Job Discussion Forums

[grahamb]

I've read several postings about the best and worst places to work, but how about some opinions regarding the most and least "vegetarian-friendly" countries?
The Spanish are voracious meat-eaters, so finding a vegetarian meal here can be a nightmare unless you go to an Indian or Turkish restaurant, for example.
How do you survive where you are?

[xnihil]

In Lebanon, I tell the waiter I'm a vegetarian and ask him if he has anything on the menu. He thinks about it and says, "Well, we don't really have any vegetarian dishes, how about a salad?"

Then I look at the menu, and there's a huge smorgasborg of veggie dishes, Mutaaba, Hummous, fatireh, Zaatar wa Zeit, Sabanigah, and, my all time favorite, Fahty Liban.

Lebanon is, despite the locals' fervant denials, a vegetarian's paradise.

[denise]

I have survived as a vegan in the Czech Republic and China, with occasional minor screw-ups (e.g., students inviting me out, offering me food, etc., and me not quite knowing how to balance diet and social considerations). The CR has loads of vegetarian options, although it is heavily meat-oriented in general, but vegan food can be more tricky. I cooked at home a lot and made sure all of my students, friends, school staff, etc. knew that I was vegan. I also splurged every now and then at their tourist-oriented, overpriced vegetarian restaurants. China also had plenty of veggie food, and, with school staff helping me out and explaining my diet to the restaurant staff (I was only there for a summer program, so I did not progress far enough in the language to really help myself...), I did OK. I think... I will be heading to Japan in June, and I imagine I will prepare most of my meals at home until I figure out where I can and cannot eat. Wish me luck! Oh, and thanks again to the folks who responded to my post about how to survive as a vegan in Japan.

[andrea]

hey denise
i'm planning on going to the CR in september...and i'm a vegan. any tips? things to avoid that i might not otherwise think about or realize? or recommendations of where to eat or shop? i plan on doing most of my own cooking, but i would like to be able to splurge and eat out once in a while. i'm also not planning on being in prague...haven't gotten a job yet, but i really don't want to end up in prague...though i assume it's probably easier finding vegan stuff and vegetarian restaurants there than anywhere else in the country. how was the produce selection there? lots of fresh fruits and veggies in the stores or not? and were they way over priced? just looking for some general advice. thanks much.

[denise]

Andrea,

Contrary to what I had heard, the fruits and veggies were plentiful year-round (at least in Prague, but I'm sure the markets in other cities/towns are equally well-stocked). The quality was fine--some of the firmest, juiciest tomatoes I have ever had!

Things to watch out for: most of the vegetarian selections that you will see in restaurants are fried veggies (mushrooms, cauliflower. etc). I don't think they're vegan--I think the batter coating has eggs in it. Also, one of my students pointed out to me that rohliky (the little one-crown breadsticks that all the stores sell) are coated with egg whites to make 'em glossy. I found out after I had been enjoying them for a year. Damn.

Italian places (they are plentiful over there) will have vegetarian pizzas that you can order without cheese (bez syra/bez syru?), but you might get some strange looks from the waiters. And there's always basic pasta with marinara sauce.

If you do end up in Prague, even if it's just for a visit, check out Country Life and Lotus. There are also a couple of vegetarian restaurants in Brno, but I don't remember their names.

Have fun over there! It is a wonderful country.

[Tripmaster Monkey]

Korea is decidedly unfriendly.
Thailand has a huge number of Buddhist vegetarians. I would have to say it's the most veggie-friendly place I've visited.

Of course, I'm a carnivore. Just going by friends experiences.

[andrea]

thanks for the info denise. 'tis good to know that there are lovely red maters in czech i'll be sure to check out that restaurant in prague.

[svrart]

India is a very good place for vegetarians. A large portion of the population does not eat meat.

Sridhar

[naturegirl321]

ILove the info on Lebanon, what do they considre to be vegetarian if salad isn't?!?!

[scot47]

In the Arab and Muslim world being a vegetarian is considered very odd, and also suspect. In the old days it ws also odd in many countries in Eastern Europe. You did not meet many vegetarians in the GDR or in pre-1989 Poland or Bulgaria. I believe the Czech Republic may have been different with soemthing of a tradition of vegetarianism.

If you are a vegan then expect a hard time anywhere !

[maruss]

This is a great book for starting the correct diet according to your blood group-main problem for "o's" like me is gluten and dairy products,along with condiments,vinegar etc.I also don't eat red meat,although they consider it o.k. for my group-how would I manage in Russia though,if I went there?Probably starve!!
M.

[PanamaTeacher]

Graham--In Panama people are vegetarians out of poverty (like north koreans eating grass). When I got here and only wanted salads at dinner people thought I was broke. When I said I was trying to be healthy and live longer, they thought I was gay. So I gave up and eat whatever. But its easy to be a vegetarian here cause they sell fruits and vegetables at every corner. They even come up to your car with bags of fresh produce.


P.S. All this talk about food reminds me that I haven't had a nice juicy T-bone since I left los Estados Unidos. No real Texas BBQ either. And they only have one fish in Panama, something called Corvina.

[Marcoregano]

In my Hong Kong adult classes the subject of food crops up frequently. After 4 years here I have yet to have one vegetarian. The people here behave like sheep....except they eat them too!!

[PanamaTeacher]

I have tried to be a vegetarian, but for some reason it makes me fat so I stop. Are all you vegetarians doing it for weight loss, health or some kind of moral thing?

[denise]

PanamaTeacher--

All of the above. Plus there's a ton of yummy food out there. Hopefully I will come across some of it in Japan... (I'm still waiting on a care package full of vegan chocolate, doughnuts--ooops, so much for the weight loss factor!--etc.)