If you have a special diet, does this sound familiar?
You receive an invitation to a wedding, and the RSVP portion asks you to check off one of two things: chicken or fish. Well, obviously vegetarians do not want to be served chicken or fish. And people with allergies or special dietary needs also can’t eat just anything. What do you do?
A. Grumble a bunch, and then check off one or the other
B. Eschew going to the wedding altogether …
Skip the wedding? How sad would that be?
A few months ago, I wrote about how I was once a bit embarrassed about my diet. While this is definitely no longer the case, I still try not to call attention to my veganism when out with friends, family, or other non-vegans. I don’t want anyone to feel awkward, and also, sometimes it’s not all about me! Sometimes, I just don’t feel like getting into the debate, ya know? I want to talk about things other than my culinary inclinations.
In my eight years as a vegan, I’ve learned that the best way to ensure you’ll get some vegan grub, hassle-free, is to call ahead. This is a good strategy for three reasons: One, you don’t have to call attention to yourself or seem “high maintenance” when the waiter is taking orders. Two, if they can’t accommodate your diet, you have time to make different arrangements. Three, it’s courteous to give the chef a heads-up so he/she can be better prepared. Plus, you’ll probably end up with something yummier if the chef knows in advance about your diet and is therefore able to brainstorm a meal for you.
By calling ahead, for the wedding I recently attended, I was rewarded with an amazing, gourmet meal: Perfectly-grilled zucchini, eggplant, yellow squash, peppers, tomato, and portabella mushrooms drizzled with a balsamic reduction so sweet I’m still dreaming about it.
I was lucky this time. However, it’s always a good idea to have a back-up plan, just in case. My backup plan for this particular occasion was a bunch of nuts thrown into my purse, if all I was served was an iceberg salad. True, nuts and salad aren’t an ideal dinner. But I believe food isn’t the most important thing in life. What’s more important? Friends, family, and dancing all night! That, and cute party favors like these Love Beyond Measure spoons:
Cute or what?!
Are you always prepared with food in your purse?
And have you ever had a restaurant meal specially made for you?
I always carry some sort of energy bar, fruit, or nuts in my purse or backpack. My friends love me for it; when they get hungry, they know where to turn. Unfortunately, that means I have to routinely remember to restock!
Thank you! I am never quite sure of the etiquette on this, and you may have given me a great idea for an upcoming wedding I’m to attend.
My favourite in France: when booking a dinner for a group (think: 60 people), I asked the restaurant to provide a vegetarian/vegan option for I think about 12 members of the group. The entrée definitly wasn’t vegan, but was ok for vegetarians (quiche using eggs)… and the main course was fish.
When I objected, the waitress first got a bit cheeky. I kindly remembered her that I had let them known about special dieters one month in advance, and that the chef had told us it would be ok- which was the very reason I chose that restaurant. And that if still they weren’t able to provide food for 12 members of the group, when would they please not count these 12 people in the final bill – since they didn’t get a meal?!
The chef then came to talk to me and apologize: he didn’t know that vegetarian meant “no fish also” (he was confused because vegetarians eat eggs, and milk products, so he had figured it would be ok). He managed to provide them with a least a big soup, and some fresh fruit and sorbet for dessert.
I have now learnt that it’s better to explain exactly what you mean when you are specifying vegetarian or vegan!