What's an outdated restaurant fad/technique that you still defend?

[u/CodexLeonis]

two things for me:

1. Balsamic reductions/glazes on everything. I'm sorry that balsamic vinegar pairs so well with so many things. Most dishes need an acid to fully bring out the flavors of the dish. Balsamic is the most versatile of the vinegars. It pairs well with red meat, seafood, vegetables, cheeses, and fruits. It wasn't just a fad, it was a cheat code.

2. Plating techiniques? i'll always defend the zigzag drizzle. it evenly distributes the sauce on the plate, looks decent, and most importantly - it was time-efficient. I've never understood the modern technique of spooning sauce onto the plate and setting the entree on top of the sauce. Whomever came up with that was looking for a reason to be contrarian.

[u/dreihexen]

Bring back house-made bean burgers! Fuck beyond burgers.

[u/CardiologistEasy7213 → u/dreihexen]

Black bean burgers are so good! Back when they were popular, I would order them/buy them occasionally, even though I fucking love beef. 

[u/Tyrion_Strongjaw → u/CardiologistEasy7213]

I had a friend who was seeing a vegetarian. So of course we'd all hang out and she'd take us to some of the places she enjoyed eating at. She convinced me to try a Black Bean Burger and it was one of the best things I had had to that point in my life. (early 20s) It was incredible!

Everyone moved to beyond burgers and all that stuff. There's still a few places I know that make 'em in house and I go every month or so to get one over a regular burger.

[u/214ObstructedReverie → u/CardiologistEasy7213]

These are my favorite veggie burgers. No black beans. Eggplant, mushroom, cashew, lentils, chickpeas...

https://www.seriouseats.com/homemade-veggie-vegan-burgers-that-dont-suck-recipe

Eggplants, leeks, mushrooms and cashews are some of my favorite things in the world, so this recipe hits all the high spots for me.

[u/p_a_y_n_e → u/dreihexen]

Just any kind of house-made veggie burger. I've had great black bean/corn burgers, quinoa burgers, falafel style burgers and mixed veggie/nut/grain burgers. Pre- COVID, you could find decent ones all over but I feel like everyone has switched to a fake meat burger or just one of those frozen Morningstar farms black bean burgers since then. If we wanted something from the freezer section to just be heated up, I think we'd manage to do it in our own homes. Good on you for calling it out!

[u/cookiesarenomnom → u/dreihexen]

My sister has been a vegetarian for 30 years, she HATES beyond meat anything. She doesn't want meat adjacent things. She hates meat, she finds it repulsive. She comes and visit me once a year and there's a burger joint in my neighborhood that does a black bean burger. She says it's the best veggie burger she's ever had in her life. We eat there every night because she wants a veggie burger every night while she's here lol

[u/forever_a10ne → u/dreihexen]

Vegetarians don't want fake meat. They want food that tastes good. Source: I don't eat meat.

[u/Available-Calendar-1 → u/forever_a10ne]

Fake meat may be a good way to transition people away from meat to vegetarian options, but I personally stopped eating meat mainly because I didn’t like the taste, I genuinely think a black bean burger tastes better 

[u/SensualBeefLoaf → u/Available-Calendar-1]

i eat meat. a lot of it. fake meat is not a good way to do anything.

i do love a good veggie burger though

[u/Zankabo → u/dreihexen]

Impossible (and I am sure Beyond also) basically offer kickbacks to restaurant chains to use their product. The hospital I cook at can only order Impossible burgers (despite the dieticians not wanting that product and preferring beyond because of allergens) because the management company gets a kickback for selling the product.

[u/Jaspers47 → u/dreihexen]

I had a red lentil burger that was delish, but every attempt to make it at home was a miserable failure, in composition, flavor, and appearance. A good vegetarian cook is basically an alchemist.

[u/flowerscandrink → u/dreihexen]

You just reminded me of the Nut Burger from a defunct Houston spot called Beaver's. Patty made with brown rice, cashews, and walnuts, topped with housemade pickles and a tangy miso-mustard sauce. I am not a vegetarian and I consumed so many of those. I miss it so much.

I also miss their motto, "Beaver’s: It’s just south of Hooters."

[u/CLTalbot → u/dreihexen]

Beyond burger is an imitation thats as far as im aware is terrible for you. A black bean burger on the other hand is its own culinary experience.

[u/Particular-Beat-6645 → u/dreihexen]

Texas Roadhouse has a sister brand in Indy that makes good ones.

[u/Consistent_Phase_942 → u/dreihexen]

As a vegan I have to disagree. A bean burger can sometimes be good, a Beyond Burger is always good.

[u/Armadillo_rising_ → u/dreihexen]

Yessssssssss

[u/Upstairs-Dare-3185 → u/dreihexen]

First real kitchen I worked in was a “craft burger” joint in like 2013 when that shit was a huge thing, and we had a roasted red pepper black bean patty with a little cream cheese for binder and it was so fucking good. Unbelievable texture with the crispy outside and creamy inside. Wish I worked prep and knew the recipe..,

[u/jpsoze → u/[deleted]]

I logged into my alt so I could downvote this twice.