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Archive through March 17, 2009

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: Other Reality Shows ARCHIVES: Archives for 2009 - 3: Chopped on Food Network: Archive through March 17, 2009 users admin

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Lilfair
Member

07-09-2003

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 11:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lilfair a private message Print Post    
Cost, my son is a vegetarian, he's been for 8 years now. He also works with me and we as a small office go out to eat lunch regularly....at nicer places. There really isn't much of a choice for non meat eaters. One time he asked like you, what can you make me that is meatless. They said pasta....fine. They brought the pasta dish loaded with the most beautiful shrimp. We had to have the waiter take it back. He mostly gets salads. He's very careful ordering tomato soup because some chefs add a bit of chicken stock. When he orders it's 20 questions. So I feel your pain.

I think it would behoove restaurants to add vegetarian items not just for the vegetarians among us but as an option for us meat eaters that might like to skip the flesh once in a while.

Serate
Member

08-21-2001

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 12:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Serate a private message Print Post    
Discrimination is treating one group of people differently.

Gotcha. Then the woman who wears size 0 jeans who cant go into a public store that sells jeans and find a size 0 is discriminated or go jeanless. The man who wears size XXXX shirt who can't go into a public store that sells shirts and buy a XXXX shirt is discriminated against or go shirtless. The person who wears shoes should be able to go into a public store and expect to find shoes in his/her size or go shoeless. No they don't "have" to go jeanless/shirtless/shoeless, and you don't "have" to eat what they can make you. Ok I guess I can see that you, and the people above, are being discriminated against to an extent. But by that same token, the business owners who are forced to carry EVERY size of shoe, shirt, jeans, whatever no matter what it costs them, no matter what they sells, will be discriminated against AND will lose money. The owners of food establishment, if they are forced to offer dishes for every type of eating choice, disorder, every food allergy, will be descriminated against, waste food, AND will lose money.


I think it would behoove restaurants to add vegetarian items not just for the vegetarians among us but as an option for us meat eaters that might like to skip the flesh once in a while.

I totally agree! I'm NOT against vegetarians. Hell my bff in college was vegan, way harder to find a place to eat at that she could eat, and we could afford, especially where we were living. Through her I know the hardships of eating out but trying to make sure she felt comfortable where we were eating, and even what I was eating with her. [Compromised, I wouldn't eat meat while with her, and she wouldn't complain if I something I was eating had eggs, dairy, or cheese in it.] All I'm saying is that while I can understand how a vegetarian might feel discriminated against, I don't think it is discrimination by a business owner to not offer vegetarian dishes.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 1:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
I don't see how anyone can say vegetarians are discriminated against. That makes no sense. Anyone can look to see what a restaurant offers. If you don't see something you like, then don't go there. It would be smart for a restaurant to offer a variety, including good dishes for a vegetarian. But to say discrimination?? That is not accurate.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 3:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Serate has it right above when she advises to "talk to their cash register!" Telling a place of business that you cannot use their services and why can be a potent agent for change.

Several times in the past few posts restaurants were referred to as public places. They are not; they are private business establishments. As such it is NOT necessary that they offer options for everyone in the world.

At my Friday volunteer agency we do serve a vegetarian entree each week on the buffet. We do this because we have a LARGE number of vegetarians who would not eat there if we didn't. Perfect example of "talk to the cash register!"

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 3:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Oh, I do, Tn! I do. But occasionally, you can't just talk to the register. When I was in Napa (NAPA of all places!) I had the worst time finding decent food. Even the veggie burgers were awful (inedible awful). But we wanted to go to certain restaurants while there. There are a large number of vegetarians in northern California, however they apparently do not live or visit Napa often.

YMMV but I feel I am discriminated against when I go into a restaurant, ask about vegetarian options (that are not on the menu) and told to eat a salad.

I'm entitled to my feelings (and I'm entitled to post them). If you are not a vegetarian, I'd suggest you walk a few months in my shoes and then tell me how you feel.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 4:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
Why would you want to go to certain restaurants if they did not offer food you like?

I don't think anyone here is saying you should not have or post the feeling you have. And I could see how you could feel ticked that you could never or rarely find a good dish at many restaurants. But I just don't think discriminated is the right word. (Not saying you can't feel that way.)

As a super picky eater, I also get ticked when I go to certain restaurants (like a greek restaurant or something with a narrow scope of food). So I think I can understand what you mean. But just cuz a place offers only certain foods, I don't think they are discriminating. They are just losing potential customers. But if they only get a few vegetarian customers, they may lose more money if they offer a certain veggie dish that they don't sell many of.

Lilfair
Member

07-09-2003

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 4:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Lilfair a private message Print Post    
It may not be a legal form of discrimination but coming from a long lineage of profesional chefs and bakers I can attest that there is a sort of discrimination in the industry against persons that do not eat meat. I've seen them snicker at non meat eaters. Frankly, there has to be a lot of trust on vegetarians part when eating out.

I get more worked up about this than my son does.

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 5:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
LOL Lil! I mentioned upthread that I always hope an Anthony Bourdain type isn't in the kitchen when I make my "special" requests!

And thank you! Very well said!

I will add that there have been times when I've gone someplace and when the maitre'd or wait staff would come back from talking to the chef, they'd say "the chef will do something special for you". And my meal would be phenomenal and even the meat eaters at the table would drool (and one time this was at a steak house! and yes, if I want to enjoy a meal with a group of people, sometimes I have to go to a steak house). There ARE chefs who totally enjoy the challenge of creating something special for a vegetarian. I'm always polite and very nice about my request, and I usually end up with something decent (although really, I'd prefer not to have pasta! :-)).

Company meal, Salt Lake City, famous steak house, am the only vegetarian. Sometimes you can't choose where you are going to eat. This time, the maitre'd caught me looking at the menu and when I returned it he asked if I saw anything good. I told him I was looking to see what sides I'd get since, well, I was a vegetarian. HE went to talk to the chef and he told me to tell the waitperson that I was the veggie. The chef totally rocked, and I told EVERYONE there, including him, how much I appreciated it. And yes, I've gone back there to eat. (And no, I'm never going back to the place in Napa with the inedible veggie burger.)

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 5:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Maybe it will make you feel better about pasta if I tell you that the Vegetarian entree on our last Italian menu - we have five set menus and a wild card one that rotate - was a wonderful capellini with rainbow chard, pine nuts, and golden raisins. Best thing on the buffet hands down!

As a side bar, we offered a fish dish on the Cajun menu last week for anyone observing Lent -

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Tuesday, March 03, 2009 - 5:55 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
that should read "an individually prepared fish dish" . . .

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 6:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
That sounds delish. I think my complaint about a pasta dish is one that's thrown together like "oh, we can throw some pasta and alfredo sauce on it and add a bit of steamed (soggy) broc and carrots". Not something with actual TASTE! Or real health value, either, now that I think of it! ;)

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 11:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Our vegetarian dishes are designed to BE vegetarian dishes. On the Southwestern menu, I often fix my burrito(s) with rice, refried beans, caramelized onions, roasted red and green peppers, guac, sour cream, and grated cheese.

Have you tried slathering on a thick layer of butter when asking what the chef can prepare? I would probably say something like, "Sometimes it is such an issue being a vegetarian when I go places with less than stellar chefs that I am very excited to see what your wonderful chef can dream up for me tonight." That doesn't exactly seem like your style, but, hey, the end result is what we are after, right?

I am happy to hear that you have had some amazing meals! Our vegetarian Indian restaurant here is very popular -

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Wednesday, March 04, 2009 - 12:16 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Oh believe me, I slather whenever I can. And it does work usually. (Case in point... there's a woman who works for me who is also vegetarian but has a major sense of self-entitlement. When we go to restaurants, I usually have no problems but she ends up pissing off the staff and gets less than what she wants! LOL!)

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 4:15 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Since apparently I am the sole and only viewer of this show, I would just like to mention that we had a female chef as the winner this week!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 5:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Oh I watch it on the weekends during the daytime when I'm bored. :-)

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Thursday, March 05, 2009 - 7:36 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
I watch, too, but it's hard to comment when there's not the continuity of the same contestants week after week. It's one of my "ok" shows - I'll watch it, but it's not a "must" watch the night of the show, just whenever I get around to it.

Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Friday, March 06, 2009 - 12:39 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tess a private message Print Post    
Tnt, both Charlie and I love this show. We had a homework crisis with the youngest member of our household and forgot to watch this week, though.

Btw, having met DD, you will be pleased to know that she is turning into quite the little chef herself! She loves to cook and bake though due to her ADD she doesn't get to use the stove by herself yet. She gets herself all turned around in circles and scares the heck out of me around pots of boiling liquids and the like. She's also afraid of knives so she's got a long ways to go but the desire and passion are there. She's also very creative. You'd die laughing at some of her descriptions when she brings a meal into me course by course. She and Charlie make quite a team.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Friday, March 06, 2009 - 6:17 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Closed my eyes and could clearly see her in a chef's toque!

Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Friday, March 06, 2009 - 6:44 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tess a private message Print Post    
Hahaha! She has one, and an apron and cookbook that our friend, Miss Carole from South Georgia, gave Sarah when she was younger. Miss Carole is determined to teach Miss Sarah some good old southern manners. I think she would succeed if we could get out to see them more often. On the other hand, Carole is so pleased that we are the only visitors they have who actually insist their child behave at the dinner table. I had to take Sarah from the table when she was 6 and have a little chat with her on the steps. Just a couple of weeks earlier, they had five nieces visiting and their parents just let them run amok.

Carole lets Sarah cook with her as well.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 2:56 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Well, there would have been a whole different outcome with me sitting on the judges' panel! I thought the first person out should have been the guy who didn't use the cheese packet from the mac and cheese in his dish! That was the most "challenging" ingredient in the basket, and he ducked it!

Bombaycat
Member

07-21-2007

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 3:52 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Bombaycat a private message Print Post    
Tnt - I totally agree. Like I said upthread, given the choice I'm sure the other chefs would choose to eliminate an ingredient if they thought they would not be chopped. What's the point of the challenge if you can "pick and choose"? I wish they would state at the beginning of each challenge, "If you don't use all of the ingredients you are automatically chopped."

Darrellh
Member

07-21-2004

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 5:32 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Darrellh a private message Print Post    
Correct! It was Mac AND Cheese, not Mac OR Cheese. I would have made some mac and cheese fried fritters with them. It was the appetizer course. Sort of like a mac and cheese hush puppy for the fish.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 5:43 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
Glad you all agree! Who can't think up something to do with PASTA? Of course, we have no way of knowing how the other three dishes TASTED, but they sounded pretty decent to me -

Tess
Member

04-13-2001

Wednesday, March 11, 2009 - 12:26 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tess a private message Print Post    
Our DVR for some reason only recorded 10 minutes of the show. We were so ready to watch and the pffffffft! Even the DVR guide for last night listed it as a 10 minute program. How weird.

For anyone else who missed it, we found that it is airing again on Saturday afternoon.

I wonder if Chopping Block on NBC tonight will be any good.

Tntitanfan
Member

08-03-2001

Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - 4:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Tntitanfan a private message Print Post    
My favorite thing about this show is figuring out what I would do with the ingredients - particularly the "challenging" one! And "leave it out altogether" is not an option for me!

Come back and post your ideas after the show!