where can i buy vegetarian shrimp?

[helenhelen]

looking to buy a package of vegetarian shrimp. i know they have it in some stores up in markham but i'm looking for somewhere closer to downtown. i already checked the little store at the back of king's cafe but they didn't have any.

[soapysuds]

hi i'm wondering where can i find "fake meats in Markham besides T&T?

[domesticgodess]

the no frills at bathurst/wilson ..sells mock shrimp and mock crab...in the FROZEN KOSHER SECTION.
I see it all the time.....

[thora]

I'd absolutely check the ingredients on this mock shrimp & mock crab at No Frills. Quite often these mock seafood products are still made from fish, though a cheaper kind than the one they imitate. Mock crab is often made from minced pollock.

Anyways. King's Cafe is a good place to try. There's another great spot for veg seafood in Markham, but I'll have to ask my friend where it's located. I haven't been in ages & I've lost the business card.

ETA: actually, I'm almost positive this is it: http://www.yellowpages.ca/bus/Ontario...

[sevenblades]

I'm not positive if they carry them, but they carry vegetarian beef and other products I've liked a lot in the store at the back of King's Cafe in Kensington.

[sweetie]

I believe I saw veg shrimp at T&T in the frozen food isle. I have also seen "shrimp" made form konnyaku in the refrigerated section. I do not see the konnyaku stuff very often though.

[helenhelen]

is this the new T&T closer to downtown (have they opened yet?), or the one up in markham?

[Teep]

The new one opens tomorrow (Aug 23).

[sweetie]

I have seen frozen at the Warden location and the Middlefield one. The konnyaku shrimp only at the middlefield one. Never been to the downtown one.

[tjr]

Are these the shirataki noodles wound into a shrimp-esque shape, or are they konnyaku that looks and tastes like shrimp?

[Rainchilde]

Its so funny, I went on a hunt for veggie shrimp just the other day. No luck :(

[eco987]

I know the Chinese Veg. Restaurant on Spadina (near Dundas) sells some of their uncooked fake meat products. Try giving them a call. Sorry I don't actually remember their name, It's south of Dundas, upstairs.

[helenhelen]

thanks, i will check it out.. do you mean 'bo de duyen' on the 2nd floor?

[Rabbit]

This raises a question I've been wondering about for a while... why do vegetarians want to eat animal flavoured stuff?

So, I opened a thread on the general board...
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/433694

[The Chowhound Team]

Folks - please discuss this issue on the thread started by Rabbit - such discussions are beyond the scope of where to find great CHOW in Ontario.

Thanks!

[JamieK]

Okay, I'll bite. What *is* vegetarian shrimp? Sorry if that's a stupid question.

[alltummy]

here's a description for you:
Vegetarian Shrimp
These organic vegetarian shrimp are each individually shaped and colored to look, smell, and taste like the real thing and will fill your kitchen with that seafood smell. You can often find these on the menu at vegetarian Chinese restaurants.
http://vegecyber.com/cgi-bin/vege_ite...
sorry helenhelen- i haven't seen them locally

[Teep]

It's a shrimp that eats only vegetables :-)

The Chinese like to create all sorts of "fake" meats with gluten and soy. There are "vegetarian" versions of : shrimp, scallops, chicken, duck, fish, ham, BBQ pork, beef etc. The latter is actually TVP - texturized vegetable protein - a western invention.

[helenhelen]

i think the fake seafood stuff (shrimp, scallops, etc.) is made of.. doh, i forget what it's called, but it's not TVP.. some sort of vegetable.. it's for the seafood-like texture.

[pinstripeprincess]

it depends on the food they're trying to imitate.

the fake squid i love so much is actually made from some taro derivative...

[Teep]

No, I meant only the beef. I've had fake beef that was really similar to real beef - that had been marinated to death with baking soda.This was at Lotus Pond Vegetarian Restaurant on Midland. They also had a "beef brisket" that was made from the stems of dried shiitake mushrooms. Amazing!