Vegetarian Meals In Pubs

[rich!]

I get utterly fucked off when the crappy work do comes around and the hugely overpriced menus feature every detail of every meaty offering including sides and sauces but then have a crappy italicised 'Vegetarian version available'. Before Christmas that's like spending thirty quid on a food lucky dip and just occasionally, just because veggies don't eat meat or fish, they may possibly not be able to eat or hate something not containing either of the above. I have had a roast dinner with no veggie gravy or meat, just a flaccid omellete and 'trimmings' and paid the same as those who gorged on salt marsh lamb.

One advantage of being in charge of the booking: we always go somewhere I can have a great meal. Which, strangely, means we always end up at Zeffrani's in Islington having a giant slap-up curry. An approach I cannot recommend enough. Especially if you follow it with a curry at Khan's three hours later

 

[kittyP]

That seems a pity. I am really not sure food pubs should be trying to define themselves in opposition to "gastro pubs" anyway, but I can't see how portions of veggie lasagne base couldn't be kept frozen in exactly the same way that the makings of meat lasagne would be, albeit in smaller quantities. Similarly, your reach-in would just have a big tub of walnut balls, 3 out and on the plate, 10 mins in the combi oven and lazz the bechamel sauce over - we're really not looking at insuperable catering problems here.

People these days won't settle for boil-in-the-bag - pubs have had to raise their game, and I KNOW there were pubs back in the day who sneered at the idea of cooking proper food in a pub. Nowadays, most pubs that call themselves anything worthy of the name wouldn't dream of serving that kind of slop: times change. Maybe the industry needs to change a little more, too, to cater for a customer base who want a little more variety and a little more choice without necessarily having to go to a gastropub to get it.

In relation to the bit in bold, it is not reeeallly a food pub, it is a pub pub that's main thing is booze and music.
It just so happens that Badgers is a damn good and creative chef and trying to make it nicer in the food dept, whilst still being bound by what the pub is and the brewery.

 

[kittyP]

So how far can they go in sorting out a decent veggie burger? I don't want to come over all cynical here, but I've got the feeling that if I start suggesting some kind of squashed-flat-falafel job, maybe with some spinach in, it's going to get the "G*****pub" treatment?

They already to a lovely veggie burger.

 

[existentialist]

They already to a lovely veggie burger.

Then I think they should probably stick to that! A lovely veggie burger is truly a wonderful thing to behold, and even better to eat. And I'd exclude a decent burger from my "I won't want to eat it twice in a month" rule

 

[Badgers]

We're basically talking 3663 specials, then?

Have no fear, I am nowhere near your pub, but I suspect it's the sort of place I'd come to eat in once.

No. Take the chip off your shoulder

 

[el-ahrairah]

yeah, i've eaten the veggie burger in the albert a few times, which indicates a certain quality.

 

[el-ahrairah]

No. Take the chip off your shoulder

"you can't bring your own food in here"

 

[spawnofsatan]

They already to a lovely veggie burger.

Do they do a veggie burger that doesn't contain sweetcorn? If so looks like i'm heading back to London

 

[kittyP]

yeah, i've eaten the veggie burger in the albert a few times, which indicates a certain quality.

They do tend to change the veggie burger when the meat menu changes too (I think) and you can add extras like you do with the meat ones.

 

[kittyP]

Do they do a veggie burger that doesn't contain sweetcorn? If so looks like i'm heading back to London

If it did contain sweetcorn I think Badgers might have chucked them out

 

[rich!]

Insalata caprese, made with a whole ball of good mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves from the market? The tomatoes and mozzarella can also garnish burgers.

 

[gaijingirl]

Insalata caprese, made with a whole ball of good mozzarella, and fresh basil leaves from the market? The tomatoes and mozzarella can also garnish burgers.

oh yes.. I'd get this. With chips.

 

[kittyP]

oh yes.. I'd get this. With chips.

Chips with EVERYTHING!

 

[Badgers]

No. Take the chip off your shoulder

Sorry to be terse existentialist the reason I won't serve omelette is they remind me of Stanley Edwards and I do a little sick in my mouth

 

[kittyP]

Ooh they used to do lovely sweet potato fries, Badgers, do they still do them?

 

[Badgers]

.

 

[rich!]

Every time you post that I do a little sick in my mouth

 

[existentialist]

No. Take the chip off your shoulder

I'll accept that there is (or has been) a bit of a chip on that shoulder as a result of my experiences over the years. But that reaction was more about my surprise at how low the "gastro" bar seems to be than any shoulder chippage!

Sadly, the likelihood of my ever being in Brixton seems vanishingly small, so I won't have a chance to demonstrate otherwise, but be assured that if I do find myself there, I'll be over to find out about this veggie burger that kittyP is recommending

 

[Badgers]

.

 

[existentialist]

Sorry to be terse existentialist the reason I won't serve omelette is they remind me of Stanley Edwards and I do a little sick in my mouth

That is understandable. He has a similar effect on me, though not in regard to omelettes - I feel rather glad to have missed something of some significance there (and no, I do not need to have that corrected!)

 

[DrRingDing]

Good nachos with hot enough sauce, proper jalapenos and good cheddar? You can then do a mild version, and all the ingredients keep well.

Also, if you've got a deep fat fryer, why not do onion bhajis?

Just pakora everything.

 

[fredfelt]

A local pub does an halloumi burger - Topped with tzaki, rocket, roasted peppers and mushrooms. Chips on the side.

Easy to prepare, keeps well and very tasty. Ticks all boxes.

 

[scifisam]

Once at a set menu plus entertainment crapfest in Florida (not my choice - I was 15) the equally-priced vegetarian version of a three course meal was a huge bowl of raw broccoli.

Stop right there. Aubergines are fab for veggie dishes. They have a deep taste and a great texture. Aubergine parmigiana for a start!

Some restaurants only have aubergine dishes for vegetarians, though. The place I was at last night had three veggie main courses, all with aubergine as the main ingredient. I loathe the stuff.

 

[rich!]

Some restaurants only have aubergine dishes for vegetarians, though. The place I was at last night had three veggie main courses, all with aubergine as the main ingredient. I loathe the stuff.

Which ones? *plans trip*

 

[scifisam]

Which ones? *plans trip*

Mangal 2 on the Stokey/Dalston border was the one last night. Cheap, friendly, and we were sat next to Gilbert and George who apparently eat there every single night.

 

[rich!]

Mangal 2 on the Stokey/Dalston border was the one last night. Cheap, friendly, and we were sat next to Gilbert and George who apparently eat there every single night.

ok, going to a turkish place and complaining about the over-use of aubergine is a bit like going to wetherspoons and complaining about the bar service....

 

[Geri]

^ this. Who fucking decided veggies have to eat goats cheese? Do meat eaters actually like this stuff?

I love goat's cheese.

 

[scifisam]

ok, going to a turkish place and complaining about the over-use of aubergine is a bit like going to wetherspoons and complaining about the bar service....

Well, not every veggie dish has to include aubergine even in a Turkish restaurant. They were happy enough to bring starters as my main course though, so it was fine.

 

[moose]

my heart sinks whenever i see Vegetarian Lasagna on the menu.

Me too. I almost always end up having a side salad and chips in pubs, assuming the chips don't look like they've been fried in filthy old oil. Or I have more beer.

I have an aversion to most things in breadcrumbs, too.

 

[oryx]

How not to cater for veggies Part 1076:

The veggie option at a certain chain of pubs used to be what looked like half a pack of that cellophane-boxed green spinach & ricotta tortellini with half a can of tinned tomatoes chucked over it.

Mind you, I had the meat option (admits to being an omnivore posting on a veggie thread) and that has to have been infinitely worse.