I present you the VGML (VEGAN) catering in FIRST.
#91
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Someone has to say it: Goose (and gander) is not vegetarian (but it tastes good, sorry gooselee).
#92
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: NT Australia
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no but they would presumably be able to request the self same service recovery compensation, and would presumably then take their business elsewhere, which is exactly what OP should be doing
#94
Join Date: Oct 2010
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People with special diets deserve sympathy and help especially when health reasons are the motivations behind. However, one has to admit that there is no specific health indication for a vegan diet, as it is an issue of personal choice, and even most OP here here seem to disagree as to what could/would be considered acceptable for a vegan in terms of ingredients and combinations. While the presentation of the meal is indeed ghastly, as the airline already has -excellent often times- a la carte vegetarian offers, it is a bit unfair to blame BA for adapting so badly to the traveller’s personal preference. I am not sure other airlines do consistently better with the vegan offer. And let’s face it, an avios service recovery for not meeting specific personal expectations (after all, vegan food was offered, even most restaurants wont know how to prepare a sumpupus vegan meal) is quite a good will gesture. A nice fulfilling elegant vegan meal is not is the contract of carriage.
If a carnivore expects a proper steak or a tender piece of chicken with tasty sides in First, then a vegan can expect a proper meal too. No seasoning for example shows how uneducated people who prepared the meals really are. Of course vegans can eat pepper and salt, veg stock and whatnot.
There are plenty of easy and really nice recipes out there (you should try some) which can be made cheaply even. It just needs a little bit of effort. Any meals which involve a creamy sauce can be replicated vegan using soy cream for example.
This is really pathetic by BA especially since they offer good CE vegan meals and that‘s by the way also the reason we now fly longhaul AY J for our honeymoon as opposed to BA J/F.
#95
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Hate to reveal my profession but there are no health conditions that require a vegan diet. So the ‘rubbish’ comment here is is uneducated to say the least. Then were all free to say its healthier to eat a carrot than a steak and i agree with that but again, no requirement. I have this discussion everyday and trust me, I am not intolerant or insensitive to the issue. I agree BA shouldnt offer the option but they do, and if the catering is bad, then fine. Bring your business elsewhere or be very thankful for a compensation other people wouldnt feel entitled to.
#96
Join Date: Oct 2010
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Hate to reveal my profession but there are no health conditions that require a vegan diet. So the ‘rubbish’ comment here is is uneducated to say the least. Then were all free to say its healthier to eat a carrot than a steak and i agree with that but again, no requirement. I have this discussion everyday and trust me, I am not intolerant or insensitive to the issue. I agree BA shouldnt offer the option but they do, and if the catering is bad, then fine. Bring your business elsewhere or be very thankful for a compensation other people wouldnt feel entitled to.
#97
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#98
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
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Posts: 19,172
This is rubbish. There are very well health reasons for some who are vegan. If BA can not deliver a proper meal they should not offer the option in the first place. Period.
This is really pathetic by BA especially since they offer good CE vegan meals and that‘s by the way also the reason we now fly longhaul AY J for our honeymoon as opposed to BA J/F.
In days gone by, Vegetarianism was considered to be the realm of cranks who probably ran around stark naked at home. No one knew or cared and passed it off as being faddishin some way. Not anymore. For reasons that we do not understand properly, so many people have allergies and in tolerances to common every day foods. People have all sorts of reasons why they adopt different diets and an organisation such as BA should respond accordingly. I hope that I make myself clear. I have one or two friends who I like to come to dinner and they are vegan. I need to have a menu that will accommodate them and everyone else sitting at the table. I have made bloomers in the past, using Worcester Sauce in something or other only to discover that as it contains anchovies it could not be used (I have to say that I found out after the event and I did tell them when I did find out (by accident) as I was afraid that it might have made them ill.!
So to return to topic, that meal posted by the OP looks like it was dreamed up by some aspirant 15 year old in the old O level days at some Swiss Finishing School, certain in the knowledge that she would never be doing this professionally or at all if she married rich enough.
I was most interested to read how much weight had been lost, and indeed how much better you both feel. That is the first time that I have heard this - thank you.
Has anyone answered my query about wine and gin? I need to know what I can give them to drink!
#99
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Northamptonshire
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Posts: 40
I hope it is acceptable to link to an external website for this - https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/apr/22/20-best-vegan-wines-supermarkets-online
Basically if a wine says suitable for vegans in the bottle, you should be ok!
(I am not a vegan and don't drink alcohol in general, but I had a vegan boyfriend and a current vegan colleague at work)
Basically if a wine says suitable for vegans in the bottle, you should be ok!
(I am not a vegan and don't drink alcohol in general, but I had a vegan boyfriend and a current vegan colleague at work)
#100
Join Date: Oct 2012
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Photos taken off another website. VEGAN BA FIRST dishes from the past.
(Photos credit: https://guyrobottv.wordpress.com/201...tic-and-delta/ )
I saw a comment or two saying that vegan dishes can’t be anythinf else then just boiled veggies and rice, so there.
(Photos credit: https://guyrobottv.wordpress.com/201...tic-and-delta/ )
I saw a comment or two saying that vegan dishes can’t be anythinf else then just boiled veggies and rice, so there.
Not fair! Every time I travel from Austin in First, Club or Economy and order VLML I get the second meal down on the right (just served on a different plate or tray depending on cabin). But I always get 1 piece of asparagus and 2 carrots. That photo shows two of each. Maybe I need to change from VLML to VGML to get the extra asparagus?
Special meal - menu rotation
#101
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 574
One thing that I would say is that this, whilst not modern, is far more widespread than it used to be. I asked about the Risotto (and thank you to the kind person for their comment - and yes I too use vegetable stock). I have learned much in this thread, I agree that it should be done properly or not at all. Whilst with matters gastronomic, it is impossible to please everyone, one should at least try to please as many as possible.
In days gone by, Vegetarianism was considered to be the realm of cranks who probably ran around stark naked at home. No one knew or cared and passed it off as being faddishin some way. Not anymore. For reasons that we do not understand properly, so many people have allergies and in tolerances to common every day foods. People have all sorts of reasons why they adopt different diets and an organisation such as BA should respond accordingly. I hope that I make myself clear. I have one or two friends who I like to come to dinner and they are vegan. I need to have a menu that will accommodate them and everyone else sitting at the table. I have made bloomers in the past, using Worcester Sauce in something or other only to discover that as it contains anchovies it could not be used (I have to say that I found out after the event and I did tell them when I did find out (by accident) as I was afraid that it might have made them ill.!
So to return to topic, that meal posted by the OP looks like it was dreamed up by some aspirant 15 year old in the old O level days at some Swiss Finishing School, certain in the knowledge that she would never be doing this professionally or at all if she married rich enough.
I was most interested to read how much weight had been lost, and indeed how much better you both feel. That is the first time that I have heard this - thank you.
Has anyone answered my query about wine and gin? I need to know what I can give them to drink!
In days gone by, Vegetarianism was considered to be the realm of cranks who probably ran around stark naked at home. No one knew or cared and passed it off as being faddishin some way. Not anymore. For reasons that we do not understand properly, so many people have allergies and in tolerances to common every day foods. People have all sorts of reasons why they adopt different diets and an organisation such as BA should respond accordingly. I hope that I make myself clear. I have one or two friends who I like to come to dinner and they are vegan. I need to have a menu that will accommodate them and everyone else sitting at the table. I have made bloomers in the past, using Worcester Sauce in something or other only to discover that as it contains anchovies it could not be used (I have to say that I found out after the event and I did tell them when I did find out (by accident) as I was afraid that it might have made them ill.!
So to return to topic, that meal posted by the OP looks like it was dreamed up by some aspirant 15 year old in the old O level days at some Swiss Finishing School, certain in the knowledge that she would never be doing this professionally or at all if she married rich enough.
I was most interested to read how much weight had been lost, and indeed how much better you both feel. That is the first time that I have heard this - thank you.
Has anyone answered my query about wine and gin? I need to know what I can give them to drink!
Barnivore: your vegan wine, beer, and liquor guide
Gin or distilled spirits are easier than wine to find.
Your point on British Airways responding according to customer requirements gets to the heart of the matter. BA offers fine dining for vegans and should deliver it. CC should also have appropriate training and not left to wing it or cobble together something (rather than nothing) for the passenger. British Airways has gotten away with this for too long. They promise fine dining in the sky for vegans. A fine dining restaurant on the ground would deliver on that promise or not offer the option. Lastly, it is disappointing when BA ignores lacto-ovo selections and delivers a vegan meals as a 'lowest common denominator' option.
Last edited by AnaTravel; Jan 30, 2019 at 8:21 am
#102
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Scottsdale
Posts: 2,949
People who suffer from gout or hyperuricemia need to limit or eliminate foods which are high in purines from their diet.
This includes most animal proteins such as red meat, fish, chicken, etc.
#103
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: LHR
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Posts: 418
To be frank, 12k avios is one full return flight in Europe with some avios still left to spare. All this for a basic vegan meal gone wrong and a missing dessert.
Now, I understand it's First, costs lot of money, etc. but at the end of the day it's plane food. Fullstop. In this case it's not even the main menu, for which there are economies of scale, etc. but a special meal for vegans.
What would you expect?
When I was flying CX I used to order a fruit plate in J as I prefer to avoid plane food and like some refreshing fruit during the flight, but I never expected a far flung fruit salad from the corners of earth.
I think our wealth and politically correctness has spoiled us so much we might have lost the compass here...
Now, I understand it's First, costs lot of money, etc. but at the end of the day it's plane food. Fullstop. In this case it's not even the main menu, for which there are economies of scale, etc. but a special meal for vegans.
What would you expect?
When I was flying CX I used to order a fruit plate in J as I prefer to avoid plane food and like some refreshing fruit during the flight, but I never expected a far flung fruit salad from the corners of earth.
I think our wealth and politically correctness has spoiled us so much we might have lost the compass here...
#104
Join Date: Sep 2013
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Posts: 6,399
..............................While the presentation of the meal is indeed ghastly, as the airline already has -excellent often times- a la carte vegetarian offers, it is a bit unfair to blame BA for adapting so badly to the traveller’s personal preference.
...............................................
F class fares are invariably several multiples of the cost of an economy class seat, and there are funds available within that cost for an airline to make some effort in providing a better standard of catering than is evident from the OP’s post.
If it is “unfair” to blame BA for such a poor show ...... then who exactly is to blame ... Is it the passenger ... ?
#105
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Glasgow
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Posts: 251
People with special diets deserve sympathy and help especially when health reasons are the motivations behind. However, one has to admit that there is no specific health indication for a vegan diet, as it is an issue of personal choice, and even most OP here here seem to disagree as to what could/would be considered acceptable for a vegan in terms of ingredients and combinations. While the presentation of the meal is indeed ghastly, as the airline already has -excellent often times- a la carte vegetarian offers, it is a bit unfair to blame BA for adapting so badly to the traveller’s personal preference. I am not sure other airlines do consistently better with the vegan offer. And let’s face it, an avios service recovery for not meeting specific personal expectations (after all, vegan food was offered, even most restaurants wont know how to prepare a sumpupus vegan meal) is quite a good will gesture. A nice fulfilling elegant vegan meal is not is the contract of carriage.