Cracker Barrel adds Impossible meatless sausage - some customers go apoplectic

[MillauFr]

Sorry but we visited Cracker Barrel in Ohio last month. In all my US visits I have never had a more overrated and under delivered meal in my life! Food was terrible - I had such high hopes after watching YouTube reviews giving glowing reports. Non-meat items cannot be any worse then what we got!

The Disney Monte Crisco "sandwich"?

 

[HopperFan]

I, too, am mystified by why this is a big deal. I'm a little surprised--"Cracker Barrel" and "healthy eating" aren't synonymous in my book. And if memory serves, there are other vegetarian choices on the CB menu, like oatmeal or yogurt or mac and cheese. Correct me if I'm wrong--we typically go to CB once a year, while travelling. That's often enough for me, their food is not to my taste. I wouldn't be getting the fake sausage, though--for the chemicals and calories, I'd go for the real thing on my annual trip.

Had a family dinner tonight, grandpa, girlfriend too ... this whole story was part of our conversation. GF's sister was vegan 10 years, now vegetarian so another perspective.

One thing DS#2 said which I agree with is ... why would we eat anything fake. Either eat the real thing or don't eat it at all. I don't need meat daily, but I do like it. I def won't eat fake sausage or burgers or plant balls. Just like I'd rather drink water than have to drink diet soda. We don't understand the need for fake anything.

You’re absolutely right. I’ve been a vegetarian for over 20 years. I can almost always find something to eat no matter where I go, even if I have to remove some things. I tried the Impossible Burger once and I spit it out because it tasted so much like meat. Burger King had a Morning Star veggie burger for a few years which was wonderful on road trips (which is the only time we get fast food). Now I just get a kid’s hamburger and give the meat patty to my husband and I happily eat the roll with ketchup and a pickle. There are so many things to eat besides meat before going the “impossible” route.

I tried the Impossible Burger and was impressed it tasted so much like a regular BK burger. So if someone is turned off by "meat" it would do it.

Well if people knew what was in the "sausage" from Cracker Barrel they would probably never eat meat again.

All sausage is in that category. Look up Scrapple sausage and you'll gag.

My mom grew up on a farm during the depression. I had lunch at her cousin's farm when I was about 16. Once you've had head cheese, nothing will phase you. It's all the stuff they DON'T put in sausage. As my mom's cousin put it......"every part of the pig but the squeal"

HAHAHA, we talked about head cheese too!!

Sorry but we visited Cracker Barrel in Ohio last month. In all my US visits I have never had a more overrated and under delivered meal in my life! Food was terrible - I had such high hopes after watching YouTube reviews giving glowing reports. Non-meat items cannot be any worse then what we got!

I know it's hard to believe but CB food is exactly what many people cook in their own homes.

 

[bcla]

My mom grew up on a farm during the depression. I had lunch at her cousin's farm when I was about 16. Once you've had head cheese, nothing will phase you. It's all the stuff they DON'T put in sausage. As my mom's cousin put it......"every part of the pig but the squeal"

I'll eat almost anything except durian. The typical "#1" Vietnamese sandwich contains Vietnamese style head cheese. But a few weeks ago I had a tripe taco. Pretty good.

 

[HopperFan]

I'll eat almost anything except durian. The typical "#1" Vietnamese sandwich contains Vietnamese style head cheese. But a few weeks ago I had a tripe taco. Pretty good.

Grew up on Campbell Soup (Grandpop worked there and brought lots home) and LOVED the ones with tripe!

 

[Mysterian]

Impossible tries to give off the vibe that they're saving the world from resource intensive meat. They're certainly not going for healthy or even organic, especially since their secret ingredient for mimicking beef blood is produced via genetically engineering. Impossible uses an inordinate amount of salt and coconut oil.

Do you really think Cracker Barrel's regular customers, of all people, are so concerned with the impact of meat production on the environment?

 

[fly girl]

Good grief, this is so stupid.

This is just like anything else, if you don’t like it don’t buy it. Problem solved. No need to get panties in a bunch over something this insignificant.

Side note: the impossible breakfast schwarma at DCA’s Avengers Campus is pretty tasty! I was pleasantly surprised. Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.

 

[RedAngie]

Grew up on Campbell Soup (Grandpop worked there and brought lots home) and LOVED the ones with tripe!

Pepper Pot-I don’t think Campbell’s makes it anymore.

 

[bcla]

Do you really think Cracker Barrel's regular customers, of all people, are so concerned with the impact of meat production on the environment?

You never know who really likes going to a place like Cracker Barrel. Often I've been some place in a group where it was a group choice to go there. Choices are good.

 

[bcla]

Grew up on Campbell Soup (Grandpop worked there and brought lots home) and LOVED the ones with tripe!

They had something with tripe? About the only thing I've seen in a can like that is menudo.

But yeah - this was a taco place in Santa Barbara that didn't charge extra for the "exotic" meats like cabeza or lengua. Lengua is my kid's favorite.

 

[tvguy]

They had something with tripe? About the only thing I've seen in a can like that is menudo.

But yeah - this was a taco place in Santa Barbara that didn't charge extra for the "exotic" meats like cabeza or lengua. Lengua is my kid's favorite.

Folks on Google say Campbells did sell Pepper Pot soup with tripe, but they discontinued it in 2010.

https://www.amazon.com/Campbells-Pepper-Soup-10-5-Ounce-Cans/product-reviews/B000H1730M

 

[QueenIsabella]

My Italian grandmother used to love tripe. Eels, too. My French Canadian grandmother loved blood sausage. YUCK! Barfing smilies all around for those foods!

We just got back from a trip to Hawaii. Obviously, we expected fish to be popular, but hadn't realized that raw or barely cooked fish was such a "thing". You actually have to order your ahi (tuna) cooked to a degree, like a steak. Luckily, we were all good sports about it, and my pickier kids were willing to give most things a try. DD27, OTOH, was in heaven--she loves raw ahi, and ate her weight in poke bowls. She wouldn't touch the Spam, though.

I suspect the Cracker Barrel kerfuffle will die down in a few weeks, when they realize that they only sell 4 fake sausage patties a week. Maybe they'll keep a bag in the freezer, just to have them, or quietly take them off the menu. Maybe people are really protesting the disappearance of the turkey sausage?

 

[Gladys Belcher]

The BK flame broiled 'Impossible" is decent.. Until we read that the fat content with coconut oil. Fat content higher than real beef.

Just gotta read about the contents.. Whoops . Still tastes good..

 

[NotUrsula]

I cannot stand Cracker Barrel. I only go when I am dragged, and there are very few people whom I permit to drag me there, mostly older family members who are fond of it for some reason.

My primary reason for opposing the place is their practice of imposing artificially long table-wait times in order to drive sales in the "gift shop" part of the building. Nasty, nasty practice. (And for the record, I hate it when Rainforest does the same thing, but at least they hire skilled cooks most of the time; Cracker barrel food is ghastly except for simple breakfast items.)

 

[PollyannaMom]

It's hard to understand the outrage over someone else having something you don't even want.

 

[TwoMisfits]

My Italian grandmother used to love tripe. Eels, too. My French Canadian grandmother loved blood sausage. YUCK! Barfing smilies all around for those foods!

We just got back from a trip to Hawaii. Obviously, we expected fish to be popular, but hadn't realized that raw or barely cooked fish was such a "thing". You actually have to order your ahi (tuna) cooked to a degree, like a steak. Luckily, we were all good sports about it, and my pickier kids were willing to give most things a try. DD27, OTOH, was in heaven--she loves raw ahi, and ate her weight in poke bowls. She wouldn't touch the Spam, though.

I suspect the Cracker Barrel kerfuffle will die down in a few weeks, when they realize that they only sell 4 fake sausage patties a week. Maybe they'll keep a bag in the freezer, just to have them, or quietly take them off the menu. Maybe people are really protesting the disappearance of the turkey sausage?

If that fake sausage replaced turley sausage, then I actually can see the outcry. The folks who wanted to eat a little healthier now get stuck with no sausage option - and those folks probably wouldn't stay silent!

And Cracker Barrel, even though I can't eat most of the menu any longer, is great for travel food (and that's when my fam goes) - when I'm there, I always get the fried apples, the green beans (yes, definitely started canned, but still good!) and the sourdough bread (they bring that as my allergy sub), and just those 3 things are so soothing as a meal. Normally, I get a tiny sliver of red meat in the last 12 months b/c inflation seems to have hit them hard on the proteins or I've started to get 3 sides as my meal since I really do enjoy those a lot (and I always get the 1st 2 I mentioned)...

PS - And tripe is okay, but eels are AWESOME! I have some eels in my freezer for eel roll bowls (rice, avocado, cucumber, green onion, and soy/hoison sauce - like the sushi). I may have to do that this week!

 

[Princesca]

Though it's debatable whether most of these meat substitutes are actually any healthier than meat.

They aren't really. They should be an occasional treat, just like for non-vegetarians. A cheeseburger should probably not be eaten daily. I do think it is healthier for the environment in the long run.

I should also add that this is will be a nice change for my friend who has Alpha Gal.

 

[RedAngie]

It's hard to understand the outrage over someone else having something you don't even want.

There was a story earlier this week of some vegan Karen causing a scene because a restaurant discontinued an item that she never ordered to begin with. She was shouting about discrimination against vegans.

 

[dioxide45]

I know I won't eat it, but I guess it is an option for people out there that want it. Will it be cooked on the same flat tops as their other sausage? I know Burger King got some flack because they still cooked their plant based protein through the same flame griller as their beef patties. They didn't advertise it as a vegan product, but people still sued.

This seems to be a very niche product and the company sales were down last quarter. McDonalds seems to have dropped the option after their tests and what seemed like low demand. I mean, if I am going through McDonalds, I don't care if it is healthy.

 

[kanerf]

I wonder if they are planning on rolling out fake eggs to go with the fake sausage.

 

[igrsod]

I don’t understand this fake meat or cheese substitute stuff. There are plenty of tasty natural vegetarian and vegan foods. Why eat fake stuff that is highly processed to mimic things you’re opposed to? Seems contrary to the whole V philosophy.

When people in our family started eating more vegan meals, this was a stepping stone for them as heavy meat eaters. I've been vegetarian for years now, and don't really eat meat substitutes, but I would if a group of people stopped at this restaurant.
It's nice to have options.
And to add, not everyone that is vegan/vegetarian doesn't like the taste of meat. There are many reasons people choose to not eat meat, some of which do not involve taste preference. Some do it for environmental or ethical reasons. Some do it to lower saturated fat intake.