What omnivores get wrong about vegetarian cooking

[Morning Glory]

Show up with tofu, mushrooms, and cauliflower and say, "Here, cook this for me!" - you'll hear me say, "The kitchen's that way, help yourself!"

I was assuming that The Late Night Gourmet was meaning they had to prepare it too! Or perhaps have it ready made to just heat up.

 

[caseydog]

Contrary to my previous (tongue in cheek) comment, I have no problem adjusting my cooking to the medical dietary needs of friends and family. I have a cousin with Celiac Disease, so he CAN'T have gluten. On the other hand, I have a friend who is gluten free (and many other things) by choice, and tells me I should be, too. HE can cook his own food.

I love fresh vegetables, but could never be a full-time vegetarian, let alone vegan. When veggies are in season, which is early summer here, for the most part, I can make a meal out of veggies on the grill. But in January, when fresh tomatoes taste like cardboard and corn is tough and chewy, I lose interest.

CD

 

[rascal]

Interesting article. I think it is very true that too often vegetables are treated almost as an afterthought, simply to prop up a main protein. We have been increasingly conscious of this of late - simply dollupping a pile of carrots and peas on a plate and leaving the meat or fish to supply the interest is a missed opportunity. Each element can be a star in its own right, given a bit of forethought and planning.

Which is why curry is so popular, the veges with curry spices highlight the flavours.

Russ

 

[caseydog]

Which is why curry is so popular, the veges with curry spices highlight the flavours.

Russ

Not a lot of curry eaters in Texas, but I have had some vegetarian chilis that were pretty good. Beans are big here, too. Pretty much every BBQ joint here will have their own recipe of BBQ beans, usually made with pinto beans. Tex-Mex uses a lot of beans, too.

CD

 

[rascal]

Not a lot of curry eaters in Texas, but I have had some vegetarian chilis that were pretty good. Beans are big here, too. Pretty much every BBQ joint here will have their own recipe of BBQ beans, usually made with pinto beans. Tex-Mex uses a lot of beans, too.

CD

I've got some Texans to try one of my dishes, they loved it. We eat quite a few lentils in my dhal. I'm pretty well balanced when I think of it. Like most stuff.

Russ

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

In 1969 I dined at a place called the Summer House in Waikiki.
It was a terrific introduction to vegetarian fare, not cooking.
They'd only lightly warm things like soup. Never cooked anything on the menu.

It was fantastic.

Then their was a vegetarian place called Follow Your Heart near where I lived in the mid 70's.
The entire menu was like eating sawdust.

Wife took me to a restaurant in Palm Springs that's Vegetarian, but no mention of it what so ever.
You'd never know it and the food was excellent.
Vegan items were the only thing pointed out on the menu. Everything else was Vegetarian and you'd never know it.

This approach opened the door to everyone to try it without thinking "Vegetarian? Oh, that's not for me."

Good burgers BTW.

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

The Eagle Tavern in Dearborn Michigan
Savory Noodles.
Not only the most amazing Vegetarian dish, but the best thing I ever ate.
Looks so common and so simple damfino what they did beyond the fresh made noodles, but this dish just tops the charts.
This could put the skeptics over the fence to the meatless lifestyle.

I'd give my next born child to make a dish as tasty as this:

 

[Morning Glory]

The Eagle Tavern in Dearborn Michigan
Savory Noodles.
Not only the most amazing Vegetarian dish, but the best thing I ever ate.
Looks so common and so simple damfino what they did beyond the fresh made noodles, but this dish just tops the charts.
This could put the skeptics over the fence to the meatless lifestyle.

I'd give my next born child to make a dish as tasty as this:
View attachment 54437

Do you know the ingredients?

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Do you know the ingredients?

No. I asked, but no.

 

[rascal]

No. I asked, but no.

Giggle is your friend??

Russ

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

Googling the recipe brings up nothing close to it.
Eagle Tavern:
A passion for the past.
All menu items locally grown.

Speaking Vegetarian and old school eating joints, this trip we continued on to Washington DC and our favorite spot there was the Old Ebbitt Grille:
Hand written Boards on the walls stated what fisher folk families supplied the crab and other seafood and from where specifically. Also what farm family the potatoes came from:

 

[rascal]

Googling the recipe brings up nothing close to it.
Eagle Tavern:
A passion for the past.
All menu items locally grown.
View attachment 54456
View attachment 54457


View attachment 54459
Speaking Vegetarian and old school eating joints, this trip we continued on to Washington DC and our favorite spot there was the Old Ebbitt Grille:
Hand written Boards on the walls stated what fisher folk families supplied the crab and other seafood and from where specifically. Also what farm family the potatoes came from:

View attachment 54460

Impressive joint, would love to visit there, and eat.

Russ

 

[Dive Bar Casanova]

I've got some Texans to try one of my dishes, they loved it. We eat quite a few lentils in my dhal. I'm pretty well balanced when I think of it. Like most stuff.

Russ

Not a lot of curry eaters in Texas, but I have had some vegetarian chilis that were pretty good. Beans are big here, too. Pretty much every BBQ joint here will have their own recipe of BBQ beans, usually made with pinto beans. Tex-Mex uses a lot of beans, too.

CD

"More beans in Chili is like more bread in meatloaf" -McCulloch (the chainsaw guy).
I love Texas style chili. Usually bean less. Benny Binion served Texas style at his Vegas Horseshoe Casino lunch counter.
More and more chili events out here have a no bean clause in the rules.

Impressive joint, would love to visit there, and eat.

Russ

Eagle Tavern was beer hall seating. Some people loved it, others were visibly uncomfortable with it.
A guy a few people down from me at the table ordered the trout.
He told the server "You need to throw this fish back into the pond."

 

[caseydog]

Do you know the ingredients?

Well, it clearly has mushrooms, which make a fine meat replacement.

CD

 

[caseydog]

"More beans in Chili is like more bread in meatloaf" -McCulloch (the chainsaw guy).
I love Texas style chili. Usually bean less. Benny Binion served Texas style at his Vegas Horseshoe Casino lunch counter.
More and more chili events out here have a no bean clause in the rules.

What I meant, but didn't write well, is that beans are popular in Texas overall, not necessarily in chili. In BBQ joints, you will always find their own recipe if BBQ beans, often smoked with the meats. TexMex dishes almost always have beans on the plate. Rice and beans is pretty common in parts of Texas -- it is cheap and filling.

In chili, beans is now considered an acceptable option, although there are still plenty of purists who would never put beans (or tomato products) in Texas chili.

As I said, I have had vegetarian chili that was very good. You have to judge on its own merits, not on whether it tastes like meat chili.

CD