Ordering at a non-veg*an restaurant can be very confusing, and definitely frustrating. If you've looked up the menu options before going out to eat, you've taken most of the work out of the process. But I think it's probably safe to say that doesn't happen most of the time. Unless you have the time to dedicate to looking up all the restaurants in your area - and actually happen to remember the menu items for the particular restaurant you end up at on any given day - you're going to have to wing it.
One thing I do feel very strongly about: do not bring up the fact that you're veg*an to your waiter. It won't make the process any easier and honestly, he probably really doesn't care. On top of that, the general population is actually fairly confused about what vegetarians and vegans do and don't eat. Some "vegetarians" eat fish. Some eat chicken. Some "vegans" aren't concerned with hidden dairy and cheese ingredients. And, by the way, if you're a strict vegan, your waiter has absolutely no idea what kinds of ingredients you avoid. They haven't done the research you have. It's your diet and no one else should be made responsible for it. You're going to have to spell out what you do and don't want in your food very clearly - and simply.
Things you should ask your waiter - that he'll actually be able to answer - include, for example, "Are (veggies, etc.) cooked in butter?" or "What kind of broth is (soup, etc.) made with?" or "Does (salad, etc.) come with cheese, bacon bits, etc?" If you can't find a menu option that can be easily changed into a veg*an friendly meal, I would definitely suggest choosing a simpler menu option. It's been my experience that overly-complicated meals rarely come out of the kitchen the way you instructed.
If there's honestly no choice on the menu to easily make veg*an, my advice is to create a meal. For example, I attended a wedding reception that was catered, so they only offered four menu choices: chicken, beef or fish over pasta, or a vegetarian lasagna dish. I'm vegan, so none of those options were going to work for me. Since the meals were served over pasta, I asked the waiter if the chef wouldn't mind bringing me a plain pasta dish with some red sauce, no meat, no cheese, no butter. The chef went above and beyond and brought me pasta cooked in olive oil with tons of herbs and a few vegetables. While you won't always get so lucky, no chef will object to making a quick and simple dish like this. Another great make-your-own-meal idea is a simple veggie strir-fry. Your waiter should only charge you for a side dish since it's such a simple meal.
This may seem very obvious, but please - make sure to thank your waiter for going out of his way for you. They have to take extra time from their other tables to explain your meal to the chefs. Too many people today seem to view veg*ans as being picky, pushy and demanding. A sincere "thanks" to your waiter for helping you get the meal you want will surely be appreciated, and will hopefully be a step toward changing many peoples' negative perceptions of veg*ans.
An example of a simple spaghetti dish you can have made-to-order if there's nothing else on the menu you can easily make veg*an.
An example of a quick and easy veggie stir-fry the chef can make you. If you're vegan, definitely don't forget to ask if your vegetables can be cooked in vegetable oil instead of butter or margarine.
A portabella mushroom sandwich - one of my favorite meals to order when I'm out because of how easy it is to get them and how simple ordering can be. If you like mushrooms, you can find a mushroom burger on most menus. Just ask your waiter to leave off the burger and add more portabellas as its replacement.
Check out some of the following sites for more advice on going out to eat:
1. The Vegetarian Resource Group's Frequently Asked Questions
2. Veggie Boards
3. Vegan Forums
1 comment:
Very interesting and very informative. The pictures are great, but maybe some hyperlinks to cook book sites on vegan dishes. I don't know if that's what you want, but it's an idea. Regardless, this post is packed with ways to satisfy a vegan and that's what it's designed to do, so good job. See ya in class.
Post a Comment