Finding vegetarian food at the airport is tough, and doubly so in Texas. The Varsity Grill in DFW Terminal E (by E31) is almost all-meat, even the salads.
But they do serve a portobello and cheese sandwich. It’s reasonably priced, comes with spicy fries, and typical food service quality: Moist and vinegar flavored but edible. Oddly it’s sliced half through into a grid of cubes, perhaps to aid cooking.
But it’s nice to have something subtle on the menu, reducing the “without the chicken” discussions.
The Varsity is sports-themed, with hanging televisions and a mediocre beer selection. No Shiner Bock here, a Texas tragedy!
I won’t complain when the world doesn’t cater to my dietary choices, but I’m always happy when a new option appears. And it especially galls me when I have to pay for meat I won’t eat – the old $11.95 pasta with chicken without the chicken issue.
Although I still think it’s ridiculous to have to pay for in-flight snacks, I am pleased that United Airlines now offers a vegetarian “snackbox” on their flights. Called “Smartpack”, the orange box contains a nice variety of healthy snacks, including pears, bagel chips, and granola and lacks the jerky, sausage, or tuna included with the other choices. Most of the items are even vegan, with the obvious exception of the Copper Cowbell cheese spread and Cashew Roca candy.
I’m not quite as happy as United’s umbrella-toting cartoon mascot (see below), who brings color to a drab world in an in-flight ad, however. My flight out of San Francisco was delayed by over an hour, and I thought I would miss my connection and be stranded overnight in Chicago. Luckily, I got home.
Aah, airline food. Where every “special meal” is vegetarian, kosher, low fat, low salt, Hindu, and bland!
US Airways offers two pay-as-you-eat options on board: Bagel with turkey or toast with ham for breakfast or chicken salad or turkey sandwich at other times. Even the snack box has tuna (at least it’s in a can).
