Eating out
Are pesto and parmesan vegan?
Short answer
Classic pesto alla genovese has pecorino or parmesan (often with animal rennet). Order pesto without cheese, or a vegan pesto. PDO parmesan is dairy.
Rennet in hard cheeses may come from calf stomachs. Vegetarian cheese is not vegan cheese.
Some restaurants grate cheese onto pasta by default — say so explicitly.