chinese restaurant here that has General Tao's tofu. To die for. PF Changs is a higher end chinese chain that has many vegan options, and they offer brown rice. You have to ask about the sauce (some Italian restaurants cook cheese into their marinara) and the pasta (some pastas contain egg), but Italian restaurants can also easily accomodate Vegans in most cases. At the very least, they should be able to toss some sauteed veggies in garlic and olive oil and serve over pasta or with french bread.
All that I can really say, is the longer you have been veggie/vegan the easier it becomes. i dont really have a particular method, I always seem to find some way to work around it.
not all of them do, but yes some do. If youre shopping, read the ingredients. Its about 50/50 ... a lot of places/products dont use lard, but some do. taco bell doesn't! I called and asked their hotline lol!
yep. And many dried refrieds distributed by Sysco et al have lard in the dry mix. Be sure to ask about that. I got realllllllly sick from a kitchen that meant well but didn't check the box. Lots of times I ask if I can create a veggie (sides) plate. or ask if they have a veggie of the day.
Vegans should call ahead. If you ask when you are at the table, chances are that the kitchen is busy getting out orders and is not going to be too careful when reading ingredients.
