I went to a Vietnamese restaurant for pho (noodle soup) last weekend and saw this “vegetarian” item on the menu. They also had a vegetarian beef soup, too. 🙂
It reminds me of my mom; when I come home to visit she’ll make me what she calls veggie versions of my favorite Filipino dishes, which almost always have chicken!
Dao says
November 8th, 2011 at 7:29 amWhat do you mean there’s no chicken in the vegetarian soup? (-> feign indignation.)
When I went with my aunt to a Viet pho place and she ordered a bowl of Vegetarian pho, they brought out the same thing as the regular pho but without the meat. But guess what? The broth was cooked with a ton of bones.
Vegetarian, Smegetarian. It’s all semantics in a Vietnamese pho restaurant 😉
Fieran says
November 8th, 2011 at 7:29 amActually, seitan as well as soya – both are used to make ‘mock meat’..this is probably what the menu is referring to. Mock meat is eaten a lot in Asia so that vegetarians can eat any dish as long as the meat is substituted with mock meat. The ingredient is similar to what is used with vegetarian sausages, etc.
Karen says
November 8th, 2011 at 7:49 amHmm, I think they might be referring to the broth…
Anh says
November 14th, 2011 at 8:33 amI’m pretty sure they are referring to mock meat and not the broth.
Biba says
November 8th, 2011 at 7:48 amOh, LOL. I’m a vegetarian and I could never eat a dish called vegetarian chicken soup. Even if there is no chicken in it.
Cassy says
November 8th, 2011 at 7:53 amThis is why I hate food. So many things marketed as “veggie” really have meat. It makes not eating meat like a second job. I should get paid for as many soup can labels as I have to read to find a veggie soup without chicken broth, lol!
Kayleigh says
November 8th, 2011 at 8:44 amLOL I’ve heard of something like that at a Pho restaurant around here! I think some people (especially with English as a second language?) misunderstand vegetarian as being anything with vegetables in it rather than something with no meat products in it – and really you can see where they might get confused!
Jessi M says
November 8th, 2011 at 9:06 amOh yum. I want some noodle soup now! So I guess the soup is a chicken or beef broth with no actual chunks of meat in it? I agree with Cassy, being a vegetarian is a lot of work. I was one for 4 years when I was kid and my poor mom worked her butt off to accommodate me. Are you a vegetarian Karen or do you just try to limit the meat you eat?
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Karen says
November 8th, 2011 at 10:48 amHi Jessi,
I think the soup is non-veg broth with no vegetables!
That’s cool that your mom worked with you during that time. I grew up in a meat-eating culture and it would’ve been really tough to be a vegetarian in my family… I ended up eating veg when I was in my 20s, but it got hard when I met my husband (he loves his protein). Now I’m mostly veg, with some seafood and the occasional rare turkey sandwich thrown in.
PinkGlitter says
November 8th, 2011 at 10:14 amI wish it were easy to find more soups made without meat stock. Are you a vegetarian Karen?
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Karen says
November 8th, 2011 at 10:43 amI used to be in my 20s, but now I’m not as strict about it. Most of my meals are still veggie, but these days I’ll eat seafood and on the rare occasion turkey.
Are you vegetarian?
dementia says
November 8th, 2011 at 11:41 amI knew it! I was wondering if you were Pinay too! Yay!!!
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Karen says
November 8th, 2011 at 2:27 pmYup, I am. I just had sinigang for lunch, as a matter of fact. 🙂
Sarah S. says
November 8th, 2011 at 11:47 amHmph… that’s frustrating! Although I have gotten “chicken-flavor” vegan things, just the word “chicken” on the label has me scouring to ensure it’s a fake flavor!
marisol says
November 8th, 2011 at 12:17 pmI’m surprised that it wasn’t the Chipotle menu that made the first volume.
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Karen says
November 8th, 2011 at 2:25 pmCHEESE OR SOUR CREAM?
Hannah B says
November 8th, 2011 at 12:37 pmI’m guessing it was made with seitan, at least whenever I see vegetarian chicken soup or something like that at asian restaurants, I always make sure to ask and it’s usually that.
Marian says
November 8th, 2011 at 2:21 pmThat’s it! I’m making chicken noodle soup tomorrow! I just put a chicken in water to thaw.
Alex says
November 8th, 2011 at 4:14 pmI guess because there’s no actual chicken in it…just the broth being of chicken? So it’s veggie? Idk, either way this is failblog material
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Deanna G. says
November 9th, 2011 at 10:36 amMake sure to get the Vegetarian Vegetarian soup next time.