MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Question about Chinese food for Brits

Question about Chinese food for Brits

posted 2 months ago by ColumboKate (5678)
29 replies | jump to latest

I say for Brits just because different countries have their own versions of foreign food so this may be the norm elsewhere.

Every spring roll I've ever had from a Chinese takeaway has been a vegetable spring roll. I always assumed this was normal.

Today, we had a Chinese from a place we've never tried before - it was vile, tasted like old oil, and will not being using them again.

They forgot my my meal, except for the spring rolls. So I just shared some rice and noodles.

I took a big bite and ate it, then noticed that it had prawns in it. On further inspection, it also had pork and what looked like bacon. I am vegetarian and not eaten meat for 30 years.

The menu didn't state that they are vegetarian, I just assumed because that's what I've always received.

Have you ever had a spring roll with meat/fish in it? I'm gonna be in the loo all day tomorrow I think 💩

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11952) 2 months ago

I'm American but a spring roll can have meat or be all veggie. You hit the nail on the head though, most egg rolls* have a pork and shrimp mix.

I dunno, greasy Cantonese is delicious and getting harder and harder to find.

*I just realized now no one calls them egg rolls anymore. But I guess a spring roll is a "woke" egg roll. They never put egg in them anyway.

[–] robocat893 (15918) 2 months ago

Really? How is a spring roll woke?

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11952) 2 months ago

Because "egg" is offensive to vegans?

[–] robocat893 (15918) 2 months ago

There are many things that are offensive to vegans but I don't think egg rolls is one of them.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11952) 2 months ago

I've seen vegans describe eggs as abortion.

https://www.tastewinchesterhistory.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/balut.jpg

[–] sslssg (34211) 2 months ago

Yet eggs aren't fertilized. So how could it be an abortion? Eggs are more like fowl periods.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11952) 2 months ago

I buy fertilized eggs at the health food store. The pic I posted is "balut". Balut is a fertilized duck egg and embryo popular in Filipino food.

I would guess many vegan purists consider the whole dairy and egg industry as animal abuse.

[–] sslssg (34211) 2 months ago

Most eggs used though are not fertilized.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11952) 2 months ago

Okay, eating eggs is like having your tubes tied.

[–] sslssg (34211) 2 months ago

That doesn't make sense to me. But it really doesn't matter.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11952) 2 months ago

It's not supposed to make sense. It's a joke about eggs being an abortion.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77360) 2 months ago

We should take a poll about Vegans.

I bet it would be ‘shut up already’ 99%

[–] robocat893 (15918) 2 months ago

[deleted]

[–] ColumboKate (5678) 2 months ago

They've always been spring rolls here 🤷🏻‍♀️

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11952) 2 months ago

Yeah, I've discovered from a little googling that "egg roll" is an Americanism.

[–] ShogunofYonkers (77360) 2 months ago

We just rob every idea and the world is better for it👍

🇺🇸

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11952) 2 months ago

I just know when I was a kid they were always egg rolls. Now all a sudden they're spring rolls. But honestly, they never put egg in them so WTF?🤣

[–] nyctc7 (43591) 2 months ago

If you Google spring roll vs. egg roll you will get a lot of hits. I've always thought of a spring roil as a mini egg roll that is either vegetable or shrimp.

[–] sslssg (34211) 2 months ago

A lot of the Vietnamese spring rolls here have pork.

[–] nyctc7 (43591) 2 months ago

Are you sure? 🐕

[–] sslssg (34211) 2 months ago

Very sure. I even took a class on how to make them.

[–] robocat893 (15918) 2 months ago

Spring rolls and egg rolls are two different things. This is a good article explaining the difference.

https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/egg-roll-vs-spring-roll

When I go to my favorite Chinese restaurant they sell both spring rolls and egg rolls.

[–] tyrionlannister (5) 2 months ago

That's a terrible experience! It's really frustrating when a restaurant doesn't accurately represent its menu items, especially when it comes to dietary restrictions like vegetarianism. https://block-blast.io

[–] ColumboKate (5678) 2 months ago

I mean, they never stated it was veggie, I just assumed. But as most places serve the veggie as default, I'd have thought they may specify that it contained meat. Especially as it included pork. Alot of people don't eat pork for religious reasons.

[–] AndyKing1967 (38068) 2 months ago

Yes - normally the menu will state either vegetable spring rolls, which is normally what we order here at Kings Towers or (insert meat or fish ingredient) spring rolls.

The place you ordered from doesn’t sound very good ☹️

[–] ColumboKate (5678) 2 months ago

We only used them as it was on our way home. Our usual one is closed on a Tuesday. Should have just had a chippie instead 🙄

[–] AndyKing1967 (38068) 2 months ago

Or a Ruby Murray.

[–] overseas7 (4236) 2 months ago

I am not British but I can tell you how it is here in Germany.
In the restaurants as well as in the supermarkets will very clearly mentioned if, for example, the spring rolls are veggie or not. I eat from time to time fish, so I am not sure if can say that I am vegetarian too.

[–] ColumboKate (5678) 2 months ago

That makes you a Pescatarian (as in Pisces the fish). But it's all just labels.