Earlier this week, a friend of mine from the office invited me out to lunch at Nature cafe bar. I was a bit sceptical because I knew it was a vegan cafe. I looked at the menu and found things like chicken burger, seafood platter, nachos with chilli con carne. I have to say I was surprised at what I got. I chose the chicken burger and my friend had the seafood platter. Neither of them contains any meat at all, they’re made with crafted vegetable protein. While the texture and taste isn’t what the meat eater would expect both were good. I very much enjoyed the meal. I’m not going to tell you it’s changed my life or anything like that, but it has opened a new avenue of tastes and experiences that I’ve dismissed in the past. When I left a positive review on the cafe they replied and explained this is what they’re trying to achieve to provide alternatives.
This new fad of foods are in fact scientist way of using up the over supply of corn throughout the world but mainly the USA. Most of these new products being disguised as healthy and vegan/vegetarian are more than 80% corn. Then there is some natural and artificial additives added to make a taste and texture. Many of these foods are quite tasteless if not fried in oil.
Corn is high in carbohydrates so some people think they are eating healthy, maybe doing the complete opposite.
The producers (and retailers) of these foods are making huge profits because corn is so cheap.
Go to the supermarket and have a look at the ingredients of these foods and you will be very surprised, if not shocked.
I used to be a chef (trained in the air force) and even though I don’t do professionally any more, I still like to study food nutrients.
I totally agree with you @PaulPavlinovich . I’ve tried some vegan stuff once a while and it’s amazing all the products used to make the burgers or other meals. And it’s actually healthy since they use a lot of beans, nuts and seeds.
Just yesterday, we bumped into one place here Edgy Veggie, and their burgers are made with seitan (which is a more expensive tofu) and I must say I was also really happily surprised. I love trying out new food and I think the vegan food has definitely developed from what it used to be.
These products are predominantly based on mushroom, chickpeas and pulses @TheEagleEye there certainly are cheap corn based products around but these aren’t those. I had a chat with the owner about what the meals were made from it was quite interesting.
It certainly has changed since the days of tofu and fruit @DanniS - using vegetable base products and a bit of chemical know how you can make just about anything!
@PaulPavlinovich@DanniS , yes I agree that there are many other things can be used for these products, it’s just a matter of knowing.
Paul, did you know that men shouldn’t eat too much soy based foods/drinks? Soy is very high in estrogen. Having too much of this can cause some extra fat in the chest area.
@PaulPavlinovich Those plates look delicious. To me, I enjoy anything as long as it is delicious. I don’t care whether it is meat or veggies plate. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.
Very few vegan dishes in Japan, but I was convinced that Taiwan’s developed vegan culture has already surpassed real meat. There is no smell of meat, and the taste is deeper than that! Certainly, there are hidden political reasons for vegans, but it is easy to imagine that the majority of people who do not eat meat after decades. It will move as a desire, not as patience.
