To feel I almost have to apologise for being veggie...

[Loopylala7]

We were invited out tonight with a big group, but I couldn't go due to no babysitter. Anyway DH casually mentions that, well there was nothing on the menu for me anyway. This is following a holiday where being a vegetarian was considered weird, so had to survive on junk food.

These are just a few of my recent experiences. TBH I feel lucky if I go to a restaurant and have two dishes to choose from. Am I being unreasonable to think this is unreasonable?

As if putting something in a bun magically turns it into a burger.

ha! i hate that too. i am glad bean burger is more descriptive.

although, one of the best burgers i ever had was a "tofu burger". it was literally a slab of tofu in between bread, but that tofu was in some magic marinade sauce beforehand.

I have refused to go the staff Christmas do for the first time as the place chosen has one main meat option beautifully described (no starters) and when I asked about the veggie option was told there would be one 'available'.

I am paying the same price (£30!!!) so would like some detail. No attempt to even describe the dish means 'can't be arsed, will find something at the back of the freezer'.

I'm betting the starter will be melon with Parma ham (ham removed), a lovely mushroom risotto, and followed by either a cheese plate or something very very chocolatey. Or whatever they cobble together on the day, and there will be something of dubious vegetarianism (prawns, pork stuffing, gelatine in the desert...).

The problem with being veggie is the absolute lack of surprise when eating out. You know that chefs can only manage one or two veggie dishes at any one time - take your pick: mushroom risotto, pasta Napoli, onion tart, goat/cheese salad, um, that's about it really.

Hate that so many places have goats cheese as the veggie option, can't stand the stuff!

I think others have said about people lecturing them about being veggie, and I agree, it does my head in. Why on earth do people feel the need to do it? I don't lecture others on what they eat, none of my business, eat what you like, but when you tell people you're veggie, its like they feel obliged to give you their opinion, challenge you, or start a debate. Arghhhhh!

Not even a starter Commuter123 So much lovely food out there but apparently only mushrooms, butternut squash and goats cheese exists. Surprised South Indian restaurants are not more prevalent- first time in decades I had experienced new tastes and sensations whilst eating out.
And ilovefluffysheep I get hassle for my veggie diet every time I catch a cold by people who eat total crap but are meat eaters but who also seem to catch colds as well!

cyber

A local cafe has got it's christmas menu up and it's the first time I think ever that I've thought good god I want to eat all of those!!

Can't remember for the life of me what they were now except the desert...Tiramasu cheesecake

I think if you aren't in a town, its much harder to find good places to eat if you're vegetarian, and nigh on impossible if you're vegan.

I totally feel this thread. I tend to be quite laid back about what other people eat because it's none of my business (but that doesn't stop them from forcing their opinions down my throat about me being vegetarian and how their food choices are so much 'better') but honestly! Lately the veggie choices available, let alone vegan choices, have been dire everywhere I've eaten. Went out to Boots the other day with a colleague as they normally have a great lunch selection but there was ONE option available (a Falafel wrap). Everything else was sodding chicken. I do like Falafel so I'm not complaining but a BIT of choice might've been nice.
Another restaurant in a posh part of London I visited the other day had ONE veggie option on the menu (a bean burger) - the rest of the menu was roast dinners of varying meats (it was a Sunday so maybe there was less to pick from?) But even so. In a place like that I expect to at least have a few options instead of 'this choice or starve'.

Over-the-top, American-style meat (esp. BBQ) seems to be the order of the day at the moment, maybe that's why the veggie options have gone tits up. As a veggie, this drives me nuts as the current levels of meat consumption are just not sustainable from an environmental point of view. Have to stop myself from lecturing meat eaters in this regard, wish they'd do the same!