Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurant/Dining Help Thread

[Plasticletters]

Originally Posted by VeganCupcake

So I called tonight to add a Vegan note to a res I just made, and the guy on the phone would not make a note of it. Like, literally, he refused, he said that I just have to tell them when I check in at the podium, and he could not make a note for Vegan on my reservations. I said I've called Disney dining about 6 times in the last few weeks to do the same thing, and the women all had no problem writing a note in my reservation. (Also- I did not tell him this but I'm pretty sure all of my reservations when I went in December said Vegan at the bottom of the receipt). I got frustrated listening to him so I just said" You know what? I'll hang up and call back so I can talk to someone else". I called right back, and the woman handle my business for me. NICE! I was not in a good mood tonight, or I would've been nicer, but really guy? man.........

Also....I figured I'd add my story to the list. The first two people I spoke to on the phone for my last trip would not let me note "vegan" either. I didn't use "the V word" initially and only said I needed to note "no eggs, dairy or meat". They asked if I had allergies and I said "You can just put down 'vegan' for the reservation" to which they asked again "I can't do that. do you have allergies?" so I went with that.
The third person I talked to said they could put "vegan" on the reservation on top of the "allergy" preference - that's what I tell everyone to do, just to double check yourself.

[MelanieC]

I have a few things I have found out from Sea World and Universal that I want to add to this thread.

The first is in regards to Universal Studios Butterbeer. Here is what I posted from another thread.

I just gave Universal a call (they gave a phone number on the auto-reply).

Wow - She was pretty quick on her game to know her canned responses to say.

I first said I wanted to know what the ingredients were for the butterbeer so I could make sure I could drink it. She said it's proprietary and she can't give that out.

I asked her if there was dairy and milk in the butterbeer. She wanted to know how severe the allergy there was. She said if there is a severe milk allergy, they recommend to not drink it. She said the FDA has approved it as a non-dairy drink, and that if there is less than a specific amount of milk product it doesn't have to go on a label. She said this could be the same for any ingredient. That if there is less than a specific amount of any ingredient in a product, no matter what it is it doesn't have to be listed.

I asked if this means it was made in a facility that produces other items that have milk or if it's an actual ingredient and she again said she can't give ingredient's due to propriatery information. I also mentioned casein and got the can't give info speech again.

I asked her if there was any gelatin in it and she said no. I asked if there were other animal ingredients in it, and again got the I can't speech.

I asked her if the milk in question is in the topping and she said she can't give ingredient's. I said I just want to know if it's in the drink or the topping so I can know if I can drink just the drink without the topping. She said it can't be sold without the topping (which is the first I've heard it can't - although I don't know if it's just because no one has tried to do it without). She said it is a rule they can't sell without the topping.

So..........I'm really sad that those with milk allergies are left without being able to let their kids drink it when there may be no milk in it. I'm left with a baffeling............ I don't know. I mean, if it were bottled on the shelf and I was purchasing it. If something didn't have enough milk to not be in the ingredient list and there were no "Iffy" ingredients in it then I'd purchase it.

Why does Universal have to be so sneaky about this. I'm baffeled that they put "proprietary" over being honest with people's health and well being and just a general I want to know what I'm consuming. I mean..........the average person is not going to be trying to make this item at home or trying to duplicate it. We just want to know if we can experience it. I wonder if they are like this with other food items in the park?

[MelanieC]

Here is the one for Sea World:

I sent an e-mail (using their online form) to Sea World asking them about various options being vegan. I was so excited when I got a response today. The only thing she didn't answer was regarding the bun to the veggie burger, but I replied to the message asking again about the buns.

Here is my e-mail:

Dietary Question
Message: I will be at Sea World in Orlando on July 18th of this year. I can't eat dairy, eggs and I also don't eat any meat (or meat products like chicken or beef stock, worcheshire sauce and things of that nature). I've been trying to see where I can eat while I'm at Sea World for the day, and I've come up with the following items that may work, but I would like to have someone review the ingredient lists and let me know if they are ok.

Spice Mill Vegetarian Chili - Any dairy or egg? Is this just served in a bowl? Do they top with cheese?
Veggie burger (is there any dairy or egg)? Also casein or L-Lysine? Bun on the veggie burger - any milk or egg products?

Mango Joe's Veggie wrap Is there any dairy or egg on this sandwich or in the wrap bread? If there is cheese, can they make it without?

Their reply:

[MelanieC]

So what do you guys think about the Butter Beer? I think the conversation was pretty bizzare. There is no milk in it according to the FDA guidelines, but there is a negligable amount. It could be their way of CYA for how they put warnings on things when it's made in the same facility as something that is an allergen?

[Vegcentric]

Originally Posted by MelanieC

So what do you guys think about the Butter Beer? I think the conversation was pretty bizzare. There is no milk in it according to the FDA guidelines, but there is a negligable amount. It could be their way of CYA for how they put warnings on things when it's made in the same facility as something that is an allergen?

I don't trust anyone or anything that tells me they can't tell me what's in something. I read labels at the store very closely before I buy something, and though my parents aren't vegans or vegetarians, they are very concerned for their health and so they read labels like crazy, too. I thought the conversation was really strange, and disheartening. This is definitely something Disney has over Universal.

We were going to go to Universal to see the new Harry Potter park in October, and we still will, but when it comes time to eat something I think I may just leave the park.

Edit: Also, I just thought of something else. What about people with diabetes? If they can't give out ingredients, are they also sticklers for not giving out nutritional information, either? Because my husband is type 1 diabetic and reads the nutritional facts on pretty much everything before he consumes it. That's a deal breaker if they won't part with this information, and I really hate how sneaky they are! I mean, lots and lots of people are becoming more aware of their food choices these days. Like I said, even if you aren't vegan or vegetarian it's a good thing to know what you are eating. My mother went to three stores the other week just to buy some bread without HFCS in it, that's how important it was to her.

[v_gan]

Wow. That's just ridiculous. They won't even give out information for people with allergies? I'm going to send an e-mail soon, letting them know how far behind they are in the dining department compared to Disney. That's just not acceptable to be that vague when it comes to allergies. Especially when people are wanting to spend money in your establishment.

[Vegcentric]

Originally Posted by v_gan

Wow. That's just ridiculous. They won't even give out information for people with allergies? I'm going to send an e-mail soon, letting them know how far behind they are in the dining department compared to Disney. That's just not acceptable to be that vague when it comes to allergies. Especially when people are wanting to spend money in your establishment.

That's a good idea. I'll be sending an e-mail as well. Let us know what they say to you!

[MelanieC]

Ok - My cell phone just rang and it was Universal Orlando. He was very nice, and he did say the topping (not the drink) had a very small amount of dairy in it, but that in accordance with the FDA it's gluten free because the amount is so small.

He did say they won't sell the drink without the topping and that they are very strict with this because of the rights of the "Harry Potter and JK Rowlings" and how the drink is supposed to be authentic.

[Vegcentric]

Originally Posted by MelanieC

Ok - My cell phone just rang and it was Universal Orlando. He was very nice, and he did say the topping (not the drink) had a very small amount of dairy in it, but that in accordance with the FDA it's gluten free because the amount is so small.

He did say they won't sell the drink without the topping and that they are very strict with this because of the rights of the "Harry Potter and JK Rowlings" and how the drink is supposed to be authentic.

Well that's disappointing. I guess being authentic trumps having your drink available for everyone. I would have loved having some butterbeer while I was in the Harry Potter park, but I guess not now!

[MelanieC]

Originally Posted by Vegcentric

Well that's disappointing. I guess being authentic trumps having your drink available for everyone. I would have loved having some butterbeer while I was in the Harry Potter park, but I guess not now!

I agree- I guess we are stuck drinking pumpkin juice. That is definately vegan

[v_gan]

Originally Posted by MelanieC

Ok - My cell phone just rang and it was Universal Orlando. He was very nice, and he did say the topping (not the drink) had a very small amount of dairy in it, but that in accordance with the FDA it's gluten free because the amount is so small.

He did say they won't sell the drink without the topping and that they are very strict with this because of the rights of the "Harry Potter and JK Rowlings" and how the drink is supposed to be authentic.

If it's as thick as it looks in pictures, maybe you could scoop it off? If it's just the topping that has the dairy in it, I may have to do that just so I can get a taste of what's underneath.

[MelanieC]

That's a good idea. I'm also not 100% convinced it's not something that is a cross contamination and just for "CYA" they are saying it has dairy. I mean, if it's not enough to list as an ingredient as you wouldn't have to with any ingredient you list then it must be something that may or may not be in the product like the items they list as was produced in a facility that produces dairy. When they send an item to a lab to get analysis on a product, it might not have dairy in the ingredients. But.........if it was made in a facility that shared equipment for something that did have dairy in it.......the item might come back with minute traces of dairy which may be where they got the "negligable amounts".

I still think it stinks they can't be more honest, I'm glad Disney isn't like that. Disney seems like they truly care about allergies and open and honest with the allergy books.

I may decide to have a sip just to taste it and would only drink the drink and not the topping. I wouldn't not buy something in the store that said "could" contain if it wasn't included in the ingredient list. It sounds like it's along those lines and we just have to use our best judgement. I don't think that the drink is really contributing to the suffering of cows if it's such a minute amount that they are only saying it could contain dairy for people with allergies and are allowed to call it a non-dairy drink.

Would have been great if they could have figured out how to use a minute amount of soy, almond milk, etc, lol. Sigh.......it is so hard to realize why some ingredients are in our food supply at all. For instance those bread conditioners kill me. Who needs to have duck feather or other bizzare ingredients. It's just not necessary. Who thinks this stuff up. Can you imagine sitting in a board room, let's add something made from duck feathers......????

[v_gan]

Originally Posted by MelanieC

I'm also not 100% convinced it's not something that is a cross contamination and just for "CYA" they are saying it has dairy.

For instance those bread conditioners kill me. Who needs to have duck feather or other bizzare ingredients. It's just not necessary. Who thinks this stuff up. Can you imagine sitting in a board room, let's add something made from duck feathers......????

I agree.. If it really is just the topping like they're saying, that's not going to keep me from trying what's underneath at least once. It really is stupid that they're being so unclear about that whole thing. It was nice that you got a phone call back, though.

And what's this about bread conditioners and duck feathers?! I've never heard of anything like that.

[MelanieC]

L-cysteine can come from plant or animal sources as well as human hair (How gross is that).

Check out this link:

http://www.albalagh.net/halal/col2.shtml

Here is another

http://www.vrg.org/nutshell/faqingredients.htm#cystine

I know Einsteins uses L-cystein from Duck feathers and I believe so does Dunkin Donuts for their bagels.

There are plant based sources too.

[VeganCupcake]

I asked her if there was dairy and milk in the butterbeer. She wanted to know how severe the allergy there was. She said if there is a severe milk allergy, they recommend to not drink it. She said the FDA has approved it as a non-dairy drink, and that if there is less than a specific amount of milk product it doesn't have to go on a label. She said this could be the same for any ingredient. That if there is less than a specific amount of any ingredient in a product, no matter what it is it doesn't have to be listed.

Wow how super frustrating that must have been!
When I worked at Nutrition World, we got in a shipment of these new sugar free cookies. I saw on the side of the bag it said VEGAN, but I read the ingredients anyways, and low and behold egg whites were the last ingredient. So I called them and was all like what the actual heck man? and the woman said the same thing, if its less than... 1%-3% or whatever the FDA doesn't make them even list the ingredient. I said I the real problem I had was with them labeling a product vegan knowing that the product was not vegan. It just really makes you wonder about what you are actually eating sometimes. I can't think about it so much or I start to get paranoid, like people are trying to "get the vegan" haha. On the plus side- I heard from my bff the pumpkin juice is killer! Let us know about any vegan Harry Potter candies you may find!!! I'm so jealous of you!!!!