Vegans & the LHR/JFK clubhouse

Hello all,

I'm expecting a resounding silence, as this is a very long shot, but I wondered if anyone had any experience about getting vegan food in the clubhouse - LHR and JFK?

My (vegan) wife and I have a NYC flight next week - her first time in the clubhouse and UC - and while it would be nice to get something to eat in the CH, neither of us want to cause a fuss. Does anyone know if any of the food (the potato soup and the curry in particular) is/can be made vegan - is it made on-site, or just reheated? And if it is worth asking, is it best to ask before going (how?) or when we are there?

I know she can eat on the plane, but I've seen airline vegan special meals before, and they are often not the most...um....appetising, shall we say [:w]. We're getting into New York quite late so eating after we land will probably not be an option either. Having said that, I know it is always asking a lot of any catering operation to do vegan if they aren't already set up for it...

Thanks for any help anyone can give.....

Cheers

Drew

I know there are vegetarian options on the menu, but not vegan.

I'll be there tomorrow, be more than happy to ask for you.

For the flight, please make sure that you have requested a vegan meal through your travel agent or with Virgin as they do not load these unless you request it.
For the Clubhouse, the best thing to do is probably to call the UC service team and explain the situation and the 'may' be able to make arrangements for your wife.

quote:Originally posted by slinky09
I know there are vegetarian options on the menu, but not vegan.

I'll be there tomorrow, be more than happy to ask for you.


Slinky, that's very kind of you but please don't put yourself to any trouble - as a veggie myself, it's not the restaurant's fault that they have trouble with veggie catering (given the amount of times I have been told fish is veggie [:$]) - and vegan is a step beyond that. We honestly appreciate the offer, but please don't feel obligated.

quote:Originally posted by eejp1007
For the flight, please make sure that you have requested a vegan meal through your travel agent or with Virgin as they do not load these unless you request it.
For the Clubhouse, the best thing to do is probably to call the UC service team and explain the situation and the 'may' be able to make arrangements for your wife.


Many thanks...we have made sure to order a vegan meal for the flight .

It's somewhat off-topic, but I have to say that - much as I like Virgin and always fly with them (6-odd times a year), I am somewhat cynical about them a) loading the meal and b) it being edible.

Although I've never experienced a UC vegan meal, every PE/Y VS vegan meal has been utterly inedible.You would think it is difficult to mess up vegetables, but somehow the meal has managed to be devoid of both taste and content - and of course, none of the other food (bar the main meal) is actually vegan, either - you are constantly offered ice cream/bacon sarnies etc.

That is of course if the meal is actually vegan - or even veggie. A few years back, I ordered a veggie special meal last time in Y, and got a Caesar Salad - luckily the sauce pot had the ingredients on, so I was able to spot it had anchovies in it. If they can't get that right, you wonder how vegan the vegan meal actually is [V]

I've sent Virgin an email to ask them for the ingredients of the current CH menu, as the simplest solution would be if one of the current menu items happens to be vegan by chance. If not, I'll give them a ring and see what can be done...I know it's not a priority (and wouldn't expect it to be one), but fingers crossed

Thanks both for your help again.

Drew

Vegan meals in Y, PE and UC are all terrible, I just take my own now.
Don't recall seeing vegan options in the LHR CH, I just have beans on toast

quote:Originally posted by AndyK
Vegan meals in Y, PE and UC are all terrible, I just take my own now.
Don't recall seeing vegan options in the LHR CH, I just have beans on toast


100% agree with you...although I do wonder why no airline can ever come up with a hummus/grated vegetable wrap, or a simple salad even. Starbucks manage it, Tesco manage it, even JD Wetherspooons has a vegan-friendly meal - but airlines...nope.

Don't suppose you have any tips on a good air-side place to get a meal in T3? We have to run our pets into the feline Colditz, plus pack on the day, so little chance of eating except in the airport.

Cheers

Drew

[honey lamb]

quote:Originally posted by ajb69
quote:Originally posted by AndyK
Vegan meals in Y, PE and UC are all terrible, I just take my own now.
Don't recall seeing vegan options in the LHR CH, I just have beans on toast




Don't suppose you have any tips on a good air-side place to get a meal in T3? We have to run our pets into the feline Colditz, plus pack on the day, so little chance of eating except in the airport.

Cheers

Drew

These are the eateries airside in T3 according to the LHR website

IIRC the UC Vegan option at the moment ex-LHR is vegetables served with rice and ratatouille with fruit for dessert and a salad wrap for afternoon tea.

As for the LHR CH, I think one option that may work is to go to the deli counter. But do not be afraid to ask them if they can alter any of the main menu options - I have asked them myself before and they were more than happy to do so.

If you wanted to get something from the terminal to take onboard with you, I can highly recommend the falafel and hommous wrap from M&S in the arrivals hall. [y]

quote:Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
IIRC the UC Vegan option at the moment ex-LHR is vegetables served with rice and ratatouille with fruit for dessert and a salad wrap for afternoon tea.

As for the LHR CH, I think one option that may work is to go to the deli counter. But do not be afraid to ask them if they can alter any of the main menu options - I have asked them myself before and if they can, they are more than happy to do so.

If you wanted to get something from the terminal to take onboard with you, I can highly recommend the falafel and hommous wrap from M&S in the arrivals hall. [y]

Brilliant! Many thanks all.

Drew

quote:Originally posted by Tinkerbelle
As for the LHR CH, I think one option that may work is to go to the deli counter. But do not be afraid to ask them if they can alter any of the main menu options - I have asked them myself before and they were more than happy to do so.


It was no trouble to ask when I passed through on Saturday - Tinks is correct, the deli counter is all that they offered up that is vegan, there's usually a good choice of salads and fruit, the bread is organic but there was some uncertainty if any of it had egg (!), and as Tinks says, ask on the day if the chef has anything they can mix up, which they'd be happy to do.

As for JFK - I think you'll be more limited. There is no deli there and I would guess that all the food comes in preprepared.