More difficult in the UK?

Earthling · May 5, 2011

Sounds like your wife is the difficult part, not your location!

Rad14 · May 5, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

Sounds like your wife is the difficult part, not your location!

I wouldn't say that. Is it her fault she simply likes to eat nothing but very plain food?

What pleasure would there be in it for me to be out with her for a nice meal, and while I enjoyed it, she sat there eating nothing?

At least in most omni restaurants where I live I can get the salad, the lasagne or the stir-fry, that I've had a million times before.

and that looks like what I'm going to get in the future too!

Kappa · May 5, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rad14

As far as "Vegans" are concerned, I don't think any restaurant in this entire country has ever heard the word!

There are some places that are quite kind toward vegans. If your wife could accept Chinese food there's a nice restaurant in the university quarter that is nice, a Japanese one nearby too, which I think might provide vegan food, it's been a while since I've been in either. Worth a look in though.

Annia · May 5, 2011

Overall, the UK is far, far easier to be veg*n than the USA. I mean, nearly everything that is suitable for vegetarians is labelled as such (especially supermarkets own brands). A bit more difficult for being vegan but wholefood shops etc are a life saver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rad14

I live in a town called Bangor which is about 15 miles from Belfast in Northern Ireland.
Before you say, maybe I should eat out in Belfast, it isn't much better! Believe me, I've tried!

I got awfully excited then.. (I live in the Welsh Bangor

)

Anyway, about eating out.

Back when I was vegan I did OK. However, there were a few times that my family wanted to eat out and the restaurants they wanted to go to had vegetarian options but not vegan options. So my family actually rang the restaurant up and asked them if it would be possible for them to a vegan option for me. They gave the restaurant a week's notice and the restaurant was more than happy to do it. They even said that they would completely clean down an area in the kitchen and prep and cook my food there so there would be no cross-contamination.
I know it sounds like only "posh" restaurants would do that. This one was a rural pub. A pub. Not part of a chain either.
Conversely, a "posh" restaurant down in town (this isn't Wales BTW) said they wouldn't do anything vegan for me.

So maybe think in advance of where you would wish to eat out and ring up places and ask if they would be willing to make something vegan for you? You might be surprised.

Identity_thief · May 6, 2011

It deffinatly sounds like the issue is where in the UK you live, I find being vegan and eating out as a vegan very easy where I live and where I used to live! Sounds rubbish where you are!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rad14

I wouldn't say that. Is it her fault she simply likes to eat nothing but very plain food?

What pleasure would there be in it for me to be out with her for a nice meal, and while I enjoyed it, she sat there eating nothing?

At least in most omni restaurants where I live I can get the salad, the lasagne or the stir-fry, that I've had a million times before.

and that looks like what I'm going to get in the future too!

Is it your fault you don't believe it's right to eat meat? What pleasure does she get watching you eat the same three meals you've had a million times before whilst she can eat her favourites?

Just to play devils advocate. It sounds a bit imbalanced to me!

A lot of indian resturaunts also have english menus, and the same with chinese, so could you look out for somewhere like that? I also second Annia about phoning ahead and asking for something different to be made for you, I've done this before and the response has always been positive and I've had some brilliant vegan meals out this way - as a vegetarian it should be even easier.

Also another thought, you could go somewhere you really want to go, and your wife could ask for something simple to be made especially for her. For example you could go to a japanese place and your wife could ask for plain rice/noodles and chicken or something like that. Or a jacket potato and salad/tuna/whatever.

You could suggest taking it in turns to choose the resturaunt, as long as the other has at least one option they're happy to eat, and that way you can try some new vegetarian meals whilst eating out? Or something similar?

Earthling · May 6, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rad14

I wouldn't say that. Is it her fault she simply likes to eat nothing but very plain food?

What pleasure would there be in it for me to be out with her for a nice meal, and while I enjoyed it, she sat there eating nothing?

At least in most omni restaurants where I live I can get the salad, the lasagne or the stir-fry, that I've had a million times before.

and that looks like what I'm going to get in the future too!

I'm sorry, I realise now it sounds rude to call your wife difficult. I didn't mean any offence, I just worded it badly! What I meant was that the problem is not a lack of vegetarian options, just that they are not options you can take because your choice of restaurant is limited. I think identity_thief has some great ideas about how you can compromise a little so you are both happy

yally · May 6, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

I'm sorry, I realise now it sounds rude to call your wife difficult. I didn't mean any offence, I just worded it badly! What I meant was that the problem is not a lack of vegetarian options, just that they are not options you can take because your choice of restaurant is limited. I think identity_thief has some great ideas about how you can compromise a little so you are both happy

This exactly.

Like I say, I do live in London, but I have no problem in most rural locations either and I'm usually pleasantly surprised. If you're just vegetarian and not vegan, then it really is very, very easy to get by in most UK restaurants.

It's a shame your wife is so picky. I used to be a ridiculously picky eater and that was more limiting for me and my family than since broadening my horizons but cutting out animal products. It's a shame for her as much as for anything else, she's missing out on so much.

Rad14 · May 6, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by yally

This exactly.

Like I say, I do live in London, but I have no problem in most rural locations either and I'm usually pleasantly surprised. If you're just vegetarian and not vegan, then it really is very, very easy to get by in most UK restaurants.

It's a shame your wife is so picky. I used to be a ridiculously picky eater and that was more limiting for me and my family than since broadening my horizons but cutting out animal products. It's a shame for her as much as for anything else, she's missing out on so much.

I know, I've had that conversation with her many times, but she is as she is and can't (or maybe won't) change.

Rad14 · May 6, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earthling

I'm sorry, I realise now it sounds rude to call your wife difficult. I didn't mean any offence, I just worded it badly! What I meant was that the problem is not a lack of vegetarian options, just that they are not options you can take because your choice of restaurant is limited. I think identity_thief has some great ideas about how you can compromise a little so you are both happy

Don't worry Earthling, no offence taken. Your right, identity_thief does have some good ideas to try.

Rad14 · May 6, 2011

A special thanks to lucky_charm for the second link you provided. This seems very useful and we will definitely give it a try.
I must admit, for a long time I myself wasn't aware that Japanese, Chinese etc restaurants held such a varety of veg*n food, and I suppose both of us gave them a wide berth.
We will have change that soon!

lucky_charm · May 6, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rad14

A special thanks to lucky_charm for the second link you provided. This seems very useful and we will definitely give it a try.
I must admit, for a long time I myself wasn't aware that Japanese, Chinese etc restaurants held such a varety of veg*n food, and I suppose both of us gave them a wide berth.
We will have change that soon!

No problem, I'm glad you have at least one new idea of where to go! Happy Cow is amazing, my mum just suggested we go somewhere on holiday that I'd never heard of, I typed it into that site and found four vegetarian restaurants all near the central touristy bit! Makes me more excited to go

FrenchGirl · May 6, 2011

But you are lucky in France is most difficult to UK. I love London because I can have a lot of vegetarian options ( I don't know for vegan options) but in France you have one vegetarian option in restaurant and no vegan options ...
And you can have vegan shoes, vegan bags, in France it's impossible ! I think you are very lucky !
London is the city for vegan shopping but maybe is better in US I don't know.

Fushichou · May 6, 2011

I second FrenchGirl.
France is a a nightmare! It's near impossible to find vegetarian restaurants if you don't live in Paris. A good option is always Indian, Chinese, Italian cuisine (rarely, if at all, Japanese). In shops/supermarkets, we just start to be able to find vegetarian and vegan options, but it still very limited, and not in every supermarkets. Of course, it's still possible to go vegan buy buying veg & fruits in markets. But dining out as a veg*an is extremely difficult, unless living in Paris (even in Lyon it's tough).
London is waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy better, it's a paradise for vegans!

lucky_charm · May 6, 2011

FrenchGirl · May 6, 2011

I live in Paris and I think it's difficult. I can compare Paris and London and I know London is better.
In Paris you have vegetarian and vegan restaurants but my boyfriend is omni and he want eat meat so I go in omni restaurants and I have only one or two vegetarian options.

lucky_charm · May 6, 2011

London may be better than Paris, but Paris is better than most places!! Loads of vegan and veggie restaurants, (my bf is omni too, but surely you can go to a veg restaurant on occasion) as well as lots that serve meat but have vegan options too: http://www.happycow.net/europe/france/paris/

The fact that a significant other won't go to veg*n friendly places (while lamentable) does not mean that an area doesn't cater well for veg*ns.

IamJen · May 6, 2011

lucky_charm posted the link I was thinking of. Happy Cow is a great resource!

I've not spent any time in Belfast, but for England/Wales, I'd have to say that being a vegetarian at least, is way easier than in most of the US as far as convenience foods and eating out. I've never ever been in a restaurant here that didn't have at least one non-salad vegetarian option, and that's definitely happened in America (one place I couldn't even get plain vegetables!). Being vegan is slightly more challenging, but we've never starved (to which our bellies will attest), and I can't think of any specialty vegan items that we're really missing.

Fushichou · May 7, 2011

I only checked the restaurants you posted for Lyon (as i'm originally from Lyon), lucky_charm. The problem with these restaurants is that they are only open for lunch, during the week. And expensive as well.
Of course, it's better than not having anything, but it would be so much better if they were open evenings! I would have been able to go there with omni friends who were willing to try, but as they worked far from any of these restaurants, we never have been able to do it. :/

@ FrenchGirl: usually, if you call the omni restaurant in advance for a vegetarian/vegan option, you can get one. Or if you go to a restaurant without veg*an options, without having planned it beforehand, you can always ask for something specially made, for instance no tuna in your salad, a veggie plate instead of meat for the main course, and a fruits/a fruit salad for desert (if you're vegan).
The result may not always be the best, but the more we ask for special treatments in omni restaurants, the more they'll realise there are veg*ans out there that they should cater for.

Peacebone · May 8, 2011

I live in London and we have loads of places to eat here.

lucky_charm · May 8, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fushichô

I only checked the restaurants you posted for Lyon (as i'm originally from Lyon), lucky_charm. The problem with these restaurants is that they are only open for lunch, during the week. And expensive as well.
Of course, it's better than not having anything, but it would be so much better if they were open evenings! I would have been able to go there with omni friends who were willing to try, but as they worked far from any of these restaurants, we never have been able to do it. :/

Couleur des Mets does dinner on Fridays, Toutes Les Couleurs does dinner Friday and Saturdays, and Zone Verte is Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays. Can't you go out for dinner on the weekend? This seems to be the format of a lot of veg restaurants as they can't afford to be open every night with not much business.

I would say 13 euros for entrée plus plat (zone verte) is quite good for dinner, toutes les couleurs looks a bit more expensive, more the 18 euro mark for a meal but for a special treat out not bad.

More difficult in the UK?

Earthling

Rad14

Kappa

Annia

Identity_thief

Earthling

yally

Rad14

Rad14

Rad14

lucky_charm

FrenchGirl

Fushichou

lucky_charm

FrenchGirl

lucky_charm

IamJen

Fushichou

Peacebone

lucky_charm

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