If you're a vegetarian and eat at Panera...
Here's an FYI: Their signature Broccoli Cheddar soup is made with chicken stock. IE not vegetarian. I overheard a customer ordering yesterday and the cashier, who apparently knew her and her no-meat habits, said, "You know it's not vegetarian, right?" And the customer freaked out. Because that means everythime che's ordered this cheesy deliciousness, she's been putting animal products in her body.
Ultimately, the onus is on the customer but I suppose many people would assume Brocco Cheddar or French Onion are meat-free (French Onion actually has a beef-base). If this is important to you, make sure you ask. Oh, and a Panera tip: If the soup IS vegetarian, it will say so on the menu board.
PS Ingredients from Panera's CB Soup: Water, whole milk, broccoli, cheddar cheese (milk, cheese culture, salt, enzymes, water, sodium phopshate, milkfat, cellulose powder, salt, APO-carotenal-color), heavy cream, onion, carrot, chicken base (chicken meat including natural chicken juices, hydrolyzed soy and corn protein, potato flour, natural flavorings, autolyzed yeast extract, carrot powder, turmeric), modified food starch, unbleached enriched flour (wheat flour, vitamin C (ascorbic acid added as dough conditioner), enzyme added to improve baking, niacin, reduced iron, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), butter (sweet cream, annatto), canola oil, salt, dijon mustard (water, black mustard seed, vinegar, salt, spices, citric acid, potassium bisulfite), spices, Tabasco (vinegar, red pepper, salt
Comments
Wow... that's kind of upsetting considering that soup is one of my favorite indulgences from Panera and I *AM* a vegetarian. Guh.
Thanks for pointing that out though, I really appreciate it.
I'm a veg girl too, so thanks for the head's up Leslie! I usually check a restaurant's website before eating there. Most of the chain types (incl. Panera) have ingredient lists and nutritional info on line.
unfortunately it is true for most restaurants. I used to work for a major chain and people wrongfully assumed our broccoli cheese and black bean soups were vegetarian. I always tried to ask diners if they knew this and most of them said it was the first time anyone had told them.
I'm pretty sure their black bean soup is vegetarian -- and it's awesome, too.
I wouldn't have eaten it, being vegan, but still appreciate the heads up. How lame of them.
