Conference catering

[PersephoneSmith]

I’ve been to a conference this week and the food was truly foul. I just want to share and ask if anyone has ever had any similar experiences.
The organisers obviously decided that fully vegan was the way to go. I cannot work out why, is it perceived to be easier than providing options? Definitely not the type of organisation that has a lot of vegan members either.
The usual breakfast offering of bacon rolls was replaced with gluten free almond cake. Deeply unpleasant (I feel for people who have no choice but to eat gluten-free) there was a choice of oat or almond milk for the hot drinks only.
Lunch was ‘Greek salad with vegan feta’ there were no olives in it which would have made quite a difference to me, I love them. Vegan feta is some sort of soya monstrosity though. Not cheese and inedible.

The main course was sweet potato falafel which would have been okay I suppose but they were covered in ‘vegan cucumber raita’ which again is some sort of fake non-dairy stuff.
vegan chocolate cake for pudding might have been okay but chocolate gives me migraines so I can’t eat it. I was left with vegan coconut panna cotta (you get the theme) deeply revolting.
Watercress soup for dinner was okay, there was an ordinary bread roll but no butter obvs. The main course was the ultimate though. It said it was celeriac puree but all I could taste was the most overpowering bitter garlic I have ever experienced. It had about six gnocchi and a handful of mushrooms on top. People were making pretend vomiting sounds! I’ve never seen so much food go back uneaten on plates before.
more vegan chocolate for pudding so yet another inedible coconut panna cotta for me 🤢
Such a shame when delicious vegan food is not hard to produce.

My university only caters veggie or vegan. The veggie is ok but the vegan options are pretty awful.

it is the fake meat and fake cheese that I particularly loathe. Vegan can be good with nuts and falafel etc. but that is probably more expensive. Sometimes I only eat the crisps and then have to go out for snacks.

hopefully all the attendees will give the organisers some very frank feedback and vegan menu won’t be repeated for future events.

Lots of conferences are doing this now for their green/environmental credentials but I agree, usually the food isn't up to much. Terrible for plain/picky eaters.

Best conferences are he old bacon rolls on arrival, pastries mid morning and a standard buffet lunch. I don't want a chicken pea curry or aubergine tangine thanks.

I wouldn’t mind a chickpea or mushroom curry, with proper rice and a sag aloo or tadka dal on the side. Naan bread. That’s a nice vegan meal with vegetables and pulses. A fruit crumble for pudding? Yum
It is the fake meat and cheese that is the problem. I tried Quorn once, it gives me the worst upset stomach imaginable, never again.