When I eat out at a vegetarian restaurant I come

[sir pball]

14. No, we absolutely do not add "sugars" to "add to flavor".

In the restaurant we don't add "sugars" any more than you would at home – there's plenty of recipes that call for a bit of something sweet, but dumping in a tablespoon of Domino's is simply something that's not done; it would make the food inedible if anything, it certainly isn't going to improve a pot of shakshuka, saag paneer, or ratatouille.

We amp up the flavor with fat, salt, and acid, far more than home cooks think is reasonable. A knob of butter, a heavy pinch of salt, and maybe a squeeze of lemon is how restaurant dishes are finished, even in vegetarian cookery - check out Amanda Cohen's excellent Dirt Candy Cookbook to understand.