Review: Best Vegetarian Chicken

I have searched for the vegetarian equivalent of a dozen hot Buffalo wings, carrots, celery and blue cheese for years. Chicken is the last thing in the world I want to eat and actual little chicken wings fall even behind that. However, the hot and spicy taste of really buffalo wing sauce is fantastic. It has the red hot, almost metallic, spiciness that is oh so good. Dowse that fire with some ice cold blue cheese and celery and you have yourself a meal worthy of the beer you are drinking.

A few months ago I discovered Bill's Best Minit Meat Chik. This is a seasoned powder that is part soy flour and part wheat gluten. You combine the mix with water and boil. It is a little difficult to master (if it is too loose you do not get the chicken effect, too tight and you get a rubbery finished product) I think I've got it pretty much down now and I love it!! It is very useful and I can make 'chicken' cutlets and nuggets and the like. It is the core ingredient in my vegetarian Chicken Wing Experience

This is a solid product but I find the small cans are a little pricey. I get the larger, more economical, tub size from Uncle Don's

• Overall Rating: 4
• Similarity to meat (but in a good way): 4
• Similarity to actual food described: 4
• "Worth it?" Rating: 4
• "Would I get them again?": 4
  
  CHIK
  no msg, all vegetable ingredients
  
  Nutrition Facts
  
  Serving Size 0.9oz(25g) -dry
  Servings Per Container
  Amount Per Serving
  Calories 94
  Calories from Fat 9
  Total Fat 1g
  Saturated Fat 0g
  Cholesterol 0mg
• Sodium 294mg
  Total Carbohydrate 3g
  Dietary Fiber 1g
  Sugars 0.6g
  Protein 18g
  Vitamin A 8 IU
  

Review: Buffalo Wings by Health is Wealth

I has these wings the other day and they were quite good. The spice was present but no too strong. They were breaded and not saucy at all. These are more like really good mock 'chicken nuggets' than mack 'buffalo wings'.

• Overall Rating: 3+
• Similiaraity to meat (but in a good way): 4
• Similiarity to actual food described: 2
• "Are they worth it?" Rating: 3
• "Would I get them again?": 2+

Here are the details form their website:
Ingredients: Water, Textured Wheat Gluten, Textured Soy Protein Concentrate, Natural Chicken Flavor (Tapioca Flour, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Yeast Extract, Sea Salt, Flavorings), Isolated Soy Protein, Vegetable Gum, Wheat Fiber, Dehydrated Celery, Spices, Garlic Powder.
Breaded With: Unbleached Stone Ground Wheat Flour, Barley Malt Solids, Yeast, Sea Salt.Battered With: Water, Yellow Corn Flour, Corn Starch, Sea Salt, Spices, Paprika, Garlic Powder, Red Bell peppers, Guar Gum, Extractives of Paprika, Natural Flavors and Vinegar.Coated With: Vinegar, Aged Red Cayenne Peppers, Guar Gum and Xanthan Gum. Browned in Soybean Oil.


Serving Size 3 Nuggets (63g)
Servings Per container About 4
Amount Per Serving
Calories 100 Calories From Fat 15
% Daily Value
Total Fat 1.5g 2%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 490mg 20%
Total Carbohydrates 11g 4%
Dietary Fiber 3g 12%
Sugars 0g
Protein 10g
Vitamin A 8% Vitamin C 4%
Calcium 4% Iron 40 %
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Difficult to know if Red Lobster has anything vegetarian on the menu?

From the Red Lobster FAQ


http://www.redlobster.ca/company/faq.asp#q22

Which menu selections are vegetarian?
It's difficult to say from one restaurant to the next, but only because our chefs are constantly creating and customizing recipes for our menu. While we don't have vegetarian items on our menu, some recipes can be prepared without meat or seafood. Please speak with a manager about specific menu suggestions to best meet your needs.

"Er, um, excuse me sir. When you have a moment and when you are not reeking of fish and tartar sauce, could you tell me if you have anything not made of fish? Also could ask the chef to wear gloves before hanldoing my food. Oh, and bring it on a paper plate with a plastic knife and fork."

Welcome to dreadLobster!!

I am the only person in my office right now for two related reasons

1) There is a going away party for a colleague at Red Lobster
and
2) I am a vegetarian. Have been for 12 years.

Please expect a very upbeat non-militant perspective on being a vegetarian in all of my writings to follow. I am going to post my thoughts on recipes, grocery products, restaurants and general vegetarian lifestyle.

I'll keep it light.

ai