Sneaky meat rice!
 

There's a Japanese market near where I work that sells an assortment of delicious readymade lunches: sushi, bento boxes, desserts, etc. I got a tofu bento today, which included rice, pickled vegetables, and a tofu patty with some tasty sauce. I get halfway through eating the rice, which has seaweed in it, when I develop the sinking feeling that I've just tasted something I haven't eaten in over 2 months - beef.

I eat fish, which makes me a pesca-vegetarian, I guess. I stopped eating other meat a couple of months ago after reading a book that made me feel like a hypocrite. It's boring to hear someone spout off about why they became a vegetarian, I know, but I'm far from being militant about it. I like meat. I like the way it tastes for the most part. I don't judge people who eat it. Its consumption suddenly grossed me out so I stopped. It was more a moral choice than a dietary one. I avoided fish even, but eventually caved when the temptation of affordable sushi found its way into my life by way of this wonderful market.

And, really, I don't feel about fish the way I feel about pigs, cattle and sheep, etc. I'm not as disturbed by how fish finds its way onto my table.

I have less of a problem with deer hunting/venison, because it doesn't involve hormone injections and slaughterhouses.

Anyway, if I could give up all meat, I probably would. I just find that I don't always feel like I'm getting enough protein from beans and tofu. Plus, I really do love the way fish tastes, especially raw fish.

But beef and chicken I don't miss. Had a bit of a hankering for some oink-oink the other day, but not so much that it was an actual temptation.

And then today, along with the rice, pickled veggies and tofu slab, I discovered miniscule slices of meat in the rice. I took a bite and it was suddenly more flavored than the other bites. Gah! Gah, I thought! I made my co-worker inspect the food and she said, "Maybe it's tempe....no, wait. Yeah, that's beef. Sorry."

MAN! Call it a tofu bento and one just assumes there's not meat to be found. The call it yam noodle rice, why can't they call it yam noodle PRETTY COW rice, too.

It's not like it's hurt me. And, like I said, not militant. If I'm invited over for dinner and all that was being served was meat, I'd probably bite the bullet and eat it, out of politeness.

Still, label things properly, dammit. I didn't want that cow in my tummy!

This post could have been written by me. I too gave up meat. I'll eat fish, but for the most part everything else is out. For me it wasn't a moral reason but more of a omg I realized what I was consuming GROSS reason.

I was never one for a moo with horns or a bok bok baggaaaak. I do like the occasional bacon but that is waning too.

I wish things were labeled better, and restaurants were better informed about what is in the food they serve.

The FDA may have different laws for prepared foods, but all food products must follow FDA guidelines on food labeling - and not, they aren't mor like suggestions. ;)

EH: if it's any consolation, if you ever get something that tastes like it might be pork or chicken flavored but you don't see actual meat, chances are strong that there's more carrot and celery in it than meat.

Can't help with beef though, sorry.

Maybe it wasn't beef. Maybe it was tripe!

Me: The vegetable soup, is it vegetarian?
Waiter: Yeah.
Me: Is it made with chicken stock or beef stock?
Waiter: Yeah.
Me: Then it's not vegetarian?
Waiter: It's vegetarian.

I cannot say how many times I have had this EXACT conversation (sometimes, though, it's not a waiter but a waitress).

Here's a funnier variation:

Me: The stir-fry vegetables, does that have any meat in it?
Waiter: (looking sorry) No.
Me: Good, I'll have the stir-fried vegetables.
Waiter (looks confused)

Pity I didn't ask if the dish had any TASTE. Bah.

For me it's not a moral thing but a taste/texture thing. I hate meat. And it's been long enough that I get violently ill if I accidentally eat any of it. If someone invites me over to dinner, I won't eat it out of politeness, and I would have spit out that meaty rice.

If it were up to me, "Natural Flavor" would not be allowable on ingredients lists.

Is celery really that savory and flavor inducing when cooked? Hmm, I think I need to cook with more celery if that's the case, unless I'm misunderstanding you.

GAH! GAH!

:evil: :evil: :evil:

Yeah, it's really not a taste thing for me. I love the salty carcass goodness and if they made an actual veggie product that tasted exactly like steak tartar, I'd eat it. Sadly, I just can't stomach the idea of eating my furry buddies, anymore. My scaley buddies, however, are for the eating.