Wheel of Life

[thedarkages]

I have just been to the "Wheel of Life Vegetarian Restaurant," and I have had enough textured vegetable protein to know that I don't want any more, ever again. The "texture" is abominable. My entree tasted and felt like tiny chips of spicy, mint-flavored gravel. Biting into the spring roll was like biting through the thumb of a latex glove. I think that, after dining at this restaurant, even the staunchest vegan would find his or her commitment tested.

Comments

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

TVP is the devil.

[thedarkages]

I thought seitan was the devil.

[ikkyu2.livejournal.com]

I am pleased that you were not broken on the Wheel of Life.

[mcohenmn.livejournal.com]

Seitan (especially of the mock duck variety) is my lord and master, especially when served in a good curry.

I think your problem comes from ordering something that was produced by a process called "extrusion cooking" creating a "fibrous lamination of thermoplastic soy flour" (Wikipedia) creating a substance that is often stored for long periods in dried format and which requires careful rehydration.

[willendorf5761.livejournal.com]

TVP can taste good if you make it right, I swear. If it tasted like gravel, they did something wrong.

And seitan = yum.

[mrbalihai.livejournal.com]

I've got your Wheel of Life right here.

http://www.worth1000.com/entries/251500/251953UaCY_w.jpg

[anyeone.livejournal.com]

That's a shame. TVP is a big part of my breakfast repertoire. I like the Morningstar Farms fake breakfast sausages so much that even if I ate pork (which I don't) I'd rather have the fake ones.

[thedarkages]

As you can see, all of my correspondents/readers believe that I am mistaken in my assessment of agglomerated soy proteins, and that it must have been the TVP implementation rather than the TVP concept that was at fault. I am prepared to believe this, but only temporarily. If I find the TVP unsatisfactory at a second vegetarian restaurant, I will know that it and I have no future together.