Vegetarian Options in the UK???

What is it with you and labeling? Unless you're cooking for a person (and I think "vegetarian except for fish, and chicken breast" is pretty descriptive when trying to explain what a person will and won't eat) b*tching (or in your case, writing not-really-relevant sarcastic asides) about people who don't adhere to clean dietary labels is kinda petty and judgemental. IMHO.

Whoa there! Slow down cowboy! Read my (now) edited post - I suppose I could have put a smiley to make it clear I was being jocular/semiserious. I believe Chary knows where I am coming from.

You can find it all over the place. Tesco and Waitrose and lots of other places carry the Cauldron range which includes a marinated variety

http://www.ciao.co.uk/Cauldron_Foods_Tofu__5302326

Thanks!

I like meat, but am picky about it.  For example, I love chicken breasts but don't like the legs or thighs.  I love a good steak, but am wary of mince unless I grind it myself.  I don't like pork unless it's a roast, and don't like bacon or sausage unless it's made with chicken or turkey.  And I love tofu, I love the texture, especially of the marinated kind, and the versatility.  But when people hear that I eat tofu, they assume I don't eat any meat!  

I believe Chary knows where I am coming from.

Yes, indeed. Though I am glad you edited your post!   

Madame C has asked me to refrain from discussing where eggs come from*, before, and during, a meal in which they figure.

Similarly, although I eat chicken, I can't talk or think about what it is when I'm eating. If I did, I'd cut it out of my diet altogether and I don't want to give up a useful source of protein. I don't really like seeing a whole roast chicken because it looks too much like a chicken - although if a slice of chicken meat is presented to me on a plate, I'm OK with it. Thinking about fish, however, doesn't affect me at all. I know - it's completely hypocritical and illogical, but there you go. 

I understand about the labelling.  I say I'm vegetarian, but I'll eat fish.  The first time I was in Kyushu, I explained that at one restaurant (the kind where you don't order, they bring you stuff).

They brought me a plate of raw horse meat. (And 'begetarian' is a Japanese word. The idea may be different on that island... Maybe they thought I only ate vegetarian animals?)

Countless places have assumed that meat broth was fine, so just removed the pieces in soups.  All over the world.

Whatever you do, though.. don't order a special vegetarian meal on Air Canada.  The last time I did that, they gave me a block of uncooked cold tofu.  With some nasty sweet sauce.  You're better off picking out the stuff you can eat from a regular meal...

I meant to add that even McDonald's has a vegetarian option (at least the closest one to us does) of a falafel sandwich. That's a change from the US, where there are limited fast food places you can go to.

If you are referring to that weird Granose canned product made out of gluten, we tried it once, but never again.

Yep, that's it. I rinse it because I'm not wild about the sauce it's packed in, but otherwise it's just seitan - I suppose that's a texture that you either love or hate though. My dh hates tofu but likes seitan. I don't mind either....

ETA: with regard to labelling... I was a super hard core vegan for many years. I'm not anymore, but I don't really care at all what people call themselves. I figure if we should just be quite happy that people are happy to eat less meat in general - it's good for you and good for the environment. Far be it from me to criticise anyone's eating habits or what they choose to refer to themselves as!!

Is tempeh easily available in the UK? That's one of my favorite veggie soy products. It's sooooo good marinated in soy sauce and sauteed in a bit of oil, then mixed into stir fried veggies!

My local organic market carries tempeh.

http://www.asnatureintended.uk.com/

My local organic market carries tempeh.

http://www.asnatureintended.uk.com/

Great! Thanks!

Is tempeh easily available in the UK?

Yes, very.

They brought me a plate of raw horse meat.

Whatever you do, though.. don't order a special vegetarian meal on Air Canada.  The last time I did that, they gave me a block of uncooked cold tofu.  With some nasty sweet sauce.  You're better off picking out the stuff you can eat from a regular meal...

I've never flown Air Canada--usually it's USAirways (I think!) and always order the Hindu meal (as opposed to the vegetarian) and it's always pretty good.  I can't beleive anyone would think serving raw tofu was OK! 

My local organic market carries tempeh.

http://www.asnatureintended.uk.com/

I must not be looking hard enough because I have not seen tempeh in the north of England at all...

I've not seen tempeh either and I haven't seen marinated tofu in delis the way we did it at Wild Oats.

I must admit I was a lazy, only in it for health benefits veggie type.  I liked the taste of meat and enjoyed grilling burgers on the George Foreman.  I just don't like the variety/flavours of the veggie burgers they have here. 

But it is much easier to eat out.  As long as you aren't looking for great salad bars. 

I've not seen tempeh either and I haven't seen marinated tofu in delis the way we did it at Wild Oats.

Did you work at Wild Oats, bookgrl?

Did you work at Wild Oats, bookgrl?

In the STL, for about two months before I had surgery on my knee and had to quit, in the deli.  We had a great crazy gay guy who used to come in and complain about our fish.  He was exactly like the Brian Fellows Safari Planet skit from SNL.  Hilarious. 

First of all, nice thread. I'm a vegetarian too girls, and would like to still some of your ideas on food, can i?

Thali in restaurants are pretty good...