Faux chicken

Interesting story in Slate on a new type of fake chicken made from soy that supposedly tastes very close to the real thing.

Fake Meat So Good It Will Freak You Out

The first time a vegetarian tastes Beyond Meat’s ersatz animal flesh, he’ll feel delighted and queasy at the same time. There’s something about the way these fake chicken strips break on your teeth, the way they initially resist and then yield to your chew, the faint fatty residue they leave on your palate and your tongue—something about the whole experience that feels a little too real.

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2012/07/beyond_meat_fake_chicken_that_tastes_so_real_it_will_freak_you_out_.html

Maybe it's great but I have to admit... My first thought when I read the headline was "if. Had a nickel for every time a vegetarian said 'Really! It tastes just like meat!' ..." And they never do.


(Whoa! Did that sound wrong!)

If you want chicken, eat chicken! If you want soy, eat tofu! They will never be the same no matter how hard people try.

"For the consumer who wants meat oh so bad, but just cannot reconcile it with their vegetarian beliefs?"

If you want meat, eat meat. If you are opposed to meat, then stay away. All of these "kinda-sorta" meats are nonsense to me. Why would a vegetarian want to eat something that is the equivocation of meat?

Ah well, to each...

"For the consumer who wants meat oh so bad, but just cannot reconcile it with their vegetarian beliefs?"

If you want meat, eat meat. If you are opposed to meat, then stay away. All of these "kinda-sorta" meats are nonsense to me. Why would a vegetarian want to eat something that is the equivocation of meat?

Ah well, to each...

Perhaps because they like the texture, taste, whatever, but eating animals is incompatible with their personal ethics?

Totally agree with Mark and Ronnie. I eat very little meat, because I dont like the texture particularly of steak. Haven't eaten a steak in 40 years., so a soy product that has the texture of meat would be of no interest to me.

If you want chicken, eat chicken! If you want soy, eat tofu! They will never be the same no matter how hard people try.

"For the consumer who wants meat oh so bad, but just cannot reconcile it with their vegetarian beliefs?"

If you want meat, eat meat. If you are opposed to meat, then stay away. All of these "kinda-sorta" meats are nonsense to me. Why would a vegetarian want to eat something that is the equivocation of meat?

Ah well, to each...

Why is it that some meat eaters seem so concerned with vegetarian products that aspire to resemble meat? IMHO, it's absurd to attempt to frame your logic in black and white, this or that, etc. terms. I can say that the idea of eating centipedes on a stick from a street cart in Thailand is nonsense too, but that would be absurd. I understand that people have their reasons and just because I can't make sense of it, doesn't mean others cannot.

BTW; I am a meat eater. However, I do eat some (and yes, my reasons make sense to me) of these meat substitutes Many are so-so, some are great.

For those seeking delicious meat substitutes, more power to 'em!

Anyway;
Try pan frying slices of smoked provolone until they're crispy and brown. It's a wonderful bacon substitute.

-or-

Turtle Island Tofurky Beer Brats on the grill are great!

"For the consumer who wants meat oh so bad, but just cannot reconcile it with their vegetarian beliefs?"

If you want meat, eat meat. If you are opposed to meat, then stay away. All of these "kinda-sorta" meats are nonsense to me. Why would a vegetarian want to eat something that is the equivocation of meat?

Ah well, to each...

Perhaps because they like the texture, taste, whatever, but eating animals is incompatible with their personal ethics?

Simple enough and nicely put.

From the article;

I’m not a vegetarian, and I love real meat, but for various health and ethical reasons, I’ve long tried to cut down on eating animals. As a result, I’ve tried every fake meat there is.

If you want meat, eat meat. If you are opposed to meat, then stay away. All of these "kinda-sorta" meats are nonsense to me. Why would a vegetarian want to eat something that is the equivocation of meat?

I agree, at least with regard to those who are vegetarian for ethical reasons. It's like PETA members wearing fake fur. It's a violation of one's supposed principles on all but the most technical grounds.

If you want meat, eat meat. If you are opposed to meat, then stay away. All of these "kinda-sorta" meats are nonsense to me. Why would a vegetarian want to eat something that is the equivocation of meat?

I agree, at least with regard to those who are vegetarian for ethical reasons. It's like PETA members wearing fake fur. It's a violation of one's supposed principles on all but the most technical grounds.

I disagree. PETA members are opposed to animals' skins being used as fashion -- not against people wearing things that are fuzzy. No animal has to give its life for fake fur. Ideally, all furry fashions would be made out of faux fur, so that if you must wear something like that, at least no animals were harmed. I'm sure the majority would prefer not to wear it, but I doubt they are opposed to faux fur.

The same goes for meat analogues. Some vegetarians don't eat it. Some don't like the taste of meat and thus don't care for analogues either. Others just prefer not to eat it. Others do, because they like the taste, texture, etc. but their ethical beliefs are incompatible with eating animal meat, or they are vegetarian for health reasons. Regardless, there is no ethical mismatch here because no animals are killed to make a veggie burger or a chik'n strip.

I choose not to put animals on my plate, out of health concerns, and out of a desire for allowing them to live their lives to the fullest. Eating a Morningstar Farms riblet doesn't affect this desire at all or make it any less.

I find the reaction of some omnivores quite amusing whenever someone says they are vegan or vegetarian...I really honestly don't care what you're eating and I'm not going to pick apart what is on your plate or tell you all about how you are being hypocritical by eating it...yet it's assumed that I will, so there is some kind of race to judge that goes on..."I'm gonna judge you first before you can judge me!" I really don't care. Eat your steak. But respect my choice to eat a plant-based alternative if I want something "meaty."

Ray- please share which meat substitutes you think are great. I am doing a little -to- no animal protein diet and would enjoy something else to throw in with potatoes or rice and various sauces. None of the Morning Star products appeal to me. The vegetarian bacon smells like rancid vinegar to me. What have you tried that you like?

Carla,

Maybe you missed the 2 suggestions in my post above;

Try pan frying slices of smoked provolone until they're crispy and brown. It's a wonderful bacon substitute.
-or-
Turtle Island Tofurky Beer Brats on the grill are great!

That cheese "bacon" does double duty on a veggie BLT.......for those that put cheese on a real BLT.

Also, I do like other Turtle Island products. Their Chipotle sausage is very nice for substituting for Andouille for Cajun dishes.

For "burgers", I absolutely love this recipe;
http://www.realsimple.com/food-recipes/browse-all-recipes/veggie-burgers-00000000014283/index.html

However, instead of couscous, I use red quinoa for extra protein

To make it more stable for the grill, I use an extra egg and 1/4 to 1/2 cup of panko.

Can I chime in, Carla? I love Morningstar Farms' Chipotle Black Bean Burgers. Veggie Patch Meatless Meatballs are yummy - I like all their products that I've tried. Boca Ground Crumbles are the standard around our house for taco night. Season them as you would ground beef. Of course, actual meat is very different, but the crumbles are better for me and I don't miss the flavor enough to use real meat. In all these instances, I use the substitutes for health reasons. I eat meat, just not a lot of it. I don't think any of these items replace meat or even taste much like it. Seasoned up and sauced, though, they make a smart alternative to animal protein, if you're looking to cut it out where you can. I've not found anything in the fake pork vein that tempts me, however. My husband used to eat these veggie corn dogs, and they smelled like SUCH butt. That sort of thing exists out in restaurants and food trucks, but I've not found anything good yet in the mass marketed grocery options. So I just eat real, local bacon and the very occasional for-real gnarly, non-local corn dog.

Thank you both for the suggestions. The fried smoke provolone sound AWESOME but cheese comes under the animal protein category so that's a no go. (darnit!) I'll look into the other items mentioned.
Thanks again.

But respect my choice to eat a plant-based alternative if I want something "meaty."

Kari,
Totally agree! I respect those who stick to their own beliefs; I won't try to influence you with mine and vice versa.

BTW- I recently read a review on Urbanspoon about "the Restaurant that Shall Not be Named" saying they have excellent tofu BBQ.

Deb