Restaurant LIED on Menu!

[AmbrosiaWriter]

But as it stands, beef is defined as coming from a cow over 2 years of age, and veal from a calf under 3 months old, and so is falsely labeled as it should have been 'Provimi VEAL'. Maybe I'm the sucky one for being ignorant.

Not at all, considering that those are the actual definitions of the meat, then it is a solid mislabel.

But to me this would be like ordering a fish soup "with fish provided by XYZ fisheries" and finding out that XYZ fisheries specializes in shark! It might still be a 'fish,' but it's still sneaky labeling.

Be more like ordering fish soup and finding the fishery specializes in caviar instead of salmon. *cackle*

[Mr Hero]

We can argue all day about whether or not it's correct to label veal as beef. It's still a rotten tactic of the restaurant to mislead the customers. You were tricked into eating something you are opposed to eating. I'd be mortified if I found out I was served something prohibited by my religion or even worse, allergic. Whatever the reason, it's important for the owner of the restaurant to accurately inform the customer what type of meat is in the dish, so the customer can make an informed decision. They failed on this part. I am with everyone else who says TC needs to write a letter. ASAP!

[Catwoman2965]

We can argue all day about whether or not it's correct to label veal as beef. It's still a rotten tactic of the restaurant to mislead the customers. You were tricked into eating something you are opposed to eating. I'd be mortified if I found out I was served something prohibited by my religion or even worse, allergic. Whatever the reason, it's important for the owner of the restaurant to accurately inform the customer what type of meat is in the dish, so the customer can make an informed decision. They failed on this part. I am with everyone else who says TC needs to write a letter. ASAP!

I agree. I don't have any issues per say with veal, other than I can't stand the taste of it. I'd be pretty ticked off if ordered one thing, and was served another, even if they *technically* came from the same place. I too have never seen beef used interchangeably with veal; any restaurant I've ever been to has had separate veal and beef dishes.

[PepperElf]

As you were tricked into eating something you would choose not to eat*, yes you are justified in being as upset as you feel. Do write a letter to corporate.

* Your reason for not wanting to eat it is immaterial, and not subject to question.

I entirely agree, on both points. to me that's akin to food-tampering. Although an allergic reaction is probably going to be rare - at least where the beef part is concerned - you never know if the diner is going to react to any trace elements resulting from how the beef was raised.


And although the Provimi brand only sells veal, this isn't common knowledge afaik. Heck to me it sounds like a type of sausage.

To me that's like ordering "beef" and getting cow tongue. Or ordering sweetbreads thinking you're getting a sweet roll or cake and finding out that it means "organ meats" like thymus.


although if anyone here likes the taste of veal but not the reported conditions, I recommend european veal or free-raised veal, as described here

[BlaqueKatt]

I thought 'Provimi' was a local farm

The word “Provimi” is both a brand name for a feed company(meaning PROtein, VItamins, and MInerals), and a term that is used within the meat industry to distinguish between superior milk-fed pale colored, fork-tender veal and male calves that are reared without any dietary restrictions, thus confirming this veal’s superiority over other types of veal.

I usually ask if I'm unsure about ingredients, due to some very nasty, potentially lethal, food allergies, and I know different places sometimes use different names for things.

[Slayer]

beef is defined as coming from a cow over 2 years of age, and veal from a calf under 3 months old

Not all veal is from a calf less than 3 months old. It can range typically from a few days old to 9 months. Average is usually 4-5 months.

[Seshat]

To me, 'veal' is simply a subset of 'beef'. This may be a local variation. So to me, the menu is not actually misleading.

I recommend specifically asking in the future.

[dendawg]

To me, 'veal' is simply a subset of 'beef'. This may be a local variation. So to me, the menu is not actually misleading.

Kinda like how bacon is simply a subset of pork?

Similar, but different enough the distinction needs to be made in the menu, IMHO.

[PepperElf]

Kinda like how bacon is simply a subset of pork?

Similar, but different enough the distinction needs to be made in the menu, IMHO.

Good point actually.

Kinda makes me think of beef & kosher - cos not all beef is kosher. For example, beef tenderloin isn't cos it's from the ass-end of the cow. So although you could say the tenderloin is a subset of beef, you could risk insulting any customers who are trying to eat Kosher if they're not forewarned that it's from the back-end and not the front-end.

[thehuckster]

I have to agree with the mislabeling bunch here. Beef and veal are two different "meats" that just happen to come from the same animal. Just like ham, pork, and bacon can't be interchangeable so shouldn't beef and veal. Not only are they prepared differently, they have a very distinct taste and texture.

Coming from New England, I have never seen veal being sold under the name of "beef." Sometimes they even put them in different sections of the menu.

[mariamousie1]

Write to corporate. They are responsible for their menus, no matter what they say. At the very least they could have put a note in the menu or had their server mention that the menu was wrong. Took hospitality in college, took a whole course on menu presentation, my professor would be horrified.

[Kristev]

The idea here is that they committed fraud by saying it was one kind of meat when it turned out to be something else.

The next step down this scale is using chicken in a dish that claims to be beef, and the next step down from that is using 'pink slime'.

[dalesys]

The next step down this scale is using chicken in a dish that claims to be beef, and the next step down from that is using...

Urban squirrel, AKA rat.

[Kagato]

Urban squirrel, AKA rat.

RAT?!? I'm outraged! You promised me dog or higher! /mayorquimby

[julchen]

I have never once in my life seen veal advertised as beef. Yes, it may be a form of beef, but given the serious and ongoing debate regarding veal, for a restaurant to simply substitute it and lie about it is not acceptable.*

Veal debate aside, substituting one ingredient for another is absolutely not acceptable. What if they did that with an allergen (i.e., pork versus beef, as in this case)? I myself am mildly allergic to cinnamon, but highly allergic to cassia. It may come from the same plant, but I have very different reactions to it based on what part of the plant it comes from.

*Not trying to fratch. I absolutely love veal, but at the same time I can definitely understand why people choose not to eat it.