For a want-to-be-vegan that is s…l…o…w…l…y tiptoeing towards veganism, eating out IS NOT FUN. Grill King, the kids and I were out of town. We were in Orlando giving Universal Studios our money and riding all their rides. After our feet could walk no more, we ventured into HARD ROCK CAFE. We were exhausted and starved. Not a good combination.
Our lovely hostess seats us and gives us the menu. My daughter immediately decides she is having the kids macaroni-n-cheese. Sounds great but not happening here. My son decides he wants the GIGANTIC sampler thingy and he and my husband decide to share it. As I look at what the sampler includes, cheese and bacon potato slices, fried chicken fingers, chicken wings, fried rolled tortilla things, and more, I knew that nothing on that platter was going to pass through these lips.
And so the search began. I found only few items that I could eat and not feel guilty about. I ended up getting a veggie burger with a portobello mushroom and grilled vegetables. The waiter then asked whether I wanted fries with that or a salad. Of course I wanted the fries, what kind of question was that? After hesitating, I ordered the salad. The waiter actually laughed at me and said, “are you sure?” He got THE LOOK that is usually reserved for Grill King on certain occasions.
See, here’s the problem – there needs to be a different menu for us want-to-be-vegetarians or vegans. No one, and I mean NO ONE should have to look through a menu like that and then have to order a Veggie Burger. That is NOT right! The desserts alone make your mouth water.
To top it off, I sat there eating what turned out to be a delicious veggie burger, while I watched my son and Grill King slather down animal parts and grease and my daughter wiping cheese from her chin. Very disturbing. Grill King got his “wing fix” as he likes to call it. I call it “artery clogger.”
So, like I said before…some of my family are tiptoeing a whole lot slower than I am. It’s a tough road, but I must say that I no longer crave land meat (hooves, beaks, varmints). After a month and a half without it, it no longer appeals to me. I don’t think it’s going to be that easy for seafood, dairy, and eggs. We’ll see.
I have had several Vegan dishes that have been really good. I make sure the family gets them several times a week (in between the chomping down on a leg of some kind.) A behavior I do not partake in.
note to self: start researching restaurants that have plenty of Vegan dishes.
On another note – if you have not been to Universal’s Islands of Adventure and ridden the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride. IT IS A MUST! Absolutely amazing! We have been on it several times now and it hasn’t worn off me or the kids yet. Hogwarts itself is incredibly realistic.
The food sounds good… my mom would definitely go for the veggie burger too.
Thanks Jeyna for checking out my blog and the veggie burger was good!