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Produce => Recipes => Topic started by: tim on September 24, 2006, 12:23:25
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I admire you. With sympathy!! Bit of Son's blog -
T"he Air New Zealand flight from London to Los Ageles yesterday confronted me with some of the worst efforts at vegeratian food it has ever been my misfortune to confront. Before long, I gave up and went on an enforced diet. The good-hearted young steward had said it was his first day and when he later wanted to know if there was anything he could do better, I didn't have the heart to suggest shooting the chefs.
But then on the leg from LA to Auckland, quite unprompted, a new steward said he hadn't even bothered to put my vegetarian meal in the oven, it was so horrible. In so many words, he said that ANZ can't be bothered with vegetarians and I would be better of with the 'bland food' option, where at least you got the odd potato. Hard not to agree. The sandwiches I was offered at one stage looked as though their flilling had been scooped up from the outfall from a silage clamp or intensive piggery".
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You don't need to be on an aeroplane to get that sort of treatment. The 'vegetarian' option ALWAYS contains cheese (for want of a better word!). Well, get this folks, some of us cannot eat cheese!
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What a globetrotter you are!
As a veggie I agree food on planes is usudally dreadful but then I think most of the food is anyway. What really makes me cross is in restaurants when veggie food cost the same as large slabs of meat & you know that the cost of your ingredients is a fraction of the meat dishes.
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I love vegetarians - we have 3 - but do I find it quite difficult to do them justice when I'm cooking for 6 or 8 others. Especially, one has to make more than enough for the special one, rather than sharing a stew or other communal dish.
Mary - not me!!
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You don't need to be on an aeroplane to get that sort of treatment. The 'vegetarian' option ALWAYS contains cheese (for want of a better word!). Well, get this folks, some of us cannot eat cheese!
Funny, we were just talking about this. Tomatoes used to be my bugbear not cheese. When I was a veggie, if someone served me up a tin of chopped tomatoes in pasta with (maybe a bit of courgette in) one more time, I was about ready to scream!! I mean in restaurants of course. If you're going to someone's house for dinner you can't expect them to have much culinary knowledge of meat free food if they never cook it. But eating out in any shape or form (airlines included) there's really no excuse. Having worked in the industry I do know that many chefs are actively, and vocally, irritated by vegetarians. Why? I've never worked that out but I will warn you - they all use chicken stock even if they tell you it's veg stock! :o
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That's what makes it edible!!
PS I NEVER do - though sorely tempted at times. But one of the veggies has taste buds which will identify an extra grain of salt in a litre - sort of thing!
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Don't get me started on SALT in food, Tim. We went on to a salt reduced diet over 30 years ago when it first became public knowledge that too much salt was harmful. We can detect a grain of salt in a litre of gravy! Modern processed food is totally inedible to us after all this time.
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I've been a Veggie since 1986, I have to say that things are getting better when you're out and about in restaurants or visiting freinds. I had a boyfriend once whose Mum would only serve me salad - when the rest of family had Sunday roast! And had a canalboat holiday in the late 80s where I had nothing but vaggie lasagne to eat for 7 evenings!
I personally feel the best veggie food is that which wasn't designed to be veggie, ie. cauliflower cheese, mushroom rissotto etc. rather than lentil and nut roast, or mixed pulses stew!
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Yes, but the first two, both contain CHEESE! Must agree that there seems little point in eating a vegetarian meal which is made to resemble the very thing you are trying to avoid!
By the way I am not a vegetarian, I just like vegetables!
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I have two veggie friends. One likes everyone to eat the same thing as her (even when she's the guest :o). The other is so much an old-school lady that she didn't tell me she was a veggetarian (luckily that dinner party was tapas so plenty of veggie options) until we invited her round the next time, "came out" that she was a vegetarian and - get this - offered to bring her own dinner! A lovely offer but I was still surprised because I'd never come across this approach before.
It made me wonder how many times she'd either been served boring or inedible food while everyone else tucked into their meat-laden grub with gusto. If you invite someone round for dinner, you cook for them and try to be imaginative or buy an interesting ready-meal if time and/or skills don't stretch very far.
Chefs should know better because they have the skills (or ought to ;D). Just because someone makes a choice not to have a particular food group does not mean that they should be ignored. Would they continue in the same vein if a section of their customers were Jewish, Muslim, diabetic, on medication etc?
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And if you want a real laugh, we went to a Vegan recipe site. the first recipe we looked at, the first ingredient on the list? "2lbs of best minced beef'
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Palustris: hello! Just trying to work out which meals you meant ...
Yes, but the first two, both contain CHEESE!
cause you don't have to put cheese into mushroom risotto... in fact, that's the reason it's often too salty. I leave a lump of parmesan for people to grate onto it if they want, but I love it without.
The way I cook it does contain other dairy produce (butter to start the mushrooms and onions off, which then coats the rice grains, plus cream if I'm feeling lavish) but good veg stock and white wine are the other principal ingredients. Fab comfort food!
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vegetarians can eat cheese....VEGANS don't!
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Triffid - I think Palustris was referring to the veggie lasagne and the cauliflower cheese.
My other half is a Chef with nearly 40 years experience, but even he has struggled sometimes to cope with vegetarian customers in various establishments where he has worked. The main problem seems to be that 'vegetarian' can cover a wide variety of dietary needs, choices and fads. Some are true vegans, who eat absolutley nothing that has any connection with animals, others eat fish or chicken, some have other allergy problems which confuse matters and then there are the ones that order a specifically vegetarian, fully described dish from the menu, and then send it back because they don't like the main ingredient! - Why the devil did they order it in the first place then?
He eventually resorted to the tactic of having several dishes on the menu that were suitable for vegetarians, and on the odd occasion when someone asked if there was anything else available he asked them to give some suggestions - if he had the necessary ingredients and wasn't too busy with all the other customers then he would do his best.
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::)
Ordered a vegetarian meal on a flight once. Tha airline was Egyptair (I like to have a little risk in my life) and when the meal came it was...
Banana Fritters
Nice as a pud, but as my main meal??????????
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I gave up on airline food ages ago and now manage to sleep through all meals. Air France once filled me with rage on the 2nd leg of a US trip home (Paris to Manchester) when they gave all their meaty passengers a meat (ham I think) sandwich but told me that the flight wasn't long enough for a vegetarian option ... left me absolutely speechless :o
OH hates broccolli, which every pub meal seems to be filled with it - cheap, green and stores well ?
What really gets my goat (!) is when you go to a restaurant and there will be 12 different meat / fish options, but only 1 vegetarian option (and in some the starter and main course have been known to be the same thing, more often than I care to remeber actually) ... interesting that as a meat eater you are allowed to have likes and dislikes, but not as a vegetarian.
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We have vegetarian friends and when they come round we all eat veggie, even the two teenage boys.... now you want to try eating out Lactose free.. Chefs in expensive restaurants can usually manage it... but everywhere else it is a nightmare... butter smothered veg to help keep them warm... good job I like plain boiled spuds!
;D
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the best airline food I've ever had was with American Airlines, I ate fully every meal I was given during the flight, in fact I was counting the minutes down to food time! :P it was labelled diabetic meal, which I'm not :P but it was good healthy grub. :)
the vegetarian options in the states were also brilliant.(North Carolina) lots of organic fresh produce in the supermarkets and restrants.
Belinda tell your hubby to ask his customers if they eat anything with a face ;D
you can't join the Vegetarian Society if you do ;D/shades x
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AS, I can't believe that you found anything veggie in North Carolina, I've been to South Carolina a few times with work and find it almost impossible to find anything to eat in restaurants - I end up surviving on cakes and the odd vegetarian salad - mostly they are meaty salads :(
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We have vegetarian friends and when they come round we all eat veggie, even the two teenage boys.... now you want to try eating out Lactose free.. Chefs in expensive restaurants can usually manage it... but everywhere else it is a nightmare... butter smothered veg to help keep them warm... good job I like plain boiled spuds!
;D
Saddad I quite agree-even though there are substitutes for many dairy foods now,not many places use them it seems,though I did stay in an hotel at the NEC recently where there was a carton of soya milk on the cereal table. I find the 'Pure' spread acceptable,also Alpro yoghurt, cream and custard. Cheese is the only thing I really miss as the soya substitute is nasty. :-X
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Try an Air India flight to Delhi. I always think Indian food is the best vegetarian cuisine on the planet. We went to Amritsar with Air France as well, and even they managed a decent veg meal. Mind you, most of the catering staff are from the Punjab, so they ought to manage a decent curry.
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I tend to ask for Asian vegetarian meals rather than Ovo Lacto now. You get fantastic curries instead of (yawn) veggie lasagne or pasta with tomato and cheese sauce *again*
moonbells
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mc 55, you can't find anything to eat veggie wise in South Carolina ;)It's huntin',shootin' fishin' country and you need to be able to play golf ::)
we went to Greg Normans (the golfer) restaurant and they had to do me a special meal,packet noodles and tomatoes thrown in ::) I don't think many veggie folk cross their threshold!
If you ever go to North Carolina go to Chapel Hill, very posh! food to die for.
Carrboro where my aunt lived was full of health food stores,organic shops and the fantastic restaurant Panzanella's and more... I'm off to catch that plane now ;)/shades x
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Most people seem to be giving examples of dishes they don't want to be offered (curry apart), so taking a positive line ...
If you ran a vegetarian restaurant, what would be on your menu?
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Good point - needs some thought!
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Sadly Greyhound, the best Vegetarian restaurant was in Knutsford Cheshire and it closed down.
The one in our town also did not seem to thrive.
Boy am I glad that eating out and flying are things I will never have to worry about!
But if you really want a vegetarian suggestion(s), how about a Vegetable Jalousie or Mexican Empanadas? No cheese, nothing with a face on either! About the only 'wrong' ingredient is the tiny amount of butter used to make the pastry and bread and saute the onions. (To reduce the amount of butter mix it half and half with olive oil!)
As for dairy substitutes, I do not eat them either. If I cannot have the real thing then, I would rather do without altogether. Hand me another dose of Gavascon and a couple of Paracodol and I can eat real dairy ice-cream! (Once!")
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It's a hypothetical restaurant.
Funny that not one person so far has mentioned the word "omelette". Not so long ago, veggies were always complaining that omelettes were the only dish offered to them. So things seem to have improved from there, but now people are bored with the newer offerings.
Palustris has started the ball rolling, so let's hear some more ideas for our pretend restaurant!
(I'm not a veggie, btw, I just like food.)
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As Eric says – cheese with everything? Difficult to avoid! But still so many things – think on these?
Potatoes – Stuffed/Boulangeres
Rice, Couscous - Salad/&Spinach Burgers/Tomato/Risotto
Noodles & Pasta - mushrooms, nuts
Tomato/Onion Tarte Tartin
Roasted Root Veg/Ratatouille
Mini Pizzas/Spring Rolls/Falafels/Veg Pasties
Bruschettas
Stuffed Toms/Aubs/Peppers
Frittata/Omelette/Tortillas
Carrots - & Swede Mash/& Courgette Ribbons/Baby Glazed
Spinach & Rice Cakes/Saag Aloo,Bhaji/Koulibiac
Herbed Courgettes
Braised Celery
Bubble & Squeak Cakes
Spiced Beans
Cheese & Herb Fritters
Twice Baked Cheese Souffles
Spiced Chickpea cakes
Stir Fries/Curries
‘Nut Loaves’!
Bean Stews
Asian or Mexican interpretations
I know that these are itty bitty bits but, given a mix, like a Mezze, there’s no end.
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Ok I'll bite ;D Would need to be properly seasonal, with low food-miles...
Starter: Roasted butternut squash soup. Cos I love it. And because butternuts will store without needing any freezing until spring so it can be served with this main course!
Main course: Pasta primavera - superb early-season dish with new-picked broad beans, peas and asparagus. Yum!
Dessert: rhubarb and ginger crumble
Hungry now...
moonbells
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- Giant horse mushrooms stuffed with garlic butter, baked and shoved in a one-person focaccia roll.
- Oven roasted peppers, peeled and torn, served with griddled halloumi and cous cous which has been made with the pepper juiced strained and mixed with a little good Extra V olive oil and stock to make up quantities.
- Mushroom stroganof
- Risotto (start with pumkin oil, lovely)
- Jerusalem artichoke soup with truffle oil and parmesan crisps
- spannacopitta - filo pastry stuffed with ricotta, spinach & pine nuts
- mixed bean chilli & left overs into soup
- courgettes stuffed with savoury rice (rice has been boiled in stock first)
- cheese and olive empanadillas (manchego, tom purée & olives wrapped in pastry) it's a tapas dish but we've made pasty size before as they're so gorgeous.
- cheese, onion & sliced potato bake
- pasta bakes
I'm hungry now... :(
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(http://bestsmileys.com/eating1/15.gif)
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Sorry cant help with veggie recipies as i'm complete carnivore, i do love stuffed tomatoes & peppers - but with mince added... ;D
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Not like me to to talk in these terms, Keef, but I reckon I could fool you with Mycoprotein.
But I can't find a sub for Chicken Stock!
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That'll be mince from the mince plant on your allotment then Keef. ;D
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Wouldn't say no to a fried egg sandwich, though, would ya, keef? ;D
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Lots of nice ideas, totally ruined by the addition of that disgusting anti-social, unpleasant tasting and smelling muck, garlic.
Another addition that these modern cheffy types always ruin food with, is some form of citrus juice. Well to some of us that is the WORST possible migraine trigger in existence (after chocolate that is ::))
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At least you don't have to commute on the Tube, Eric!!
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Wouldn't say no to a fried egg n bacon sandwich, though, would ya, keef? ;D
and brown sauce.
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Just for Palustris: Spicy sweet potato soup without garlic
Sweat the peeled and cubed potatoes with onion and chopped red chilli for about 20 minutes, add water or light veggie stock and simmer with lemon grass and kaffir lime leaves simmer till all is nice and soft. Fish (pardon the expression) out the lime leaves and lemon grass whizz the rest until smooth.
Oops - what can you sweat in other than butter?
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Lots of nice ideas, totally ruined by the addition of that disgusting anti-social, unpleasant tasting and smelling muck, garlic.
Can only see one there that mentions garlic. ???
Long time ago someone told me that chewing a cardamom pod after eating garlic freshens the breath, and it seems to work for me.
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I can't find a sub for Chicken Stock!
vegan dashi tim?
(see under 'soup' at http://www.btinternet.com/~bury_rd/japanese.htm)
Best book imo:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Food-Japanese-Temple-Tradition/dp/0870115278/sr=8-3/qid=1159383516/ref=sr_1_3/202-1970606-0279044?ie=UTF8&s=books
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Just had a lovely tea of udon noodles cooked with loads of stuff from the garden & enough left to take to work for lunch tomorrow. But the best bit was it was cooked for us by our Chinese house guest while I sat with my feet up!
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The Japanese site and book look fascinating SS, will have to do some more reading up. Ta ;D
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Thaks, Sarah - love kelp, but not enamoured of Japanese food generally.
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Some of my menu ideas for a vegetarian restaurant would be:
Tumeric and cream potato bake
Pumpkin/Butternut Squash soup - thick with a dollop of cream on top
Beetroot Risotto - a veggie mate of mine had this recently when at a posh restaurant
Veggie sushi rolls - filled with Avocado, red pepper and spring onion, sliced omelette, and probably some mushrooms for you funghi eaters
Roasted Mediterranean veggie lasagne
Houmous, babaganoush, pita bread and other mezze type dips and salad
Felafel
Quattro Fromaggi pizza
Mexican red bean tortilla wraps
Greek Salad
Polenta with olives and roasted tomatoes & peppers
Buffalo mozarella, avocado, rocket and balsamic vinegar salad
Sorry Palustris, some cheesey options there, but not all are cheesey!
Barnowl, I like the sound of your soup. Bet it would be nice (but unhealthy) with a bit of coconut cream in it too.
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Absolutely right. I forgot the coconut milk/cream - essential ingredient!
Not that unhealthy - sweet potato is a good source of fibre, vitamin C and has a low GI
http://www.waitrose.com/food_drink/nutrition/superfoodsforhealth/sweetpotato.asp (http://www.waitrose.com/food_drink/nutrition/superfoodsforhealth/sweetpotato.asp)
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Ah, but think of all the air miles and pollution those ingredients have as their hidden costs!. We tend to only eat that which we grow ourselves or can buy locally grown.
Opened up a real can of vermicelli here, have you not Tim?
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Ah, but think of all the air miles and pollution ..... Opened up a real can of vermicelli here, have you not Tim?
Well, Tim's original post was about airline food!
;D
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Well I'm currently trying to grow my own lemon grass (sticking them in water), I grow my own chillies and onions and have a kaffir Lime tree (anniversary present). Next year I promise to try to grow sweet potatoes, I think it's warm enough down south, but you've got me on the coconut milk :)
On the other hand doesn't our vegetable growth on the allotments count towards reducing our personal carbon emissions (apart from the Jerusalems that is!)?
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Air miles, Eric? Chick Peas, Rice & Pasta are difficult to live without? Worms? That's what I'm for?
As to Garlic cures, Greyhound - now gone - who told you it worked?
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As to Garlic cures, Greyhound - who told you it worked?
Oooooooooooooh!
OK, Tim, no offence taken! Well, I have tested it by huffing at people who would not hesitate to tell me I stink of garlic. Plus when one has eaten copious amounts of garlic, people normally have a tendency to recoil when they come near you. I've never noticed anyone keel over after I've employed the cardamom cure.
I can also say it has worked when I've offered it to peeps who've eaten garlic when I haven't.
Having said that, it may not work for everyone as the effects of garlic do vary. I used to know a woman who exuded stale garlic from every pore of her skin the day after she'd eaten it. :o
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Oops - what can you sweat in other than butter?
water
stock
wine
it's own juices over a very loooow heat
oil
pvc catsuit etc
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pvc catsuit
(http://bestsmileys.com/lol/1.gif) (http://bestsmileys.com/lol/1.gif) (http://bestsmileys.com/lol/1.gif)
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[
pvc catsuit
excellent ;D
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Air miles, Eric? Chick Peas, Rice & Pasta are difficult to live without?
But we did Tim, we did! For most of my childhood and teens. Rice was the only one available and that was mostly served as a sweet dish!.
Personally I could live without all of them very easily.
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Well you could make your own pasta and grow your own chick peas, or at least something very similar. Rice I can't help you with though. :-\
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But he doesn't need it?
But Jalousies?? "'Twas all over my jalousie? "
"A blind or shutter having adjustable horizontal slats for regulating the passage of air and light." Very tasty??
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Vegetable jalousie
1 packet of puff pastry(500 grams)
Filling.
2tbsp. butter or margarine
1 shredded leek
1 red pepper. halved deseeded and sliced. Ditto yellow pepper
50 grams sliced mushrooms
75 grams small asparagus spears
2 tbsp plain flour
6 tbsp Veg, stock
6 tbsp milk (dairy or soya)
4 tbsp dry white wine
tsp oregano or equivalent fresh
Saute leek in butter, add reaming veg and cook for 3 or 4 minutes. Add flour and cook for a minute.
Remove pan from heat , stir in liquids. Boil and stir till thickened.
Add oregano and season to taste.
Roll out pastry.
Put filling on half.
Using sharp knife cut diagonal slits on the other half to within an inch of the edges.
Wet the edges of the base and place the top piece over and seal round the edges.
Cook Gas 6 or 200c. for 30 to 35 minutes.
Alter veg content to suit (Yuck garlic!!!!)
We put in French beans, broad beans, cauliflower, courgettes, whatever is available and in season.
This serves 4.
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Oh! A veg pastie?? Thanks, Eric.
Must do more of them. Just threw out all our pastry - too old.!
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Vegetable jalousie
1 packet of puff pastry(500 grams)
But puff pastry contains lard AND butter.
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Well, I ain't perfect and the packet does say 'suitable for vegetarians' so it must be vegetable lard and the amount of butter in 125 grams is not a problem. ;D