To be annoyed that vegan options have replaced vegetarian?

[Sacredhandbag]

It's only a silly gripe in the grand scheme of things but it's bloody annoying.

I've been a vegetarian my whole life but since veganism has become more popular and more and more people are becoming part of the movement (and good on them!) it's like restaurants, cafes and hotels have skipped adding vegetarian options and thought "well vegan options covers both so we'll just add a few of those"

No! I am not vegan. I am vegetarian. I still want my eggs, my cream, my cheese, my butter. I want a stilton and broccoli bake, not a grilled bit of cauliflower!

Afternoon tea (I'm a fan and have one as often as I can) is the worst for it. There's an ordinary menu and then there's a vegan menu and that's it. You order one or the other. I don't want chicken or fish sandwiches but I sure as hell want my scones with proper clotted cream! So I have to be specific about the sandwiches and say I want some from one menu and some from the other. Bloody annoying.

Any other veggies feel the same?

My problem is different . I can only eat mozzarella and ricotta cheese . I detest any other form of cheese and always have since a child . So I’m so pleased that I am able to eat out without being limited to the few options without cheese over everything . I won’t eat vegan cheese either . It seems to me everything is covered in cheese eating out in places like pub chains etc .

I’ve been veggie for nearly half a century, but probably 80% of meals I cook are vegan. So if I’m eating out I am happy with vegan, but two things I won’t eat: highly processed foods and fake meat.

I see why recent vegans might miss the taste or texture of meat, and want that replicated as far as possible, but as someone who hasn’t eaten it for decades, I am repulsed by the idea of ‘meat’, fake or real.

So if a menu has vegan dishes made from fresh ingredients, that’s fine with me. If it’s all fake cheese and fake meat then I don’t eat there, and it’s true a lot of restaurants have switched to this over the last few years. There are a few places in between, especially pizza/pasta restaurants where you often have to ask for real cheese on any vegetarian dish, which is annoying. And a few restaurants which used to be great (the Mildred’s chain in London is one) where every other veggie dish is now fake meat.

So YANBU because of the increase in fake meat and cheese, but not if it’s just for no dairy.

I feel for you, even though I benefit from the trend because I can't eat cheese - which I used to adore before I discovered I was intolerant.

Im an omnivore & this wont change. While most people on this thread wont agree, I do try to source my meat & ethically & keep free range hens for eggs.

My youngest son & girlfriend are vegetarian/vegan. Her family are vegans. She eats vegan as much as possible but hates vegan cheese so the sticking point for her is cheese.

When they stayed over a few weeks ago. We had dinner out a couple of times as there were 2 separate family birthdays. I researched restaurant menus. Yes some places had very limited options but there were several that had good selection of vegetarian & some vegan options - the Turkish one was especially good for that.

She ended up at one restaurant with a fake meat substitute burger because she didnt like lots of the vegetables in the vegan/vegetarian dishes. I cant understand if you are veggie or vegan why you would want a burger that artificially tries to be like meat??

Bar anything with chickpeas, avocado & tofu Im a happy girl having a mix of vegetarian & meat/fish, but I like food that is natural.

I can understand why alot of restaurants are heading towards catering for food that can be eaten by both vegan & vegetarians as it cuts down on food waste & makes it more cost effective for the restaurant. Restaurants are under alot of pressure. Food is now more expensive but so are other overheads like electricity. But I think there is no reason why dairy like butter, cheese etc & eggs couldnt be requested for sandwiches, scones, breakfasts etc etc. If they already have them in for omnivores then there is no reason not to offer as additions to vegan meals. The options should be there.

Because a lot of vegans aren't vegan because they don't like the look or taste of meat. It's often an ethical choice. If I eat a faux meat burger, an animal hasn't been subject to torture and a painful death for me to eat it.

I also eat faux meat because I work out a lot and low carb/high protein works for me. That's my personal food preference. I don't eat it because it resembles meat.

It's also nice to have those options. I went vegan in the early 2000s when there were far fewer choices. I embrace the fact that I can order a burger alongside my friends and family now and not have to sit there with a salad/baked potato and beans/bowl of chips while everyone else has a 'normal' lunch.

I don't really understand when people don't understand why someone who doesn't eat meat would eat something that is a 'meat substitute'. It's still no more meat than a slice of bread is. We don't want to eat meat. It doesn't mean we don't want to eat something that may do the same job.

I agree. Restaurants used to have lovely vegetarian dishes. I often got them even though I'm not veggie.
The vegan options never appeal to me.

This is the issue, it may make sense economically for the restaurant and be simpler for them. However the vegan option is often not as appetising for vegetarians when eating out who are expect good quality ingredients, and many like cheese and dairy. It is also usually the same price as many meat options when it cost nothing like as much to make. So it is openly a rubbish deal for veggies in a lot of places. It's nice to have something intrinsically vegetarian, not bad vegan with a slice of halloumi on from somewhere that puts a great deal more imagination into its meat dishes

The problem seems to usually be with modern European, pub and bistro type places.

As I stated up thread, I'm well aware there are brilliant options out there but in a lot of places this is comes up and it's disappointing.

The problem seems to usually be with modern European, pub and bistro type places.

And hotels too. DH and I stayed in one for Valentines and there was no vegetarian option at dinner only vegan. I ended up having Beef Wellington, which was nice and came with potatoes Dauphinoise, broccoli and carrots.

I miss a really nice veggie burger - as in cubed vegetables (no sweet potato, theyre suddenly in everything the last 10-15 years). I used to really enjoy them with cheese. Shame.

I stayed at a hotel last year which had a cauliflower starter (I don't like deep fried anything and it was deep fried florets, battered, ugh) and a cauliflower curry main. Nothing vegan or vegetarian on the sides either. I did notice the vegetarian option was a 'mushroom burger' (essentially a mushroom sandwich) with cheese, or a cheese pasta as my colleague was vegetarian. I went to Asda and bought some stuff to eat in my hotel room.
Cauliflower can get in the sea.

I love cauliflower! The best way is thick slices done on the barbecue but providing it’s not mushy (any mushy veg makes me heave) I don’t care how it’s cooked

Maybe I'm just a weird vegan who likes everything others dont and vice versa 😄

I don't mind cauliflower mash. But in general I hate the taste. I love brocoli though.

Now I can’t bear it mashed! The only things that should be mashed are swede and carrot (only together though) or potatoes.

I find mashed sweet potato has a revoltingly slimy consistency.

Me neither, and carrots, swedes and potatoes are better not mashed.

a cauliflower starter ... and a cauliflower curry main.
I've seen a mushroom starter followed by a mushroom main far too many times, and when there were no other options. Beetroot followed by beetroot is another one.

And for vegetarians, goats cheese followed by goats cheese.

I hate swede and carrot mash! Love mashed potato though.

I've seen that too! Mushrooms galore, screw you if you don't like mushrooms.

I’d add parsnip or celeriac to the list of Approved Mash. Although there are better ways of preparing both of them, I guess.

Sweet potato is horrible. Nasty, claggy stuff.

Legumes! Beans and chickpeas and lentils and all that stuff - now there’s the good stuff. Chickpeas are nearly up there with tomatoes and onions on the plinth of Most Useful Foods.

I love celariac chips too-they're just a pain to make-peeling and chopping a whole celariac is no fun, so I don't have them very often.

I hate sweet potato too. The 'stringy' texture makes me a bit queasy. For some reason, every vegan main that would lend itself to going with normal chips had sweet potato fries instead for some time. I never saw the logic in that, why wouldn't a vegan just want normal chips? That 'othering' still happens but not as often now IME.