I don't know what this is supposed to be but I just love it. Sometimes I want to have a meat 'n taters kind of dinner without having to cook meat 'n taters, so I reach for a Celebration Roast by the vegan meat alternative company Field Roast.
It's a roast, I guess? Roast beef? Meatloaf? Whatever this artisan vegan loaf is, it's something I find myself enjoying a few times throughout the year. I find them readily during the holiday season, as that's when most people celebrate but every once in a while I can snag one in the refrigerated alternative meat sections near the produce during other times of the year. And snag, I do, because this is a great way to enjoy a meat and potatoes kind of meal. Or meat and rice, as the case was yesterday!
Field Roast Celebration Roast
Brand: Field Roast
Meat Type: Beefy?
Taste:
The Field Roast Celebration Roast has a taste I want to call indescribable, but that is not the point of writing about it, now is it? It's a salty, savory taste that's sort of like a pot roast cooked on a bed of vegetables but all packaged within itself, and you get that flavor in every bite. Made primarily of vital wheat gluten, it's stuffed with mushrooms, butternut squash, and apples, for a complex taste I've never found in any other meat alternative.
I have days where I crave this exact flavor and nothing else can satisfy. Some people may say it's a bit salty, especially when served with gravy, but sometimes you just crave a salty hit for dinner. And this delivers. It's not always easy to find in stores outside of the holidays, but some do carry it year-round.
Texture:
It can be a tad dry on its own, so I always serve it with either brown or golden gravy. One of the most frequent ways I serve it is to slice off ½" thick slices and saute it in a small frying pan until lightly crisp on each side. Then I pour gravy on top and usually serve it with rice or mashed potatoes, and a green vegetable.
It's sot but not mushy, and I prefer to cook it like I do in slices so the outside can get a little crisp for a great contrast. You can taste and feel some of the individual grains that comprise the loaf while you eat it, and it only adds to the experience.
Realisticness: ⅘
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ (5/5)
Given the difficulty of finding it in brick and mortar stores in non-holiday times, when you see it available, grab a few and freeze them. It is easy to thaw in the fridge to eat later, and when tightly wrapped after opening, is fine for a few days.
Looking for other celebratory meat alternatives? Try the Thanksgiving turk'y.