The State of Catering For Vegetarians In UK Pubs and Restaurants

A message For Chefs and Bar and Restaurant owners from a Vegetarian

May I through your website voice my increasing anger at the constant discriminatory behaviour that goes on in pubs and restaurants nationwide.

No I’m not a smoker or disabled, I am a Vegetarian.

Today yet again we tried to get a decent meal out at lunchtime. We visited a well known local Pub just outside Taunton. Shall we say situated between Walford Cross and the pick your own fruit growers on the main A38.

My husband and I consulted the menu, he was ok as he is a meat eater. The menu is very extensive, there is also a “specials” board. I had the choice of one item. This is not unusual, sometimes I get a choice of nothing and very often I have to have a Salad Salad. This usually comprises of some shredded lettuce and half a tomato, you should witness the waitress’s face when I request some dressing, no not salad cream! Can I also clear up the usual misunderstanding veggies and vegans do not eat fish!

As usual the dish contained cheese. Unfortunately I have a food intolerence to cooked cheese and cream. I explained this to the waitress who was very helpful and went to the kitchen to ask if they could give me anything else. She returned a few minutes later and said I could have a double helping of any of the Veggie starters as a main course. When I checked the menu all the starters contained cheese and cream. Again I explained I could not eat them so the waitress said I could have the Casulett that on the menu contained sausages. I asked did that mean the sausages would just be removed? The waitress said no it would be freshly cooked, I was happy with this as I often make the dish at home, nice thick tasty herby tomato sauce with lots of creamy melt-in-the-mouth beans.

You can imagine my disappointment when the dish arrived, for a start it had a table spoon sized dollop of what appearered to be cream cheese on the top. When I asked what it was and could it be taken off the waitress took it away only to reurn a few seconds later to explain it was soured cream. I again reminded her that I couldn’t tolerate cheese or cream. My husband by now was tucking into his Steak and Ale pie and veg (pie good, veg awful)

Eventually the waitress returned with the dish which was by then at best luke warm. After the first mouthful I was very diappointed. The beans were undercooked and the sauce was tasteless it was just as though the Chef had put a spoonful of tomato puree in some hot water, he (she) had also forgotten to add any seasoning.

By this time my husband had finished his food and I was just going to call the waitress when she appeared and asked if the food was ok. I explained it wasn’t and I couldn’t eat it.

My husband went to pay the bill and explained I couldn’t eat my food and why. He was informed by the landlady that a lot of the dish was sold and they had received no complaints so he was being charged for it whether we liked it or not.

I tried to explain to her my disappointment with the menu and also stated that we would not be returning. Lets just say she was unhelpful.
As I said earlier this experience is by no means an isolated occurance. If there are any Chefs or Pub/Restaurant managers reading this could I put out a plea for fellow veggies and Vegans we would love to feel more at home when we dine out and actually get offered something that we wouldn’t necessarily eat at home, as meat eaters do. How often have you heard a meat eater say they love going out for a steak as they never eat it at home?

The other thing that badly needs to be addressed is the fact that Chefs imagine veggies only eat cheese and we get offered cheese to start with and for mains and cheese cake for pud, some places really round it up with a set menu and we get cheese and biscuits at the end.

It is possible to have tasty veggie food. I cook it all the time at home. If any chef would like to contact me for ideas I would be happy to help.

Regards

Sue Thorne
Burnham on sea
Somerset