A Veggie and Vegan thread
Discussion
audikentman said:
I went vegetarian when I had cancer. Last year finally found out why my partner was having stomach issues due to lactose intolerance not good so have ended up vegan.
These 2 cook books are great
got the bottom one - these are good as they appeal to my sense of humour!:These 2 cook books are great
https://www.thugkitchen.com/
My GF is a vegetarian (strictly speaking, she’s a pescatarian, as she occasionally eats fish) and I’m happily omnivorous. That said, since I met her, I’ve eaten a lot less meat, partly through laziness as when she’s here for dinner, it seems pointless to me to cook two dinners, one with and one without meat. Even in the few years we’ve been together, I’ve notice there are a lot more vegan/veggie options available and they are getting “better” (subjective, I know) and more “meat like” all the time. When I do eat meat, I pay a bit more and go for free range/organic stuff and the same now goes for eggs and dairy (and even oven chips!).
We regularly have Fry’s brand pies, our favourites being the peppered steak ones. Nothing fancy, it’s more “heating” than actual “cooking”, normally with a baked spud and some peas/kohl rabi. The only thing stopping that being vegan is the butter on the veggies/spud and maybe cheese on the spud. As above, I don’t think the vegan “cheese” is quite there yet. A friend sent me some cheeses a few months back and there were only one or two out of about six I’d have again (and stupid me can’t find the note I made of which one).
My nephew and his GF came to visit last but one weekend and we struggled to find anywhere decent for dinner that catered to two vegans and one veggie. We ended up going to a pub, which advertised a “vegan” menu. Unfortunately, about a quarter of the vegan options weren’t available and those that were looked a bit lacklustre (although my nephew’s veggie burger was actually quite good, despite looking a bit dry). My Wagyu burger was more disappointing, it was dry, over cooked and bland. And they served it on a f
king brioche bun, which I fking hate (and it wasn’t listed on the bloody menu, either).
There are a couple more vegan/vegan options cafés, but they tend to only be open during the day. We went to one place for brunch on the Sunday and they had all the usual suspects for a full English, as well as pancakes/bacon/syrup and some fairly hefty “shakes”. The good thing was that there were both veggie and vegan options for retry much everything on the menu. I tried the vegan pancakes my nephew had, which were really light and tasty and the seitan “bacon” was actually good as well, so me and GF have added it to our “list” for places to go. They had soy and oat dairy free options, rather than the “default” soy.
Our previous breakfast haunt has stopped doing the veggie breakfast (and which was only available on weekends anyway), which is a shame, as the café was both not part of a chain, but also all profits went to a local hospice, so we were happy to pay a bit more and to put up with the “breakfast roulette”, where we were never quite sure what would actually arrive, vs what we’d actually ordered (once my GF’s “fried egg bagel” arrived as a scrambled egg and bacon on toast, which when we said was wrong, were told “can’t you just take the bacon off and we’ll refund you the difference?”...)
On the plus side, we found a great vegan restaurant in Liverpool (Down the Hatch https://www.downthehatchliv.co.uk/ ), which is a vegan place, but which will “veggie-ise” stuff with cheese/dairy. It’s well worth a visit, despite the (to me) overly “chummy”/“matey” website. I’ve got a big appetite (hence I’m a fat fk) but I was more than happy with the quality of the food and the portion size. Last time we went, I had a soy burger, which was great and my GF had a seitan kebab, which was also excellent.
I don’t think I’ll ever go “full” veggie/vegan, but I’m definitely eating a lot less meat than I used to and when I do, I always try to buy free range and/or organic - basically go as “ethical” as I can (I realise the obvious contradiction whether eating meat at all can ever be ethical), but I take the view that it’s probably better for a lot of people to do “a bit”, rather than a very few people doing “a lot”, IYSWIM. As well as the Fry’s stuff, we also eat Vivera, the burgers are particularly good, but the “chicken” pieces are a bit “meh”.
Do we think it’s worth starting another “sticky” post for vegan/veggie restaurants (and maybe (mail order) suppliers for stuff)? We obviously already have the stickies for good places to eat, but maybe a vegan/veggie one would be a useful resource?
As stated from the off, I’m an omnivore, but I really don’t understand people having a go at people who choose to eat veggie/vegan, for whatever reason. I’m lucky as my GF has never tried to stop me eating meat - she has helped me eat more healthily in general and I do tend to think more about where my food (all of it) comes from. Similarly, my nephew and his GF aren’t the militant/evangelical type of vegan, who I think can do more harm than good by turning people off from the debate/thinking about vegetarianism/veganism.
Anyway, rambling post done. Let me know your thoughts on a vegan/veggie restaurant sticky post and if you think it’s a good idea, what should be in it (I’m thinking split by country/county/town, name of venue, website link, recommended dishes and “nominator”).
We regularly have Fry’s brand pies, our favourites being the peppered steak ones. Nothing fancy, it’s more “heating” than actual “cooking”, normally with a baked spud and some peas/kohl rabi. The only thing stopping that being vegan is the butter on the veggies/spud and maybe cheese on the spud. As above, I don’t think the vegan “cheese” is quite there yet. A friend sent me some cheeses a few months back and there were only one or two out of about six I’d have again (and stupid me can’t find the note I made of which one).
My nephew and his GF came to visit last but one weekend and we struggled to find anywhere decent for dinner that catered to two vegans and one veggie. We ended up going to a pub, which advertised a “vegan” menu. Unfortunately, about a quarter of the vegan options weren’t available and those that were looked a bit lacklustre (although my nephew’s veggie burger was actually quite good, despite looking a bit dry). My Wagyu burger was more disappointing, it was dry, over cooked and bland. And they served it on a f
king brioche bun, which I fking hate (and it wasn’t listed on the bloody menu, either).There are a couple more vegan/vegan options cafés, but they tend to only be open during the day. We went to one place for brunch on the Sunday and they had all the usual suspects for a full English, as well as pancakes/bacon/syrup and some fairly hefty “shakes”. The good thing was that there were both veggie and vegan options for retry much everything on the menu. I tried the vegan pancakes my nephew had, which were really light and tasty and the seitan “bacon” was actually good as well, so me and GF have added it to our “list” for places to go. They had soy and oat dairy free options, rather than the “default” soy.
Our previous breakfast haunt has stopped doing the veggie breakfast (and which was only available on weekends anyway), which is a shame, as the café was both not part of a chain, but also all profits went to a local hospice, so we were happy to pay a bit more and to put up with the “breakfast roulette”, where we were never quite sure what would actually arrive, vs what we’d actually ordered (once my GF’s “fried egg bagel” arrived as a scrambled egg and bacon on toast, which when we said was wrong, were told “can’t you just take the bacon off and we’ll refund you the difference?”...)
On the plus side, we found a great vegan restaurant in Liverpool (Down the Hatch https://www.downthehatchliv.co.uk/ ), which is a vegan place, but which will “veggie-ise” stuff with cheese/dairy. It’s well worth a visit, despite the (to me) overly “chummy”/“matey” website. I’ve got a big appetite (hence I’m a fat f
k) but I was more than happy with the quality of the food and the portion size. Last time we went, I had a soy burger, which was great and my GF had a seitan kebab, which was also excellent.I don’t think I’ll ever go “full” veggie/vegan, but I’m definitely eating a lot less meat than I used to and when I do, I always try to buy free range and/or organic - basically go as “ethical” as I can (I realise the obvious contradiction whether eating meat at all can ever be ethical), but I take the view that it’s probably better for a lot of people to do “a bit”, rather than a very few people doing “a lot”, IYSWIM. As well as the Fry’s stuff, we also eat Vivera, the burgers are particularly good, but the “chicken” pieces are a bit “meh”.
Do we think it’s worth starting another “sticky” post for vegan/veggie restaurants (and maybe (mail order) suppliers for stuff)? We obviously already have the stickies for good places to eat, but maybe a vegan/veggie one would be a useful resource?
As stated from the off, I’m an omnivore, but I really don’t understand people having a go at people who choose to eat veggie/vegan, for whatever reason. I’m lucky as my GF has never tried to stop me eating meat - she has helped me eat more healthily in general and I do tend to think more about where my food (all of it) comes from. Similarly, my nephew and his GF aren’t the militant/evangelical type of vegan, who I think can do more harm than good by turning people off from the debate/thinking about vegetarianism/veganism.
Anyway, rambling post done. Let me know your thoughts on a vegan/veggie restaurant sticky post and if you think it’s a good idea, what should be in it (I’m thinking split by country/county/town, name of venue, website link, recommended dishes and “nominator”).
If you do a vegan restaurant then add this please.
Vegan pizzas in Camden and Brighton. So good most people don't realise they are vegan
https://purezza.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjLThpKzI4...
Vegan pizzas in Camden and Brighton. So good most people don't realise they are vegan
https://purezza.co.uk/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjLThpKzI4...
..and this is the best veggie restaurant in the UK... Almost worth moving back to the Lake District for. Stunning food.
https://www.quinceandmedlar.co.uk
https://www.quinceandmedlar.co.uk
audikentman said:
I went vegetarian when I had cancer. Last year finally found out why my partner was having stomach issues due to lactose intolerance not good so have ended up vegan.
These 2 cook books are great
I cant remember which one of the two its in, but the sweet and sour tofu is tremendous. I have it least once a week, dead easy to make, tasty and a good healthy-ish replacement for takeaway as most chinese takeaway places dont seem to cater well for those that dont want beef/chicken/pork.These 2 cook books are great
yellowbentines said:
audikentman said:
I cant remember which one of the two its in, but the sweet and sour tofu is tremendous. I have it least once a week, dead easy to make, tasty and a good healthy-ish replacement for takeaway as most chinese takeaway places dont seem to cater well for those that dont want beef/chicken/pork.Looking forward to nabbing some good ideas from this thread!
I noticed that Birds eye have a new range of vegan bits made from pea protein. I'm compelled to try any new vegan things I see so I picked up the meatballs and made sandwiches last night.
Just a fairly basic tomato sauce, violife cheese and the balls on some ciabatta.
They were pretty good. The texture wasn't as good as the linda mccartney ones but still pretty good. I'd had the meatless farm burgers before which also use pea protein and found them quite mealy but these were much better.
I was dubious about them, what with Birds Eye's reputation for making not so great frozen meat stuff and the list of ingredients was lengthy (mostly recognisable things though, just a lot of flavourings) but I was pleasantly surprised.
Just a fairly basic tomato sauce, violife cheese and the balls on some ciabatta.
They were pretty good. The texture wasn't as good as the linda mccartney ones but still pretty good. I'd had the meatless farm burgers before which also use pea protein and found them quite mealy but these were much better.
I was dubious about them, what with Birds Eye's reputation for making not so great frozen meat stuff and the list of ingredients was lengthy (mostly recognisable things though, just a lot of flavourings) but I was pleasantly surprised.
.
ZedLeg said:
I've been eating vegan since last sept and I'm always looking for new ideas. Here's some of the things I've made recently
https://www.pyrexuk.com/blogs/recipes/vegetables-t...
Here's a genuine one for Vegan contributors, RE eggs. Eggs aren't allowed under Vegan rules, as I gather being vegan is (in part) a standing against the industry of animals being farmed how they are for produce.
Some may have noted (https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=&t=1812472) that we now have a hen, and her rapidly growing 11 chicks. S goes to 11 when it comes to caring for any animal, these hens are having a fab fox proof hen run and house being currently built, they eat incredibly well, and they'll have near 300 square foot of run for 10 hens (two at least are cockerels, may end up needing another run) when the recommended minimum is 10 sq ft per hen.
We'll end up with more eggs than we can use, with this in mind I asked our Vegan builder (who knows how well S looks after our animals) if the rule could be broken for eggs from them, as there is far from any welfare issue, they're probably the most pampered hens for miles!
The answer was no, what's that all about?
Some may have noted (https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=&t=1812472) that we now have a hen, and her rapidly growing 11 chicks. S goes to 11 when it comes to caring for any animal, these hens are having a fab fox proof hen run and house being currently built, they eat incredibly well, and they'll have near 300 square foot of run for 10 hens (two at least are cockerels, may end up needing another run) when the recommended minimum is 10 sq ft per hen.
We'll end up with more eggs than we can use, with this in mind I asked our Vegan builder (who knows how well S looks after our animals) if the rule could be broken for eggs from them, as there is far from any welfare issue, they're probably the most pampered hens for miles!
The answer was no, what's that all about?
There isn’t a collective vegan hive mind so there are some differences in how you view veganism.
A friend of mines went on holiday to a small island up north that had wild (feral?) chickens. Apparently they’d been left behind at some point when someone abandoned a small holding. She ate the eggs she found lying around while there.
I’d like to keep rescued battery hens once I get a garden and I’d Probably eat any eggs they lay.
I’ve been eating like trash this week so I’ve been trying to have a good day today.
Made garlicky mushrooms and tomatoes on fresh bread for breakfast, didn’t take a picture because I was hungover and had munched it before I was functional.
Made a vegetable hash for dinner. Rubbish picture below.
A friend of mines went on holiday to a small island up north that had wild (feral?) chickens. Apparently they’d been left behind at some point when someone abandoned a small holding. She ate the eggs she found lying around while there.
I’d like to keep rescued battery hens once I get a garden and I’d Probably eat any eggs they lay.
I’ve been eating like trash this week so I’ve been trying to have a good day today.
Made garlicky mushrooms and tomatoes on fresh bread for breakfast, didn’t take a picture because I was hungover and had munched it before I was functional.
Made a vegetable hash for dinner. Rubbish picture below.
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