Don't Mock Meat

I am a Sweet and Sour Pork maniac. I go to any Chinese restaurant, and must order Sweet and Sour Pork. I judge a restaurant's credibility and worth, based on its Sweet and Sour Pork.

But, since turning vegetarian again (I was vegetarian for a few years before Maya was born) a couple of months back, I have had to give up all my Sweet and Sour Pork dreams. Yes, I am vegetarian... with a little bit of seafood on the side every now and then. Yes, THAT type of "vegetarian".

Sweet and Sour Mock Pork looking tantalisingly like the real stuff...

So, yesterday I headed to a Chinese vegetarian restaurant to check out their mock meats. I had a craving for Sweet and Sour Pork, and went to settle for the alternative.

I tell you, they look so REAL... the "Beef" and Asparagus in Oyster Sauce, the Honey Glazed Roasted "Pork" Ribs, the Diced "Chicken" with Chilli and Cashew Nuts. I thought "This is SO COOL!"

Until, of course, I bit into the Sweet and Sour "Pork". Two words, man: NAS. TEE. It had a creepily spongey texture, and tasted distinctly of soy, and nothing like pork. Needless to say, I was crushed.

Anyhoo, I'm sticking to my vegetarian guns. It seriously feels good: I'm more energetic, positive and have developed a more "eat to live" attitude towards food, rather than having craving and gorging fits.

Not to say that meat is no good for you. But hey, whatever works right? One thing for sure, I won't be getting my meat-kicks from mock meat. No more mock meat for me. There's always Sweet and Sour Vegetables. :)

(pic via veganfriendly)