People tricking you with cheaper food

[HuntIdeas]

AIBU to get really annoyed with people substituting cheaper alternatives into food and thinking you can’t tell the difference! No dumbass, we’re just too polite to say “your food is a bit crap today” so instead say “that was lovely, thanks”

I went over to a friends yesterday and she served chilli con carne. After the meal she gleefully told us that it was quorn and lentil, as if we didn’t think we could taste the difference! At which point all we said was “I thought it tasted a bit unusual”. I really should have said “no wonder it was almost inedible” but I’m way too British for that!

Quorn really upsets my stomach, id have been sitting in her bathroom for hours. Fine to do something different but not fine to lie About what you are giving someone.

But if it makes you unwell, warn your host in advance.

The thing is, if you’ve never had reason to eat Quorn you won’t actually know that it makes you unwell. I actually thought I had food poisoning when I had some quorn sausages that a friend was trying to convince me we’re as good as ‘the real thing’. It was my GP who told me that a large number of people have very violent reactions to it and that as an IBS sufferer I should steer well clear!

Quorn is something my dbro is very allergic to. If they'd done that to him they (and their carpet) would have been regretting it majorly.

I think though some people don't taste as much differences as others. I have a argument with dh that he thinks we should always buy the supermarket equivalent. Most of the time I agree. However when I've bought the supermarket equivalent (this was cereal) and the dc, without seeing the packet, have said "has the recipe changed? This is horrible" and refused to eat any more. I don't see the point in getting it again. It makes more sense to spend 20p more (all in it) and have a packet they'll eat. However he doesn't see the different (but doesn't eat that cereal)

Wow, I'm glad you're not my friend.

Anyone can have an allergic reaction to any food stuff at any time. People eat all manner of artificial foods, don't see why Quorn is being vilified. My DD is allergic to nuts, a healthy, completely natural food. Allergies are allergies.

Why would it matter if she used cheaper items? Yes it may not have taste as nice or how you like to but she took the time to cook you that meal?
She might have used cheaper items because that's all she could afford and thought you wouldn't judge her...

I never used to eat veal (ethical reasons). My MIL once made a 'chicken' fricasee which I enjoyed, and after the last mouthful told me with glee that it was veal. She has also done similar to DD1 over a particular meal she liked. I think it's trickery and not pleasant. I do actually eat rose veal - but back in the 80s, ethically sourced veal was not available in the UK. I just think that 'tricking' someone into eating something, for whatever reason, is not a nice thing to do.

Yeah, imagine the thread if someone tricked a vegan into eating meat and gleefully telling them at the end? That would have been tasty reading.

People are weird.

whats thed trick tho-because its quorn?

No, because she said it was meat, and it wasn't.

I was once given a chilli con carnie where afterwards I was told it was completely vegan. I knew it had no meat, but it tasted so good. Lots of different types of beans were used. I asked for the recipe and its the only way I make it now.

She could be on a diet/eating plan that substitutes fatty meat with leaner alternatives...

When we have friends over, we usually ask them if there’s anything they don’t eat otherwise I think it’s fair game (and vice versa). A non vegan friend cooked a delicious vegan menu during January and it genuinely opened my eyes (dh and I are both meat eaters) - I think it’s lovely that your friend is trying something different.

What makes you think she did it to save money? Perhaps it was because it’s much healthier and not eating meat is the single biggest thing an individual can do to help the environment.

Also, you’re really rude. Describing someone’s cooking as “unusual” when they have just fed you is horrible. I hope they never invite you back.

This is the weirdest thread. Firstly I have never heard of people trying to cheapen a meal for guests. When friends cook for us, they always seem to really push the boat out, even those on a low budget seem to make lots of effort to put on a nice meal within their means.
Secondly, if someone cooks for you, you should just be gracious. You sound rather ungrateful.
Thirdly, if you actually like spending time with your friends / family, what does it really matter what they serve? Unless of course you don’t, and then why are you going over for dinner in that case?
Lastly, there is nothing wrong with a vegetarian, lower cholesterol version of a meat dish. We eat too much meat in this country anyway. I am a meat eater, but am fully aware of that.

My friend is always calling me for buying big brands. Not everything, but certain things.

She tries to say you can't tell the difference between Heinz ketchup and cheap red sauce. You can

Ben and Jerry's and supermarket own. You can tell

Quorn and lentil chilli can be delicious. Lowe in fat than mince. I have a number of meat eating friends who use Quorn instead of beef.

I have also never known anyone ‘trick’ people about what they are serving by serving poorer quality ingredients- although you sound a bit snobby tbh.

Quorn itself doesn’t make me ill bit the word “quorn” does. Bleurgh.

I'm a bit late to the thread but could someone please expand on Quorn being referred to as mould, please? I don't get it.

Because it's a lab grown fungus, what did you think it was made of?

It's heavily processed though.

Bullyingadvice2017 agree that if you buy branded items that aren’t being used as ingredients then you can sometime tell the difference. But a tin of tomatoes is a different story. The supermarket cheaper brand tends to have less sugar and salt and if added into a meal you can’t tell the difference. But Morrison’s own brand mayo is so similar to the big brand but costs so much less. We’ve taste tested both

Fungus as in similar to mushrooms?

No idea. I don't buy or eat Quorn so I'm none the wiser but if I'm to think about it, then I would have said it is made from soya beans. Like tofu.
I'd never have said it is a fungus.

I could have happily went through life not knowing. My guts knew though

Quorn mince is vile and the food of the devil. I speak as a vegetarian of 22 years. Bleaugh