This is turning into the revenge of the SLF!
I was also on a Continental flight, about 12 years ago, Denver to London. I had ordered a vegetarian meal and mentioned this to the stewardess. She went back to the galley and brought me a chicken salad. She genuinely didn't seem to understand why I couldn't eat it. She did take it away - and never returned. So I walked through to the First Class galley, explained what had happened and was told to help myself to cheeses. salads and fruit in there.
If the crew were all like the second stewardess I might have flown Continental again sometime, but they weren't and I haven't.
Meering