What is a vegetarian?

[Alain Maréchal]

My standard rule is: cooking with it ruins it. I don't have grand tastes, but I wouldn't waste my Baron de Sigognac on an eggnog. Cognac might not matter …

A fair point. I was suggesting that if it does not meet one's minimum taste standard then it should not be used in cooking, but I'm quite happy to throw an inexpensive but acceptable Cote Roannaise into my recipes (and my gullet). I'm not a drinker of Armagnac; there must be lesser but acceptable varieties.

[vinteuil]

I'm not a drinker of Armagnac...

... someone who does not drink armagnac, but who likes advocaat.

Sometimes it's so hard not to be judgemental...

[Serial_Apologist]

Never tried it.... This, from the Guardian .... Bottled omlette, somebody said....

He obviously hadn't been to his dentist for some while.

[Alain Maréchal]

... someone who does not drink armagnac, but who likes advocaat.

Sometimes it's so hard not to be judgemental...

I have no objection at all to Armagnac, but I do not habitually drink it; I had not realised it was compulsory to do so.
Is there a deprecatory connotation to "I do not" that I have missed? Unlike most of my compatriots I do not eat mussels, but the reason is neither ideological nor preference.

I'll try again. If I say I do not do something, does that imply that I consider it disgusting/beneath me/ridiculous, or does it mean, as I thought, "I do not do it"? I do not swim. Full marks to those who do, but I do not. On further reflection, and I do recommend further reflection, there are lots of things I do not do, that many people do: take planes, ride a bicycle, use drugs, sing, play cards, jog, understand football. Go ahead, just do not ask me to join in.

By the way, later this evening I will dress up as a Bishop and give out gifts, while my younger stepson will dress up in blackface as my assistant. You do not have to, I assure you.

[french frank]

I have no objection at all to Armagnac, but I do not habitually drink it;

No, I don't either. I chose the Baron de Sigognac (only the 10 year old) because I was hoping for something in a half bottle, and this one is in a 20cl bottle which I can afford as long as I keep it for special occasions I think one can get more Rémy Martin cognac for the same price, but it's not so delicious …

[Old Grumpy]

Baron de Sigognac (only the 10 year old)... ...I think one can get more Rémy Martin cognac for the same price, but it's not so delicious …

Mmm, sounds good...

... must try some.

OG

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Putting aside the important animal welfare aspect for a moment, a very strong argument in favour of discarding red meat from the diet is the environmental impact of beef farming.

Cattle farming produces more greenhouse gases than petroleum, and in a developing world where more and more people are consuming meat, this is increasing at an unprecedented rate.

Then there's the simple mathematics of the far more extravagant use of farmland for meat products. Fodder is grown to feed cattle, rather than crops to feed humans directly. When there's a shortage of land in Europe, the big boys clear the Amazon rain forest to grow the fodder. I the long run, we're all losers in his cycle.

[MrGongGong]

Putting aside the important animal welfare aspect for a moment, a very strong argument in favour of discarding red meat from the diet is the environmental impact of beef farming.

Cattle farming produces more greenhouse gases than petroleum, and in a developing world where more and more people are consuming meat, this is increasing at an unprecedented rate.

Then there's the simple mathematics of the far more extravagant use of farmland for meat products. Fodder is grown to feed cattle, rather than crops to feed humans directly. When there's a shortage of land in Europe, the big boys clear the Amazon rain forest to grow the fodder. I the long run, we're all losers in his cycle.

Is there a shortage of land in Europe ? I'm not sure there is at all.
and
are the cows on the fields at the back of my house more damaging to the environment than the organic rice, lentils and tofu that are transported thousands of miles for the vegans to eat ? (not that there's anything wrong with rice, lentils or miso)

[P. G. Tipps]

No, I don't either. I chose the Baron de Sigognac (only the 10 year old) because I was hoping for something in a half bottle, and this one is in a 20cl bottle which I can afford as long as I keep it for special occasions I think one can get more Rémy Martin cognac for the same price, but it's not so delicious …

Ah-hah ... you've finally come out as a down-at-heel socialist!

[Beef Oven!]

Ah-hah ... you've finally come out as a down-at-heel socialist!

Only in a perfect world, though.

[oddoneout]

Putting aside the important animal welfare aspect for a moment, a very strong argument in favour of discarding red meat from the diet is the environmental impact of beef farming.

Cattle farming produces more greenhouse gases than petroleum, and in a developing world where more and more people are consuming meat, this is increasing at an unprecedented rate.

Then there's the simple mathematics of the far more extravagant use of farmland for meat products. Fodder is grown to feed cattle, rather than crops to feed humans directly. When there's a shortage of land in Europe, the big boys clear the Amazon rain forest to grow the fodder. I the long run, we're all losers in his cycle.

Modern industrial livestock production is indeed problematic and ultimately unsustainable, but that doesn't have to mean the end of red meat consumption, but rather a more intelligent approach. There are areas that are not suitable for arable crops but which can support animals on genuine free-range. Deer populations in this country are high and in many places need managing for the health of the animals themselves as much as anything else, grey squirrels and wood pigeons also need populations controlling - why not use that meat? And of course there's always the rabbit...
BTW the vegetarian (and more particularly vegan) 'complications' re alcohol can extend to beer and wine, although the industry is tending to move away from such ingredients now. Isinglass(from fish swim bladders) and eggwhite, or casein(milk protein), are/can be used for fining, but that won't be shown on the label, unless the company is making a point of being vegetarian/vegan.

[Beef Oven!]

Modern industrial livestock production is indeed problematic and ultimately unsustainable, but that doesn't have to mean the end of red meat consumption, but rather a more intelligent approach. There are areas that are not suitable for arable crops but which can support animals on genuine free-range. Deer populations in this country are high and in many places need managing for the health of the animals themselves as much as anything else, grey squirrels and wood pigeons also need populations controlling - why not use that meat? And of course there's always the rabbit...
BTW the vegetarian (and more particularly vegan) 'complications' re alcohol can extend to beer and wine, although the industry is tending to move away from such ingredients now. Isinglass(from fish swim bladders) and eggwhite, or casein(milk protein), are/can be used for fining, but that won't be shown on the label, unless the company is making a point of being vegetarian/vegan.

I buy my steaks in Lidl or Aldi these days and according to the adverts, production all looks in order.

[oddoneout]

I buy my steaks in Lidl or Aldi these days and according to the adverts, production all looks in order.

It's what they are fed on that causes problems - concentrates based on cereals and soya are good for fast growth and weight gain but not for animal health or the environment. This is a major and valid part of the 'meat is bad for the environment' argument. However, just because modern methods are problematic is not a reason to say that meat is bad full-stop, as far as I'm concerned. Modern methods of producing arable crops are damaging and unsustainable, and whatever food is being considered, producing it out of season, in ways that nature didn't intend, thousands of miles from its end use, is dependent on cheap oil one way or another which again is nor exactly future-proof.

[french frank]

Putting aside the important animal welfare aspect for a moment, a very strong argument in favour of discarding red meat from the diet is the environmental impact of beef farming.

"About 14.5 percent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock. That is more than global car and airplane traffic emissions combined."

It would help a lot if people just ate less (red) meat.

But, as I mentioned, people are vegetarians for different or several reasons

1) Animal welfare

2) The environmental damage caused by ruminants.

3) Economic argument: the cost of breeding, tending and feeding up the livestock in order to eat them is wasteful. Cut out the middleman.

4) They just don't fancy eating it. Like some people don't like sprouts or broccoli.

And, by the way, has anyone else become a pea-shooter? A nice change from rocket

[Beef Oven!]

"About 14.5 percent of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions come from livestock. That is more than global car and airplane traffic emissions combined."

It would help a lot if people just ate less (red) meat.

But, as I mentioned, people are vegetarians for different or several reasons

1) Animal welfare

2) The environmental damage caused by ruminants.

3) Economic argument: the cost of breeding, tending and feeding up the livestock in order to eat them is wasteful. Cut out the middleman.

4) They just don't fancy eating it. Like some people don't like sprouts or broccoli.

And, by the way, has anyone else become a pea-shooter? A nice change from rocket

I need to think about this. I have only fairly recently started eating red meat regularly. I stopped about 25 years ago because it seemed that every steak I bought was rubbish. I discovered that Aldi and Lidl do very good steaks at a very good price. I used to mainly eat fish and chicken.

I’ve been a pea-shooter for quite a few years. And yes, it is rocket-inspired (gets boring all the time)