Vegan at a Resort in Cancun Mexico
So I'll be attending a wedding at a all-inclusive resort in Cancun. I've looked over the resort's menus on line & they have "Vegetarian" options marked as such. This was great until I came across the chicken dish that was marked vegetarian, in an Indian restaurant no less. So anyway, I've contacted the resort & they said I could speak with the chef when I arrive to set up a vegan menu.
My question is, how do I communicate things like no animal stock in the sauce, or lard in the beans, or eggs in the pasta? I realize that most of the staff will likely speak English, but I still anticipate this being a difficult thing to convey. I can live on beans, rice, & fresh fruit, but I'm really freaked that the beans and rice will be animal laden. Any sneaky animal ingredients I should look out for? As far as bread goes - tortillas & bagels are generally vegan, right?
I appreciate any help anyone can offer :)>>>
My question is, how do I communicate things like no animal stock in the sauce, or lard in the beans, or eggs in the pasta? I realize that most of the staff will likely speak English, but I still anticipate this being a difficult thing to convey.
Assuming they do understand English well, I would just ask the specific questions! Or statements, I guess. Explain you are vegan, so that means you don't eat any meat, chicken, fish (to clarify), dairy products, or eggs, so you wanted to make sure they know this means no meat stock in the food, no lard, etc...... I usually just try to explain the best I can, and think of all possible foods that might be included depending on the situation. If they don't understand English well, then I can't help you with that... :\ I would say tortillas and bagels are most often vegan (barring lard or L cysteine in bagels).
Tell them you have a food intolerance/allergy, explain the smallest bit of animal can make you sick.
Your body is conservative with its resources, so if you stop eating a family of biology (animals, in this case), your body stops producing the enzymes to digest it, making it intolerant of those foods.
As soon as I explain it that way, chef's eyes get bright and wide eyed, and they then rush to WASH/sanitize the pan for me that they will be preparing my food in. Whereas with others who asked for the veggie option, just had their pans wiped out with a kitchen towel hanging off the chef's apron.
They are working with her to set up a vegan menu, though. Vegan does not = food allergy.
it does equal an intolerance
and explaining that it can be as sensitive as allergies doesn't lessen either, imho
Thanks for the help ladies! I think I'm going to break out my Spanish dictionary & learn a few unvegan words just in case. Though not sure how animal stock would translate. I heard from the hotel again in regards to setting up a meeting with the chef. They are being so helpful; I'm not used to this level of service at all. I hope all goes well so I can write them a fantabulous review. :)
Yay! Good luck!! Let us know how it goes. :)