Can this lifelong carnivore tell vegan from meat?

Last Updated on 30th March 2022 by Mimi
The first thing to know about me is that I’m not easily fooled when it comes to meat. I’m a true carnivore. So much so that my one attempt at vegetarianism ended in dramatic failure and a dash to the shops. The trigger? Salami. That’s why when Gousto chef Sophie Nahmad was looking for someone she could bamboozle with faux meat, I swaggered into the ring with all the bets placed in my favour.
The rules of the game are as follows: taste-test two burgers, one meaty and one plant-based, and guess which contained meat. All while blindfolded to a suitable degree of sensory deprivation. Easy? So I thought.
Contender No.1 –
Is this the duck burger?
With a little guidance, Sophie managed to direct the burger to my mouth so that I could take my first bite. Instantly my tongue reports back: we’re dealing with Chinese-style duck here (think Peking duck, but lose the pancakes). The texture is undeniably meaty and the flavour unmistakeably ducky.
Suddenly, my umami detectors sound the alarm as the sweet-savoury notes of hoisin mayo sweep across my tongue’s radar. This is too easy. This is a pulled duck burger with deliciously spiced mayo and a crunchy something that I assume must be cucumber.
Contender No.2 –
Or is this the Duck Burger?
In a flash, my hand is directed to the second burger with barely a moment to gather my thoughts. This must be part of the ploy, I think to myself. I sink my teeth into what I’m sure is the meat-free imposter and I’m met with something robust, something…meaty. I’m shaken. Could this be duck? The mouthfeel is unquestionably duck-like, likewise the flavour. I hate to say it but this seasoned carnivore is well and truly bamboozled.
The verdict
I hate to say it, but I honestly couldn’t tell the difference. Whatever wizardry was cast in that kitchen left me speechless and, quite frankly, in need of answers. It turns out I was tricked by shiitake mushrooms that managed to imitate real shredded duck with chilling ease. The switch was so successful that I’d bet at least a tenner that you wouldn’t have had a clue either.