A Return to the Dark Times?

[MplsM ary]

I live in Minneapolis. All sorts of interesting new restaurants have opened up in the Twin Cities in the last couple years. I have not been to one of them. Why? Because every single dish has meat in some form - even the vegetable dishes.

Sure I could call ahead and ask for dishes to be prepared vegetarian, but seriously, I just find it a pain. It's not something I've had to do for the last 15 years.

I am not talking about meat-centric restaurants like steak houses, rather new, 'innovative' restaurants where pancetta, prosciutto or bacon are in every dang dish (especially vegetables and salads) and the fries are cooked in lard or duck fat.

Seriously, some of us like the way vegetables taste. No free roaming Iberian pig parts are needed to make them tasty.

Having been a vegetarian since 1974 I've experienced the vagaries of restaurant trends. This latest trend, with all the cool chefs with pig tattoos preparing porky food for omnivores is, I realize, just the latest. I just wish they'd set aside a couple dishes for vegetarians.

[comestible]

Yeah, there is a real, sudden turn toward meat in everything in the last couple of years, especially pig. Seems to be a fad with the new breed of chefs. (Maybe it's Anthony Bourdain's fault.)

[mrsleny]

It's the same here in Toronto. There's a newish restaurant called Rashers, specializing in all things piggy. I shouldn't complain as they do have one vegetarian option on the menu.

Also nose-to-tail dining is quite popular. SIGH.

[youareabunny]

I went to a trendy restaurant here in SD by invite of a friend. They had one vegetarian option to eat, the cookies had bacon, and they had taxidermied lion, gazelles and I don't know, didn't want to know, what else.

I felt like Jim carrey stepping into the "trophy" room in ace Ventura 2.

Never going back again.

[hyacinthgirl]

I saw that in LA for a while (although fortunately it's still a city with a lot of good vegetarian options). I blame these guys: http://animalrestaurant.com/team/

[Science Chick]

Y'know, I thought it was just me, but now I see that this is a growing trend. Here, too, in Boston I've noticed this when trying to select a new restaurant to visit. I eat fish occasionally, but even those dishes often have porky presence! I usually just avoid these places or, if part of a group, just ask if they can leave this or that ingredient out. Most nice places are happy to do so, particularly since they would have to if it was an allergen for someone...

[Peaches to Poutine]

That is sort of how it is in Quebec, especially where I am. Ethnic food ends up being my best bet if I want to go out with a few vegetarian cafes for lunch options, but all the really nice restaurants downtown aren't vegan-friendly. They seem positive to accomodating me if I want to notify them ahead of time, but I'm just scared I'll get stuck with a dull pasta option instead of a creative meal.

[Sam Salmon]

The biggest fad in these days Vancouver is vegetarian restaurants.

Sadly they are run by some of the most affected dolts imaginable-some of the food is fine but the atmosphere generally stultifying.