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Comment by fromthestart | Hacker News Reader

>we use a wonderful Italian caterer, so flavour isn't going to be missed

A non meat dish is still going to taste like a non-meat dish. Perhaps your colleagues were just being polite and avoiding treading into politically charged territory after you brought up the Amazon.

Personally I'm a picky eater and vegan/vegetarian dishes simply do not compare to meat. I'm sure others feel similarly. Though for one meal I suppose it isn't a huge deal - but acting like it's just as good simply isn't true for the majority of people - that's your personal taste.

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I honestly don't understand why it's such a big deal that so many people insist meat must be part of a meal? To the degree that in Argentina they say "si no hay carne, no hay comida" (if there is no meat, it is not a meal). It feels like if I insisted on having bread at every table sitting. Clearly, it can be seen as just a habit and not a requirement?

Meat is not just a matter of taste, but also of habit and identity. In general, the lower the socio-economic class, the higher the resistance to vegetarian and vegan cooking.

Society wide change is always hard, and meat is way too cheap (considering its environmental impact) to provide the economic stimulus for reducing the amount of meat in ones diet. Learning to cook vegetarian dishes is also non-trivial (although not too hard of course, but a barrier nonetheless).

For people over fifty meat is also an indicator of welfare. Especially for people whose parents didn't have the luxury of eating meat on a daily basis.

Fortunately, the shift to less meat is unmistakably happening, and has been gaining speed in the last few years.

The big deal is the fact that being told that the "flavor won't be missed" or that I won't be able to tell the difference is condescending.

Every experience I've had with "no meat, no meal" has also been associated with a heavy dose but "I'm a man". YMMV

On the other hand most such people I have met have been women.

Perhaps because vegans and vegetarians are substantially more likely to be thin and, well, less traditionally manly, both in appearance and in values. It's a different set of cultural values and it isn't invalid just because it differs from yours.

Having a meal with no meat doesn't make one vegan/vegetarian.

> vegans and vegetarians are substantially more likely to be thin and, well, less traditionally manly, both in appearance and in values

I can point you to many fat vegans, and I've heard this 'need meat' BS from guys who were literally 135 lbs, soaking wet, so.... exactly this kind of attitude that 'meat makes you manly'.

Who said that I disagreed with those values, that is a poor assumption on your part.

I always assumed it's historical. meat = wealth

Meat still does equal wealth to a certain extent - have you priced a whole rib-eye roast, or a full-sized beef brisket lately?

They ain't cheap (and if you buy one, they are daunting to cook - because you know if you screw it up, you've just wasted $100-200.00).

Ground beef, or chicken, or pork - those are all still very inexpensive; though pork can get pricier for certain cuts - mostly it's still very inexpensive.

But damn - if you've ever smoked a pork shoulder and made homemade pulled-pork sandwiches - you know there's no substitute for that.

I’m vegetarian and I take a bite of meat all the time, especially if it’s something special.

None of it is as good as great vegetarian food. Sure the top top top shelf stuff is probably as good. But the average meat at a restaurant or someone’s home is no better than great veggie food.

That said average veggie food sucks. If you are eating in the average-or-below segment then yes meat is probably better. In the good-to-great segment it’s not.

Veg food does require more work, which is a big part of why a lot of people/chefs don’t bother. Meat is basically perfect as-is. You just have to not fuck it up. Veggies require you do some chef work.

> Personally I'm a picky eater and vegan/vegetarian dishes simply do not compare to meat.

What are you eating, and how are you comparing it? If you're trying to treat a salad as a meat replacement, well, it's not going to do all that well. But there's a lot of meals designed to be complete without meat that might work for you, as long as you're not expecting them to taste like beef.

No offense, but in the situation described by the comment you’re replying to, suck it up and eat a free meal or don’t.

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