Veggie/Vegans in Belfast

rubytob

Alisarah,

I commend your decision I have been a veggie / vegan for many years and I live in Belfast. I assume you have watched 'if slaughter houses have glass walls' etc
Well good news is life becomes easier after the first few weeks! I agree with you on your response to the earlier comment about humane slaughter. There is no such thing, comments like this simply justify the ongoing abuse of animals. I have seen first hand what happens in slaughter houses and the mass production of meat and I for one (along with a lot of other vegans) do not feel it's humane. In fact what I saw and let me tell you this was in NI was enough to stay in my mind forever. In trying to feed mass markets and what is essentially human greed we have turned our animals into commodities and our farming is becoming more industrialised by the day. If everyone took the steps you are taking now we could see a real change in the meat industry. An example if I may... ever wonder why antibiotics are no longer as effective on humans? Well that's because with every mouthful of modern day meat we are ingesting them, we are if not already becoming immune to them.
Enough from me feel free to message at any point for advice on recipes, eating out and life in general. Well done and believe me more and more people are beginning to see if not feel in their daily health the realities of mass produced meat :T

qwert_yuiop

jenheiffer wrote: »

It was in Bradbury Place in the 80's/90's. Served great food at very reaonable prices.

There was also a fantastic 'wholefood' vegetarian where the Crescent Arts Centre is now. Alas no more.

So it was. Govinda - same as kula shaker song I remembered that afterwards. The one I saw when driving a few months ago was in Dublin.

How can someone convert to Hinduism? Do you not have to be born into a caste? I gave a lift to a pair of Germans who were on their way to an island near lisnaskea where Harry and his friends were living a few years back. I wonder are they still there.

alisara

Kidhorsedogs, thank you for all the links I really appreciate them. Rubytob I have seen if slaughter houses have glass walls, it really made me sit up and think and have recently seen Earthlings, thanks for your post and I just may be asking you for some recipes!

Ballymackeonan

Alisara -

I found that the Chinese supermarket (off Ormeau Road) was very good for things like tofu, not readily available in local supermarkets. You can get loads of recipes for it online. I eat eggs, free-range, from a source where I know that the hens are happy (a back-garden enterprise which produces a surplus!) Could you keep a few ex-battery layers yourself - and give them a good life?

lisag2013

Alisara -

I've been a vegetarian for the past 14 years and N.Ireland has a disgracefully bad selection of veggie-friendly restaurants (bar some suggestions already given, e.g. Made in Belfast & Home. I would also recommend -

- All variants of the Made in Belfast 'chain' (there is 4 different restaurants)

- the Black Bear cafe in Stranmillis (have several veggie specials on every day)

- 5a cafe in Stranmillis (again, several veggie specials - this and Black Bear are budget options)

- Jamaica Inn in Bangor (absolutely amazing veggie menu)

- The Hillside in Hillsborough (my personal favourite, a particularly good veggie menu on at present). For the record, the Plough and the Parson's Nose are great too

- Thai restaurants (the best thai green curry I'm come across being the Royal Thai in Glengormley)

In general I would recommend insisting on a meat-free version of whichever dish you like the look of when out. In a decent restaurant this really shouldn't be an issue. I take umbrage at the bog-standard penne pasta option you get in places, which you could easily put together at home in 5 minutes. Good luck

P.S. With eggs, I avoid them but plenty of free-range options advertised as soon as you hit more rural areas

qwert_yuiop

If you're a vegetarian for moral reasons, how can you rationalise milk and egg consumption? Milk production is closely tied to the beef business, with bull calves eventually becoming beef and old dairy cows going for burgers. A cow will not lactate unless it produces a calf. As a child, I used to get upset by the plaintive cries of calves separated from their mothers , and the distressed, panic stricken roaring of the cows when the calves were taken.
Laying hens end up as boiling fowl, the male chicks get killed as soon as they are identified.

Just curious - if you object to animal cruelty, milk and eggs should surely also be shunned. Veganism seems the more logical choice.

alisara

quewrt yuiop, I have recently become vegetarian and its not to bad, been enjoying it. However I totally agree with your points above and have been unable to stomach milk cheese and other dairy products due to the reasons you listed above. I have not had dairy for a fortnight for the reasons you have listed. Slowly but surely I find I am "almost" vegan bar eggs, and I am trying hard to start taking them out of my diet. I realise and am upset at the thought of what happens to the chicks, who wouldn't be. I asked if anyone had any idea of where I could get them truly free range for now but it is impossible. I would keep a couple as pets but have no garden.

Ballymackeanoan and Lisa thanks so much I had forgotten about the chinese supermarket, and Lisa all of the places you listed above sound fab!

jenheiffer

alisara wrote: »

Thanks Biscuit, jenheiffer and Tickled. Looked up Homes menu and looks gorgeous and found a place on trip advisor called Giro, sounds interesting. Has anyone tried Eatwell on Lisburn Road?

Eatwell isn't a restaurant, just a 'health food shop' They do have a few veg/vegan sausage rolls, etc that you can take home and heat up, but I found them a bit dry.

I don't think Giro's exists any more. It was down near the Cathedral but all round there has now been redeveloped.