This page is for you to review your holidays, whether good or bad, we'd like to know what it was like from a veggie perspective.
If you would like to have your review displayed on the Young Veggies website please send it to education@vegsoc.org
We cannot guarantee to use all reviews we are sent but will acknowledge everything we receive.
Destinations Reviewed:
India
Prague
Zakynthos
For the past two years my family has visited India in central Asia. It is such a culturally diverse country, its population consisting of hindus, buddhists, muslims, christians, sikhs, atheists, and other religions. Its landscape is also particularly varied; from the sprawling plains and hills on the Himalayas in the North, to the desserts of Rajastan and the beautiful palm beaches and tropical rainforests of the south.
Whether you enjoy beach holidays, getting particularly active (skiing, kayaking, walking and climbing), or culture, exploring temples in ancient cities and meeting new people, India has it all. And as well as offering so much in terms of beauty, leisure, nature and architecture, India is a refreshingly accommodating option for vegetarians.
During my travels across India, I have for the first time in my life felt able to order everything on a menu in the pure vegetarian restaurants, or at least half of the menu in Veggie and Non Veggie restaurants. Vegetarianism isn't considered abnormal or uncommon. Due to the religious and moral beliefs that many Indians share, vegetarianism has become a part of every day life in India, and those who don't eat meat or eggs are given an approving nod.
It was amazing to not have to worry about going out to eat and having so much varied and delicious choice. Even McDonalds had more vegetarian food on its menu than meat, and workers wore red or green, depending on whether they cooked meat or veg.
A particularly common alternative to meat was paneer, a cubed and nutritious cottage cheese. I had paneer many times cooked in curry-like spicey gravies or dry dishes, alongside vegetables like the flavoursome okra, cauliflower, potatoes, tomatoes, peppers and peas.
In the North dishes comprised mainly of paneer of vegetable kofta balls. These types of meals are cooked in ghee (clarified butter) alongside basmati rice prepared by steaming, or frying to produce a puloa or biryani, often accompanied by a type of unleavened bread such as naan, chapatti or roti. The southern cuisine was lighter, and the basis for most dishes was lentils and rice, though these were often cooked in such a way that you couldn't tell what they were, and the oil used was predominantly coconut oil.
The best food I ate in India?... Now that's very difficult! Having a sweet tooth, I must say I loved saffron, cardamom and pistachio flavoured creamy 'kulfi' ice-cream, the indulgent and satisfying carrot pudding infused with spices 'gajar ka halwa', and the Southern delight that is Kheer, a cold rice or vermicelli pudding made with milk, cashews, raisins, sultanas and spices.
Savoury wise, after the long train ride from Mumbai to Goa I appreciated the 'dahi vadas', lentil and rice based savoury donuts, soaked in a mixture of yogurt, tamarind chutney, and spices such as coriander, ginger, cinnamon and pepper. In the south I also loved the incredibly long 'masala dosas', crisp, crepe like creations stuffed with spiced potatoes or paneer, and served with coconut chutney and spicy sambar (lentil stew).
I never passed up a delicious sweet or mango lassie either! These were yogurt, smoothie like drinks that were very refreshing in India's warm climate, and oftened flavoured with spices and rose syrup and sprinkled with pistachios.
India truly is a culinary discovery for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. Whilst my dad and I relished in being offered so much choice as vegetarians, my mum picked the vegetarian choice over the meat in most cases as it was always the most tempting and delicious!
Review of Prague by Graham Drummond
Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful destinations in Europe, the capital city of the Czech Republic boasts great sights and an interesting history. Invaded by Hitler’s armed forces Prague was also bombed during World War II by the U.S. Air Force, who managed to get it confused with their real target – the German city of Dresden! Nowadays tourists flock from all over the world to see the stunning architecture, the Charles Bridge and the famous Astronomical Clock.
My trip there with three other friends coincided perfectly with the start of the Euro 2008 tournament, so as soon as the plane had touched down we found a local pub to cheer on the Czech Republic in their first match. If you like pretzels you’re in luck! A lot of pubs, restaurants and cafes place a rack of large pretzels on each table to tempt the visitor into a snack. Best of all, you get charged per pretzel rather than having to pay for all of them, which is ideal if you don’t want to be stuffed.
After watching the Czechs storm to victory we headed off in search of food. None of my friends are vegetarian, but all of them understand that I am and were more than happy to find somewhere that suited all of us. We found a very untraditional restaurant called Buffalo Bills, located just off the main tourist location of Wenceslas Square. Serving Tex-Mex food, there were many vegetarian options to choose from. In the end I went for a spinach and mushroom quesadilla with rice and Mexican beans, which turned out to be very fresh and tasty.
Although the first night of food proved a success, those searching for a veggie paradise will not find it in Prague. While there is usually a separate heading for vegetarian options on most menus, the food itself tends to be slightly bland and often unimaginative. Our second night in the city saw us visiting a much more traditional Czech restaurant. From the vegetarian section, I went with a four cheese tortellini. While not being the most creative veggie cuisine, it was definitely competent food that any vegetarian would be happy, though not thrilled, to eat.
Looking for something genuinely authentic to eat in Prague (i.e. not Italian or Mexican cuisine), our search lead us to a brightly-lit fast food stand in the hustle and bustle of Wenceslas Square late one night. I wanted to try something that Czechoslovakians or Prague residents would themselves eat, and was presented the answer in the form of ‘Menu 2’ on the stand – Fried Cheese! Almost definitely equating to -9 of your recommended 5-a-day, Prague’s speciality is mild cheese which is fried and covered in breadcrumbs, usually presented in a burger bun with ketchup or mayonnaise. Stodgy, fattening and probably life-threatening if consumed daily, fried cheese is actually a fairly enjoyable fast food snack provided you only eat it every once in a while.
Having tried the local dish, it was back to a restaurant across the road from our hotel on the third and final night. Serving mainly hand-made pizzas, it was confirmation that Prague steals a wealth of culinary traditions from its European counterparts. But with fresh dough, loads of vegetarian toppings and a cold Czech beer, this veggie was not complaining at all.
You may not be bowled over by mouth-watering food or spoilt for choice in Prague, but it is an easy place to enjoy decent vegetarian food if you know where to go. With a whole host of historical attractions, a lively nightlife and the average price of a meal coming in at around £4 per person; it’s certainly a fun, attractive and cost-effective place to visit.
Review of Zakynthos by Alex Mills
Zakynthos (Zante) is a Greek island, close to Kefalonia, in the Ionian Sea. This summer, I stayed there in Kalamaki, a highly popular family resort on the South coast. It was my second visit there, the first being two years previously, almost to the day.
The holiday season in Zakynthos is from 1st May ‘til 31st October and English is spoken throughout the main tourist resorts, the term ‘vegetarian’ being widely understood. Even in more remote areas, you should be able to make yourself clear by saying ‘no meat’.
Vegetarianism is not half as common in Greece as in the UK but the Greeks care about their food, which is always fresh and high-quality, and veggies can eat well here. Greek salads are widely thought to be among the best in the world and there’s fresh fruit in abundance as well as gorgeous bread, pasta and vegetable dishes, houmous/hummus and other dips, jacket potatoes and pizza. I particularly enjoyed potato skins with cheese, in which nothing but the skin of the peeled potatoes (much more nutritious) is eaten, covered in cheese and the vegetarian ‘Dish of the Day’ offered by one very meaty restaurant- fried potatoes, aubergines and courgettes in tomato sauce.
The Greeks seem to love yoghurt and honey, which form the basis of many of their desserts but vegans shouldn’t struggle too much here- most of the veggie dishes offered are adaptable for vegans and most restaurants will be happy to change them, especially if they think they might otherwise lose your business. Just be aware that the term ‘vegan’ might not be understood and you may find yourself better off if you say you’re allergic to eggs and dairy products- you don’t have to tell the truth. Also, pack some long-life non-dairy milk as it’s very hard to come by.
Whatever you eat, it’s important to drink lots in a hot country like Greece but almost all the drinks here (excluding many alcoholic ones) are veggie. I especially recommend the Greek version of Fanta which is so different to and so much nicer than our own version and would only suggest completely avoiding the tap water. It is safe to drink but the mineral content is different to our water, which may upset your stomach. For this reason, I’d also recommend you don’t take ice cubes in your drinks.
Any other warnings? Well, vegans should be aware that Greek salad always contains feta cheese and once it’s been added it’s impossible to remove completely, the Greeks are also less concerned about rennet, gelatine and the risk of cross-contamination between veggie and non-veggie meals- they may be cooked on the same grill or handled with the same utensils. The Greeks also use olive oil, one of their traditional products, in almost everything and if you’re not used to eating oily food this may make you feel ill so use oil sparingly.
I’ve grown to love Zakynthos after only two visits and I’m sure anyone who visits will do the same. It’s my favourite place in the world and I think any veggie or vegan can be very happy here.