Guest guest Posted May 9, 2003 Report Share Posted May 9, 2003 On Friday, May 9, 2003, at 05:17 AM, wrote: > Message: 5 > Thu, 08 May 2003 17:19:41 -0000 > " Feral " <terebinthus > Re: vegetarian question~ restaurant ordering > > Seems like many of us fear our food being tampered > with by surly chefs in the kitchen or disgruntled waithelp. > Kind of funny, but not too funny for I have worked in a > restaurant before and know this is a definate possibility. > However, one thing that can assure us somewhat is that > in my experience, most of the food " hostility " was directed > at the snotty folks who kept sending stuff back or seemed > to delight in being difficult, not the folks who were sincerely > interested in how food was prepared or requesting something > done differently. It seemed the chefs were more peeved when > people would wait until the food was served to start asking > for changes to be made, and then acting rather obnoxious > about it to boot. Still, not a great excuse for any restaurant > employee to do such a thing, but it should give us some hope. > Of course we can never know what people might do on any > given day, or where they will snap and lash out, but for the > most part, I think good manners, kindness and showing > your appreciation for the extra help will go a long way toward > making your dining experience a pleasant one. This is true generally in all things, or so you'd think. > > Another idea is to call the restaurant ahead of time. This gives > you a chance to ask questions in a more anonymous fashion > to someone who is in charge of food prep or management. > Ask them about what vegetarian items they might have, or the > posibilities of them preparing a dish differently for you. If it > looks like this will be too much hassle or they offer too few > options, either plan to go out with your dining partners with > a full stomach, or ask them to choose another place to dine. > There is truely nothing worse in my mind than going out to eat, > hungry as hell, and just being able to order a tossed salad > because it is the only blessed thing on the menu even remotely > vegetarian. Yes, and when relatives who know ahead of time you're veggie take you to a place where only a salad is acceptable, then what? You begin to see how self-centered and uncaring most primates are. > > ~ feral ~ > > Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, > a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest > compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all > of which have the potential to turn a life around. > ~Leo Buscaglia, author (1924-1998) Yes, Leo, and just as often it'll get someone a beating, or yourself attacked and banished, so climb down off your self-righteousness and realize that EVERYTHING had consequences and there is no way to predict what kind they'll be. " Jaw, jaw is better than war, war. " --Sir Winston Spencer Churchill But often jawing leads to warring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2003 Report Share Posted May 9, 2003 I'm sorry to sense the bitterness in this post. I suppose I am one of those annoying " glass half full, there's an ounce of kindness in everyone " people. As far as family taking known veggies to veggie un-friendly places, I've often found that, afterward, and explanation does the trick. My former mother-in-law thought I would be okay at a family dinner eating just the potatoes. (Imagine: Italian wine and nothing to soak it up but mashed...) Later in the week, I brought over one of my cookbooks and offered to cook a veggie option with her. I explained that I wanted balance in my diet too and this way we could spend some QT together in the kitchen. She was more than happy to accept my offer. It's usually ignorance by carnivores as to what to feed us. And not self-centeredness or uncaring. In my experience anyway. Peace out. , The Stewarts <stews9@c...> wrote: > > On Friday, May 9, 2003, at 05:17 AM, > wrote: > > There is truely nothing worse in my mind than going out to eat, > > hungry as hell, and just being able to order a tossed salad > > because it is the only blessed thing on the menu even remotely > > vegetarian. > > Yes, and when relatives who know ahead of time you're veggie take you to a > place where only a salad is acceptable, then what? You begin to see how > self-centered and uncaring most primates are. > > > > ~ feral ~ > > > > Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, > > a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest > > compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all > > of which have the potential to turn a life around. > > ~Leo Buscaglia, author (1924-1998) > > Yes, Leo, and just as often it'll get someone a beating, or yourself > attacked and banished, so climb down off your self-righteousness and > realize that EVERYTHING had consequences and there is no way to predict > what kind they'll be. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2003 Report Share Posted May 9, 2003 Well, in this instance communication is the key. Don't let anyone walk around in your mind with their dirty shoes. [can't remember who said that] But just make sure your family members know this is not acceptable, and if there is no other way around it, just eat prior to dining out. They might get some smug satifaction watching you " suffer with salad' whilst they gorge upon some flesh, but you will knowingly be having more fun. That or just leave. ~ PT ~ Each man should frame life so that at some future hour fact and his dreamings meet. ~ Victor Hugo ~~~*~~*~~~*~~*~~~*~~*~~~*~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> , The Stewarts <stews9@c...> wrote: > Yes, and when relatives who know ahead of time you're veggie take you to a > place where only a salad is acceptable, then what? You begin to see how > self-centered and uncaring most primates are. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2003 Report Share Posted May 9, 2003 Aye, I believe you are right. Most people aren't out to get us. Some folks really don't know any better and when they hear the term vegetarian are as confused about what that is as many vegetarians are with definitions. *lol* Some honestly think all we eat is salad some fruit. Being kind and gentle in our instruction of what constitutes vegetarianism with a tablespoon of patience is a good recipe to follow. I have found that those who care about me, and my family members in general really do want to be accomodating. I applaude your gentle approach with your mom. That must have made some pleasant memories of your time together cooking. ~ PT ~ Silence will save me from being wrong (and foolish), but it will also deprive me of the possibility of being right. ~Igor Stravinsky, composer (1882-1971) ~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~*~~~~~~~~~~~~> , " Jigilou Snicklefitz " < jigilou> wrote: > It's usually ignorance by carnivores as to what to feed us. And not > self-centeredness or uncaring. In my experience anyway. > > Peace out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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