This is "National Vegetarian Week"

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on July 11, 2009 at 16:04

... and another thing. When entertaining in the normal way, the host is expected to make special provision for the (normally sole) vegetarian who refuses, due to their non-standard food preference, to eat what otherwise would have generously been made available for them.

"I'm a vegetarian" (normally said with wan expression).

We see this on aeroplanes as well, were the vegetarians are served first and separately, doubtless tending to increase costs for all passengers. Most of us (including vegans, omnivores and carnivores) will have observed this phenomenon of vegetarian insistence on being treated specially and most the time they are humoured and indulged.

But, while the devout vegetarian expects this special separate catering treatment in these circumstances, how many normal folk (i.e. meat eaters) expect this favouritism when the boot is on other foot?

i.e. How many omnivores expect to be catered for separately and specially when going as a guest to a place where the only fare on offer is vegetarian?!

Answer: no special treatment is sought by the healthy big-hearted omnivores! Is this fair?

Should the vegans not be expected to provide tasty meat dishes for their non-adherent friends?!

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Permalink Reply by Birdy_Too on July 11, 2009 at 16:38

Bored Clive? Best thing is not to invite vegetarians to your house, not that anyone would accept the invite knowing what kind of intolerant abuse they would get after you crack open the Lambrusco : )

Would you expect a Muslim friend to eat Pork at your house or someone who doesn't like sprouts, would you force them to eat it in a dictorial way because of your veggie chip on the shoulder?

Malaysia Airlines have seventeen different diets catered for, are you intolerant of all of them because they ‘may’ get served first? Kids and the disabled get on first, bastards!

You continue your caveman, macho tirade after all it’s natural for ‘us’ men to prove our masculinity my showing our strengths to inferior species.

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Permalink Reply by Clive Carter on July 12, 2009 at 11:25

Sorry it looked like a tirade B2. Interested you compare being vegetarianism with religious belief. Most people humour the vegans, even if through gritted teeth. But could you answer my (partly rhetorical) question:

Should vegetarian hosts cater for their omnivore guests, in the same (exceptional) way in which they expect to be catered for?

Sorry for being so annoying (a friend drew this comparison recently and I thought it was an interesting point. It's really a logical/philosophical question, rather than about the merits of vegetarianism. I don't really expect you to answer it!).

Caveman Clive

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Permalink Reply by John D on July 12, 2009 at 15:36

I guess an omnivore, by definition, would eat vegetables, so I don't see the problem.

Any vegetarian I have entertained has been happy to take double helpings of the spuds and sprouts and eschew the veal cutlets, so again - no problem :)

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Permalink Reply by Birdy_Too on July 12, 2009 at 18:01

It could be a religious, spiritual, ethical, cultural, it doesn't really matter it's someones choice and should e respected.

Re cooking for carnivores, I suppose it depends on the vegetarian host, we don't for a variety of reasons.

1. I don't know how to cook meat?
2. If I did how could I tell that it was cooked right, I couldn't taste it?
3. I don't want meat tarnishing my pots.
4. People actually like and look forward to to eating veggie. I have often offered to cook a meat pie on foil to friends and relatives for them to say "no I want to eat what you're having".

However when we have a BBQ we always have a disposable on the go for people who want to bring meat. Similar if we have had a takeaway pizza, we have no problem with a Meat Feast in a box in our house. Funnily enough most people actually opt for the veggie option.

There's nothing worse than preachers of anything, I certainly aint no preacher of vegetarianism and will only reply when asked. I actually hate they "...so why are you vegetarian" question.

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