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    Can Vegetarians and Vegans Be Adventurous Eaters?

    By | Shine Food – Thu, Jan 19, 2012 12:16 PM EST

    Photo by GourmetPhoto by GourmetBy Lauren Salkeld, Epicurious.com

    While getting my hair cut recently, small talk with a new stylist eventually led to my job, which led to food, which led to her saying that she was a vegetarian and while she's fully committed with no desire or intention to ever eat beef, fish, or fowl again, she did feel that she missed out on a lot of the adventure of eating.

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    She was convinced that carnivores have the advantage when it comes to exploring and experimenting in the kitchen and at the table. I replied with something vague about playing with spices and herbs, but the more I considered the idea, I thought the stylist might be on to something.

    I'm definitely a carnivore and probably always will be, but on a day-to-day basis, I eat a predominantly vegetarian diet. Greens, beans, tubers, fruit, and the like are what I tend to crave. Still, I relish the fact that my omnivorous diet means there are almost no limits when dining out or staying in.

    If I go to a dinner party, I never have to worry about what's being served. If I discover a new leafy green at the farmers' market, there's nothing stopping me from topping it with crispy bacon, a poached egg, a flurry of grated Parmesan, or all three. The same goes for restaurants; I can order any dish or sample any cuisine that appeals to me without any concern for whether pork fat or fish sauce lurks silently inside.

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    So, without any insult to vegetarians or vegans, how do you keep the adventurous spirit of eating without compromising your diet? I know there are plenty of risk-taking meat- and animal-free eaters out there and many who have a better answer than my initial response about herbs and spices. What are your secrets?

    In the meantime, Epicurious currently has 1,447 vegan recipes and a whopping 5,000 vegetarian options, including the yummy and appropriately named dish, Cauliflower Steaks with Olive Relish and Tomato Sauce.

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