vegetarian or not vegetarian restaurants?

[Guest guest]

I am sure many of you have experienced this ongoing frustration.

 

Although many (most?) Chinese, Thai, Indonesian, Vietnamese, etc,

restaurants say they cater to vegetarians, even going so far as

expressly listing on their menus " Vegetarian " sections (sometimes

only listed simply as " Vegetables " ) that in many (most?) cases this

turns out to not be the case.Traditionally these cuisines use a fish

paste/sauce or oyster sauce in the preparation of their meals. Over

and over again when I inquire I am told that 'yes', there is the

presence of these ingredients and I have to ask that my meal be

prepared without the inclusion of said ingredients. I then have to

hold my breath and trust that they really respect and comply with my

wishes (not always the case). I have even been told that the

" vegetarian dish tastes tastes better with the fish sauce - as if

that would change my mind!

 

Many unsuspecting vegetarians and vegans (Indian food traditionally

prepared with ghee!) just don't ask the question or suspect this

practice. I am putting out this little missive as warning to those of

you who are not aware of this problem.

 

But I was also thinking that a group such as this has a certain power

(we are consumers after all). If we could issue a letter to Bay Area

(for starters) restaurants that advertise " vegetarian " options on

their menus, that fish and oyster sauce are not acceptable in

vegetarian dishes (because regardless of what some people seem to

conveniently think - eating fish is categorically NOT " vegetarian " ),

and that unless they change their practices we will not (again as a

consumer group) patronize their establishments, I believe we could

change this practice.

 

It's really all about education. I am sorry as I don't have the time

to really coordinate such an effort, but if anyone does it would be a

benefit to all vegetarian/vegans to count on these restaurants. Does

SFBAVEG have a letterhead? That might be the most effective way of

communicating our seriousness.

 

Just a few thoughts. Thanks for listening.

 

Steven

[Guest guest]

> But I was also thinking that a group such as this has a certain power

> (we are consumers after all). If we could issue a letter to Bay Area

> (for starters) restaurants that advertise " vegetarian " options on

> their menus, that fish and oyster sauce are not acceptable in

> vegetarian dishes (because regardless of what some people seem to

> conveniently think - eating fish is categorically NOT " vegetarian " ),

> and that unless they change their practices we will not (again as a

> consumer group) patronize their establishments, I believe we could

> change this practice.

>

> It's really all about education. I am sorry as I don't have the time

> to really coordinate such an effort, but if anyone does it would be a

> benefit to all vegetarian/vegans to count on these restaurants. Does

> SFBAVEG have a letterhead? That might be the most effective way of

> communicating our seriousness.

 

Steven, this is an interesting idea... also a massive project depending on

how many restaurants that you plan on contacting. Yes, " Bay Area

Vegetarians " (the group that " owns " the mailing list SFBAVEG) does have

letterhead if " anyone " wanted to work on this as a project.. now, who is

this " anyone " ??

 

Cheers,

Tammy