I need sage, sound, definitive advice...

[WillParkinson]

I'd prefer it from only vegetarians or vegans, please. Anyone else, while I would normally value your opinions on many subjects, this is a veg question and I'm hoping for a veg answer. Thank you!

===

I work in a hotel in Milwaukee. The food and beverage director has been incredibly supportive by trying to incorporate more things into our menu that would be veg friendly. Our newest menu will have a "Grilled Asparagus and Tofu Salad". He asked me the other day my thoughts on it, and I told him that a majority of vegetarians and vegans might not order it because of the vegetables would be grilled on the same grill where meat is cooked. (This is the same guy from the Employee of the Year story.)

The hotel hierarchy believes that the grill is clean when it's scraped because the temperature of the grill burns off all flesh/blood/etc. I maintain that it would still be considered tainted by those who choose not to eat flesh. (I wouldn't eat from the grill or the deep fryer because of the meat or fish cooked there.)

Am I right or wrong? If you went to a restaurant where they were serving a portobello mushroom sandwich that was cooked on the same grill where they cook burgers would you still order it? If yes, why? If no, why not?

Thank you for your time.

[Chan790]

1. My thoughts...

not that I want to speak for anybody but me.

1.) I wouldn't be put off by it, per say...but I may not order it if there is anything else on the menu that might be less contaminated by animal flesh. I'm notoriously unpicky though about such things compared to others.

2.) I think their grill assumption is kind of gross really. I've worked in a restaurant kitchen and can tell you that the griddle is never really "clean". Over time the surface becomes permanently slick from animal fats, a sort of seasoning not unlike that of cast-iron pans.

3.) It's neither unreasonable or expensive to purchase a griddle pan for use on the gas cooktop that is set aside for vegetables and vegetarian foods.

[nankerphelge]

6. I agree with 3...

With the griddle pan, you have the smaller subset of people who would be put off by it covered. I don't usually ask about the grill or put off a purchase, unless I'm thinking about it. Fortunately, some of places I go advertise that they use different parts of the grill or different plates for vegetarians. It's like an advertisement.

[Ignis]

2. It's all a matter of degree.

I think most vegetarians would be delighted to see a veggie menu item available, and only a smaller subset (mostly us cranky vegans ;) ) would even think to ask about the state of the grill.

If many people order the item--thus validating your point that there are many vegetarians out there who would love to see more veggie options on menus--then you can start trying to get them to spring for an animal-free space on the grill. But from a cost perspective, that's a hard argument to sell until they see that there's actually a demand. I think a better short-term step would be to educate the kitchen staff about scrubbing down before starting a veggie order.

My $0.02. Thanks as always for your efforts, Will. :yourock:

[flvegan]

3. This is always a tough call. Here's what I'd do:

You've given him your concerns about using the critter grill to cook the veggie food. They are only going to do what they're going to do with your feedback. I'd give them all the praise in the world for adding the option(s) that they do. However, I'd keep my ear out. Are folks inquiring about how the food is prepped. Use the customers' feedback to drive how they prepare the food. If your thoughts are unfounded, great. Hopefully lots of folks order it and they add more items. If your concerns are affirmed, you can take it back to them in 6 months and maybe convince them via customer inquiry/demand.

That said, I very rarely eat out, and this is one of the reasons. I don't want to eat something that just came off a surface that critter was cooked on. I also don't want it near, cut on/by or touched by anyone that's handled uncooked animal product. I'm convinced that half of the "I got food poisoning" isn't really that. It's that they somehow ingested un(der)cooked meat, beit by faulty prep, unsafe handling or not cooking long enough. If I have to (for work or something) I ask that my food be cooked on foil, and I look for grill lines.

But then, I won't even put my food on a grocery conveyor belt if it's wet, lest it be from leaking burger packs. Disgusting.

[WillParkinson]

4. Well, the sad thing is...

That people seldom ask about how something is done. In regards to the portobello, I sell some of them but when a person asks for it with vegetables instead of fries, or such I ask if they are vegetarian/vegan and then explain to them that the mushroom is cooked on the grill where we do cook meat. I then offer to have it pan sauteed and about 98% of them go that route and are very happy I told them. I've never quite understood why many people don't ask what's in their food when they say they're vegetarian/vegan.

[LeftyMom]

5. A lot of people are used to rude waitstaff who act like a question about the food is

at best an inconvenience, and at worst a personal affront. So a lot of people either avoid eating out at non-veg places, or suck it up and assume that the best they can do is indifferent service and food that may or may not be cooked in a manner consistent with their health or ethics. A lot of people also learn to phrase questions about ethics as being an allergy concern, as staff can be more responsive to that in many cases.

If this isn't a chain and you have local control over the menu, a note that vegetarian and vegan items can be cooked in separate pans on request can perhaps be added at the bottom of the menu, especially if there's a section where all of the veg items are located and it can just go beneath that.

If you can't do that, the next best option might be to post a comment on any vegetarian/vegan dining sites that review your workplace that the food can be cooked separately on request. That way many of the people who need to know will find out, since most of us check review sites for places to eat when traveling or for info on local establishments.

[CrispyQ]

7. My mother would groan when I would ask the wait staff about ingredients.

A friend I use to go out with would say, "Here we go again with the 20 questions," & roll her eyes.

My experience has been that the wait staff are more open minded than the people I'm eating with. My mother admitted that she wouldn't mind if I were asking because of allergies, health or religious reasons. But because my motivation is ethical, it was embarrassing for her. :eyes:

We hardly ever eat out. RememberFight Club & the clam chowder? ;)

[Codeine]

8. I guess I'm a strange vegan,

because I'm not concerned about the grill at all. My philosophy is that my diet should avoid contributing to the death or exploitation of animals, not that a single solitary molecule of animal fat should never cross my palate. If I'm eating the vegan menu option I'm satisfying that requirement -- the presence/non-presence of some trace amount of grill particles is utterly immaterial as it was there before my food was cooked and would continue to be there regardless of what I ordered.

[flvegan]

9. Not strange, really. But some of us

just don't want that shit in our bodies, nor do I want to think about it. I'd rather eat in peace than wonder if my veggie burger was commingled with a steak and that something like that might make me sick.

I'm paying for it, so make it my way.

[WillParkinson]

10. That is, of course, your choice...

Some people do not mind it. Others do.

I don't want my mushroom cooking on a grill, especially sitting next to a meat patty. Nor do I want it cooked on a surface if I know it hasn't been cleaned.

That's my choice. We will have to agree to disagree.

[LeftyMom]

11. I don't really have an ethical issue with common preparation areas

but I have digestive issues that are really easily aggravated, and some pretty substantial allergies. As a result, I really do need separate preparation, more to avoid dairy than meat in my case.

For the most part I'm able to stick to vegan places anymore and avoid the whole issue, but in the past when I could not do so because my area had no dedicated vegan dining, I would request things be cooked separately not so much out of pickiness as a desire not to spend the remainder of my day in the restroom.

[Codeine]

12. That totally makes sense.

Health issues trump all other concerns.

[I Have A Dream]

13. I would prefer that my food not be prepared on the same grill...

but it's not a showstopper for me. The most important issue for me is the killing of the animal, which doesn't occur based upon my own food choice that's being cooked.

However, I completely understand why some people would find it unacceptable.