A Restaurant Doesn’t Need Vegan Meat

Restaurants do not need to have vegan meat on their menus.
In my opinion, having "imitation meats" as your only vegetarian or vegan options is just taking the lazy way out so you don't have to try to make a really good meatless option for your guests.
Having vegetarian/vegan options on your menu is great, but put some thought and time into it rather than just buying the fake meat or having only salads.
As chefs, we need to do better than that.
- Chef Mike
#vegetarian #vegan #meatless #chefstalk

[@joshpafundi7529]

Finally someone put into words well. Vegan and vegetarian dishes are awesome and they don't need to make an "impossible" burger or steak for it to be good. Just look at Indian food, so many amazing vegetarian dishes and not trying to turn them into "meat" dishes

[@strana6875]

He also makes a good point about specialty shops only instead of just forcing it. I've straight up eaten vegan pizza from a specialty place and not realized it, but vegan crusts in other places are just NOT it

[@SonOfTheMorning]

Yup Indian and Thai veggie dishes are bomb!

[@janelynn2560]

Thank you I am a carnivore but if I can find a good vegetarian dish, i I’ll enjoy it as much. There are some good restaurants around here which specialize only in vegan food and I visit those occasionally because they know what they’re doing. None of that fake food there.

[@jtris01]

​@@strana6875Funny thing is pizza dough itself is completely vegan, with the only thing needing replacement being cheese. Pizza is one of the easier things to make vegan.

[@strana6875]

@@jtris01 I mean I didn't want to blabber on, but they're also gluten free, cauliflower crusts. Aren't a lot of crusts made with eggs though?

[@karenbardsley853]

I agree. I’m a vegan and I can’t stand any of the fake meats. The texture is always weird, they taste weird. I’m vegan because I don’t want to eat meat. why have a fake version of something I don’t even want in the first place.

[@detroit75kitchen]

lol for real tho

[@deanbean8994]

Definitely, places I used to go with good vegan burgers have replaced them with impossible burgers or beyond meat, so annoying! The worst ones I've had are the fish replacements. It's no wonder us vegans get a bad rep when people assume that's what we must eat all the time.

[@natnaelnatnael9115]

I mean most pepole are vegan for health or ethical reasons so fake meat makes sense for most

[@aaddiction98]

I like the idea of having a veggie burger with a portobello in place of the protein, much more than an imitation burger

[@nilnil7325]

A breaded portobello mushroom in a burger, especially if its stuffed with cheese is soooo delicious. I eat meat but sometimes I'll opt for the portobello instead.

[@ThePeoplezElbow]

Black bean burgers are fire!

[@DougieDDemon]

The smash burger place near me used to deep fry a Portobello for their vegan burger, but they switched it to a falafel patty and it falls flat​😢@nilnil7325

[@Brighid45]

Portobellos are fabulous! ❤️❤️

[@anthonyhampton2991]

Taste better too

[@kevinh2345]

I went to a place recently and they had "vegan scallops" on the menu. It was mushrooms. Just call it seared mushrooms, I like that way better than vegan scallop.

[@clous081]

That might be fine for you... I wouldn't try seared mushrooms. I might try mushroom based vegan scallops

[@user-jr7io4kg8t]

Chef Mike and to all the amazing people at Detroit 75, you guys really have your shit together...... I just love you guys, keep kicking ass all over Detroit.

[@detroit75kitchen]

Appreciate you

[@kyuutatsu]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!! Finally someone said it! Imitation meat isn’t good! I love making vegan burgers but if you make them right they’re good! You don’t need to imitate meat! They can be great in their own right, and they SHOULD be good in their own lane.

[@nicouwu4416]

Yeah, I stopped eating meat two years ago and I gotta say, replacing the meat with some mushrooms, veggies or falafels (or camembert cheese in case of a burger) is waaaaaaay better than using imitation meat, I rarely use it in my own cooking too, it can be amazing in some dishes but only some Edit: I can't believe how much misinformation there is about vegan meat alternatives so to summarise, no, most of them don't have additives and weird chemicals, I literally checked the ingredients list of the stuff I have at home (also if that's your concern, check the label of your hot dogs) Second of all, soy doesn't feminize you, it contains fitoestrogens which have nothing to do with the human estrogens and don't affect humans at all, literally just google what are phytoestrogens I hope this helps and I'm not here to argue

[@pokeydiaz210]

So real food is better than fake food? Got it

[@nicouwu4416]

@@pokeydiaz210 it's not fake food, it's still, real, usually natural (at least the stuff I use) and pretty healthy. It just has has a specific taste based on what's it made from which doesn't go well with many dishes. Most meat substitutes are made either from pea flour or soy protein which leaves a bit of taste from the plant it's made from. You wouldn't want peas in your burger but it might be good for something else.

[@madisondenucci]

yeah when i worked at qdoba a lot of people got the beyond meat stuff & i just don’t know why people like it. it looks & smells like dog food almost

[@lachie4017]

​@@nicouwu4416 fake meat isn't real food. Have you seen an ingredient list on one of those things? Full of additives, fillers, oils.

[@BenjaminVestergaard]

​​@@nicouwu4416have you had a look at the amounts of salt and sugars in the imitations? Not to mention other ingredients that may be used in mass production? Yeah, give me beans, tofu, aubergine, mushrooms etc. But call it that... don't say vegan meatballs... Edit: people laugh when the Peanut butter has a label saying "contains peanuts"... should we get a new one for meatballs? "contains meat"

[@goeticfolklore]

I just visited a Colombian place that made imitation meat in house. It was a soy meat with peppers, corn, and black beans. Imitation can be done right with care.

[@detroit75kitchen]

How did it taste?

[@joshmitchell2775]

I agree.. although there are some decent options now, than there was 20 years ago.. my wife has been Vegetarian for 30 years now.. and we've been together for 10.. i like making the Seitan and Beyond Style ground from scratch.. uses 1/3 of the ingredients that Beyond uses and works out just as good or better... that being said. You're right It isn't cost effective to keep them on a restaurant menu if that isn't what the place specializes in.. the Pizzeria I ran in Milwaukee would allow some of the Vegetarian/Vegan customers to bring in their meat alternatives for their pizza.. but it was for carryout only..

[@MaddoggMikeTV]

Agreed. Cuz you know damn well that vegan patty was sitting in that freezer for months and is freezer burnt and you’ll serve it to someone who ordered it and they’ll hate it lol

[@tudoriftene9136]

I usually dont mind since the bar is so low for vegan/vegeterian options in restaurants. And I think a lot of places dont put much effort into making a real vegeterian option that is tasty and in that case getting fake meats on the menu is the easiest solution to satisfy this clientele. What are you saying is true, but for now i'm taking a fake meet instead of nothing when going out

[@redvsblueftw]

I'm with you 100%. There are so many fantastic vegetarian and vegan dishes and ways to get creative with satisfying plant based foods, but whoever makes the menu is either lazy or not very creative.

[@detroit75kitchen]

Absolutely right

[@randu_124]

Chef Mike always speaks the truth. Kudos man!

[@detroit75kitchen]

Thanks

[@Brighid45]

Agreed. I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but a great veggie or portobello burger is delicious. Imitation meat tastes exactly like what it is.

[@detroit75kitchen]

For sure

[@hippppykid]

As someone who has been vegetarian their entire life, impossible or beyond meat is peak … it tastes better than any of the bean/mushroom/mixed veggie patties

[@luke_fabis]

This is fair advice. But also, don't just dump falafels and hummus in some derelict corner of your menu and call it a day. Too often, "vegan-friendly" just means "Yeah we have a bag of falafels squirreled away in the freezer somewhere."

[@detroit75kitchen]

Facts

[@DTWMTX]

Impossible Whopper is amazing! That's as far as i go. On the other hand, due to the extreme rise in meat cost. I rarely buy meat anymore.

[@JpSalamander]

Restaurants following trends or started to follow trends will soon realize the item is not so trendy anymore. Stick to what you love and what the customers know you as the best!

[@detroit75kitchen]

If you’re going to have vegan or vegetarian options, there are much better ways than just cramming an impossible burger on the menu like an afterthought

[@Secretsofsociety]

As a non-vegan that sometimes likes a vegan meal, it annoys me when to only option in fake meat... Especially when it replaced the black bean burger I ordered all the time.

[@detroit75kitchen]

Black bean burgers are way better than imitation meat

[@respectpleasethankyou]

Well said! ❤

[@detroit75kitchen]

Thanks

[@Tigerjuhhh]

A good cook understands that vegetables shouldnt try to be meat. Vegetables have good qualities to them that meat does not and vice versa. Learn how to prepare,use, cook your produce better and you will never have to make your produce look as something that its not. Use what you have, embrace simplicty. Have a lovely day good people

[@luke_fabis]

A good cook understands the qualities that make a dish appealing, and can impart those qualities to other ingredients for dietary restrictions (be they ethical, medical, or religious), supply shortages or even outright hard times, and just for the sake of creativity.

[@BAYDID_90]

I really appreciate your content I'm in the middle of starting my own food truck and I've definitely taken some pointers from your advice Thanks homie 🙏

[@TorontoLibertarian]

I like all the vegan options. Great work, Mike.

[@ChristopherGronlund]

About the only time I eat mock meats is when I go out to eat with coworkers and it's the only vegan option on a menu. I appreciate places that offer something more. Don't expect it, but those are the places that seem to have the best food, no matter how one chooses to eat.

[@detroit75kitchen]

We couldn’t agree more

[@JackWhitakerMusic]

I swear you don’t miss my man

[@detroit75kitchen]

Thanks

[@qb1482]

I agree but you should try it again. It’s surprisingly close to ground beef now. But I don’t know that much about it

[@robertbeurre1825]

This guy gets it.

[@pbobaggins6904]

so true chef. Speak to the people 🗣️

[@detroit75kitchen]

Thanks

[@mariefreeman4235]

You are so right Chef

[@detroit75kitchen]

Thanks

[@leif6534]

Personally, i really like impossible burgers when they are done well. I eat meat now that i also cook; I quit vegetarianism after five years to know the menues i serve. But yeah, there are definitely other ways to make vegetarian/vegan burgers and other dishes that are very good but aren't trying to be meat. I think this is a very reasonable take. I just happen to think of all the meat subs that exist, if you cook an impossible burger really well, it can be absolutely bomb. That being said, they arent a healthier alternative to meat patties AT ALL. Nutritionally, it's more or less the same as it is for us meat eaters. And no judgement there, i do love me a regular meat burger and will keep eating them for the rest of the dwindling days of my 20s. Gotta love em while i still can. 😅 Edit: Now i think about it though, the menu i am invisioning for when i have the capital to open my own place has a lot of vegan/veg dishes, none of which include meat subs, so.. yeah even though i wont blanket statement hate on em, i also wouldnt put em on my menu either

[@Souleutions]

Mie knows what's up.

[@brightstarslight]

There are so many good options for vegetarian, and vegan food. I think a lot of this comes down to not wanting to learn, or move out of ones comfort zone. Some of my favourite cuisines have flavourful vegetarian, and/or vegan dishes. The food is out there, people just need to try it, and stop being so picky. They might actually find a new favourite dish, or cuisine. A lot of these dishes are also older then the majority of meat base dishes. As meat use to be a luxury, and not the standard, people seem to forget that.

[@IAmTheGlovenor]

Especially not beyond meat. That is literally the texture of wet cat food

[@leif6534]

YES the brand matters a TON. As a general rule, I don't like meat subs at all. I like impossible brand burgers when they're done well, but that's basically it, including impossible's other products. And when they aren't done well, they also suck

[@AV57]

I mean, that also describes 95% of the meat in restaurants already. It’s just cheap, mass-produced, processed globs of meat thrown between bread and covered in cheese.

[@IAmTheGlovenor]

@@AV57 not really, no

[@Bigmike-lq4nr]

black bean burger is better than imitation crap

[@Calnelth]

Vegan here, I mostly agree. I honestly don’t even think a restaurant have to have any option for me but I’d love it if they do. I’d like to think it makes a good business decision on their end as my friends&family want me to be included when we pick restaurants. Sadly I found out from my tissue samples that I’ve got coeliac disease just some days ago, so that is gonna make eating out an even bigger mess than it already is just being vegan 😂

[@benitovega2942]

The hell with impossible meat.

[@mikegrier2829]

Honest, no bullsh*t words as usual. You should run for mayor!

[@detroit75kitchen]

lol maybe some day

[@inlightediting]

I like my vegan burgers but the Impossible stuff is more of a "emergency fast food" from my freezer if I don't feel like ordering. It's not my favorite. I've had good veg burgers and other things that dont have that smell.

[@asteltius]

not even vegetarian / vegan but alot of there dishes are really nice, i order them occasionally

[@user-to1kt1kg1f]

Makes a lot of sense. Appreciated.

[@thebeachhousebasel]

u simply rock🎉greetings from basel, switzerland

[@detroit75kitchen]

Hey friend!

[@Swish_God]

I'm glad you got something vegetarian on the menu fr I'm gon by 1 there& 2 for the road! I'll take vegetarian options & vegan meat as long as it's good.

[@michaelcarter3260]

Theres enough types of mushrooms to not have to make fake meat

[@yeroyero7581]

Yeah, back in Home in Syria, we used to eat in the morning foul noontime hummus and chicken 🍗 at night falafel sandwiches with some hummus 🥪 🧆 When I went to Lebanon, we used to eat Shawarma sandwiches, and I loved it with batata from zanku chicken 🍗 And hit the movie theaters in burj hammoud 🤞✌️👍👌😂😂🤣

[@georgerorris5440]

Finally, a clever man with COMMON SENSE!

[@dontcaredidntask404]

It would've also been nice if you mentioned how garbage and processed store bought impossible meat is. If you can make it in the restaurant, that's okay, but if you use frozen prepackaged processed garbage, that's disgusting

[@AV57]

I really get the impression that what most chefs do today is they just want one vegan item on their menu so they don’t lose out on a big party with the one vegan. So, they create 1 bland vegan item and call it a day. That sucks. You might get them to come in one time, but they’ll never be back. Oh, and the vegan item is always a ripoff, like they’ll charge $20 for a slice of overcooked, unseasoned, eggplant.

[@detroit75kitchen]

Correct

[@randilevson9547]

Genuine options are the key. Imitations of meat don't cut it.

[@everyrickneedsamorty]

Establishments just want to tick all the boxes...

[@detroit75kitchen]

Yep. Gotta try to have something for everyone instead of focusing on their niche

[@user-ty5di3ku6o]

My restaurant would say "If you're vegan, git! GO ON, GIT!"

[@detroit75kitchen]

Lololol

[@vlada]

I ate vegan for 5 weeks when i lost a bet. Gained 6lbs. Turns out fries, onion rings, rice, chips, beer, peanuts, beans, pasta and tomato sauce, licorice, etc are all vegan. (People were offended i claimed to be vegan). If you got any of these vegan foods, youre good to go.

[@leif6534]

Indian food will save you if you ever lose a similar bet again, brother. You might be shitting fire for a few weeks, but it's always worth it.

[@acorny2304]

​@@leif6534like ur Wordplay there lmao,coming from an Indian😂

[@leif6534]

@acorny2304 Thanks man, a lot of my fraternity brothers are Indian, and I lived with them for years, including my vegetarian era, and the beginning of my professional cook era. They are some of the best guys I know, and they're gonna make up half my groomsmen, including my best man. They taught me what they learned from their moms about cooking, and so much else. Mad respect to your culture dude.

[@leif6534]

@@acorny2304 dunno why it refuses to link you on my end on the og comment lol

[@acorny2304]

@@leif6534 it's fine bro lol,thanks for ur kind words man,means a lot,we need more people like u in the world,all the best for your future endeavours,Peace✌🏼

[@BigstickNick]

1000% agree. I like vegetarian stuff here and there. I don’t want an impossible burger.

[@alansun697]

Do the Impossible Burgers even sell? They’re always a few bucks more, and it seems like most people don’t fw it

[@maddogg_goblue]

Wow he made a video without a single cuss word. Good job habibi.

[@smellsuperb1]

Better off with a true veggie or black bean burger. Quality portobello works great. I happen to like the Beyond burgers but they're so greasy and sodium-laden it's not worth it.

[@JD-cg8it]

I can make a portobello mushroom taste like a steak.

[@detroit75kitchen]

We’d like to try that. Love portobello burgers

[@vilmamaritz8265]

Absolutely. Ridiculous to give imitation meat.

[@detroit75kitchen]

There are better ways to do a meatless dish

[@ultracupcakepokegurl5304]

I ligit like impossible stuff Anything else is so yuck I do agree Black bean patties which are yummy Tofu if done right As well as jackfruit if done right There great subs well I like them

[@alexmuse3565]

When it comes to cooking imitation meat I follow a very simple rule. Enough MSG and barbecue sauce and everything taste the same :D

[@needforrbg3420]

The issue bro I have in America is not having access to halal food so vegan it is😄

[@detroit75kitchen]

Come visit us. Our whole menu is halal certified

[@Sgettieddi]

FrankenSynth meat is just entry level introduction to unnatural food. The largest industrial cricket factory is just across the river in Ontario, Ca. You would be surprised how much food has crickets in it already. You need to learn what the substitute words are for "cricket" in your protein bars and other processed food.

[@mikelynch5375]

New Beyond Meat recipe is more natural, more flavorful, & worth a try.

[@kadenburton6144]

I watched Gordon Ramseys best restaurant show and the Indian vegetarian restaurant made it very far. If done correctly without the bs those dishes are to die for

[@genuinegames3478]

Can't wait for the time when we will be able to make vegan/vegetarian meat as good as organic free range stuff. It's not impossible but definitely improbable. But we used to day the same about ai and look where we are now. We definitely underestimate the capabilities of human mind ngl.

[@peachandtoffee]

vegan dishes specially indian ones is my fav, which makes me hate those meat even more

[@SSStofu008]

Agree as a vegan

[@NimbleQ]

Detroit75Kitchen is the most based food/restaurant creator out there…..also they lemonade looks bangin’

[@jacobjones1849]

Daia cheese is nasty as fuck. I worked at a fancy pizza place and they had daia and fake meat. The fake meat smelled like dog food, and the daia smelled BAD(I can’t remember what it smelled like) And that place had class too. Like 45 dollar pizzas raised their own pigs and cows made fresh mozzarella every week. And still couldn’t make vegan imitations taste good

[@jacobjones1849]

Fake chicken not that bad from what I remember my crazy ex eating it. The morning star shit.

[@JoeTheBroken]

Common Chef Mike W

[@detroit75kitchen]

Thank you

[@anonnymowse]

My vegetarian cooking teacher said to stop making fake or look alike dishes. Make tasty vegetarian dishes.

[@detroit75kitchen]

Love this

[@bazzooo8]

im vegan and i agree. when i go to a restaurant i want atleast one specifically vegan thing. it feels lazy when they just slap a impossible burger on the menu.

[@nartdarym4237]

Bussing fries ...

[@detroit75kitchen]

Thanks

[@curtismatsune3147]

What's the difference between vegetarian and vegan?

[@theskilledsnake]

Vegetarians will still eat animal products such as eggs or dairy products while vegans do not. Vegetarians are basically no meat while vegan is no animal products whatsoever

[@slippinjenny7410]

Question, why not? You don't really say what's wrong with it, I feel like impossible imitation meat makes it a lot easier to make good vegan dishes for people who are used to meat

[@jamiep8002]

Mostly because the imitation meats available are low-quality product that get major price hikes due to their trendiness. Fast food the quality is probably fine, but the cross-contamination in those places is bad enough that it's almost not worth it. Any other restaurant? Using them will almost always result in a dish that's going to feel lacking compared to the non-veg version, and would be better done by rebuilding the recipe from scratch. None of that applies to home cooking, and obviously there are exceptions where a given restaurant may have figured out how to use a product well, but when a restaurant just adds a premade meat substitute to a menu it's going to be a pandering cash-grab 9 times out of 10.

[@leif6534]

There isn't anything wrong with it. Eat what you would like to eat. I was vegetarian for years before I started cooking in restaurants, and had a very special moment with an impossible burger at a certain cheesecake factory in New york. But it isn't the only way to get really, really good vegetarian/vegan dishes. And if you don't have the million cook staff that a massive two story chain restaurant in New york has, it's generally a lot better to have plant based dishes that aren't trying to be something else. Generally speaking. This is a matter of preference, not right or wrong.

[@DavidClark-vu3dw]

He said he doesn't like the taste of imitation meat! Weren't you listening?!

[@nlknok77]

Vegans: I don't wanna eat meat. Now where's my steak

[@smugstrawberry2223]

We already make good vegi burgers. They have beans and other chopped up stuff in them we and they are delicious with some condiments/a sauce and toppings. Please no more “almost tastes like meat” meat.

[@timweaver7826]

I've tried the fake meat at 3 places and they all sucked

[@yeroyero7581]

Stick to your menu eat falafel😂🤞✌️👍👌👍👍👍👍👍

[@detroit75kitchen]

Good falafel is 🔥

[@michaelcarter3260]

Vegan doesnt mean to make fake meat. Its make natural real food fruits and veggie stuff

[@detroit75kitchen]

Exactly right

[@michaelcarter3260]

​@detroit75kitchen you should let me feed you sometime I bet illl shock you on how good my food is in the 765

[@BonnieAdele-zs2pn]

Yup

[@LuisTheHitman47]

Start with Soy Chorizo my guy. That is the best fake meat Ive tasted and I think the Fake Burgers from restaurants suck.

[@Rekash8484]

a good whole veg with no meat dairy and eggs

[@herdki5102]

All imma say is: *Falafel > any vegan meat substitute* 👌🏼

[@Pheminon1]

I'll never understand how vegans eat Impossible products. Like, there's a 0% chance any of that is not riddled with chemicals and preservatives. Look at Indian and other Asian foods. Some of my favorite dishes PERIOD are vegan Indian food dishes like Moong Dal. Vegan food isn't just salad and fake meat. Actually find good vegan food options

[@detroit75kitchen]

We are with you

[@mikebreslaw9651]

definitely,sounds as if he knows his business

[@cosmickoi7117]

On top of that imitation meet is really bad for you, id rather have just some good ol fruits and vegetables any day

[@clous081]

Honestly, as a vegetarian that loves fake meat, it is a neccesity for me. So many places don't even have a decent option for us. Falafel is good. Most Chinese, Korean, and Indian foods don't need it at all. Bean or pea burgers imo are not. Just have one option, it takes 0 effort and is only inclusive

[@leif6534]

Look, I'm on your side. But food cost is a MASSIVE part of building a menu for a sustainable restaurant and those products are insanely expensive. As someone who was a sous chef for awhile at a vegan place with only one meat option, we had zero meat subs. We used mushrooms when we wanted a meatier texture and flavor profile. It's more complicated than zero effort to be inclusive, and he was saying you should still have dishes that are excellent for vegans/veg. I agree, bean/pea alternatives aren't as good as impossible burgers, and it's absolutely okay to enjoy meat subs. But man, meet the chef halfway dude. It isn't what he specializes in. Just because his place isn't for you doesn't mean he doesn't have integrity as a chef. At a place like his, I would actually probably do a falafel burger/sandwich with some fire tzatziki. Better food cost, and he can create the actual recipe. Restaurants are creative businesses. It needs to run like a business with a bottom line and margins are extremely thin in restaurants. Especially running them with the respect for his staff that this chef has. It just wouldn't work at his place.

[@PeteNathan]

100% true chef

[@comacollosasa6282]

Most rational take on vegan food I’ve seen

[@giloldtoad4998]

Imitation mest has 30 plus chemicals to hold it to gether

[@ali-r8263]

Factsss

[@localboyssurfadventures]

💯🤙🏾

[@_chex]

Don’t need all that over processed fake stuff.

[@woodsrdr]

I don't like imitation anything. There's no need for it. Just make original vegetarian or vegan meals if that's what you want. Imitation anything always seems to be so full of chemicals that it's worse for you health wise than the real thing.

[@The_DJMITRI]

Have you ever tried a sandwich with french bread and then: Lettuce Garlic Bacon Tomato My go to sandwich when I need something tasty

[@logikgr]

BLT w/ garlic...interesting.

[@The_DJMITRI]

My friends jokingly call it an LGBT...

[@hjewkes]

Impossible burger was a cool menu item like 7 years ago when people wanted to try the novelty. Now its a crutch

[@anon5725]

Its absolutly better than those disgusting veggie patties on burgers (which is often the only vegetarian thing on menus). Most vegetarians like it, i don't see the issue

[@ArsyaUtomo]

*Halal

[@dantedeluca978]

Word

[@2the431]

Imitation meets actually pretty good now gotta disagree