When you didn’t “do enough” as a host

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

The food bears no resemblance.

Why does it have to? Appetizers are appetizers. That’s the point. The style of serving small plates of food goes by many names.

That’s where we seem to have discord. Some PPs think appetizers are dinner. Others think appetizers are only a small bite, pre-dinner portion that’s not intended to be a full meal. I wouldn’t view bruschetta and ham, or a pig in blanket as dinner. So many of us would just be surprised if that’s all that was served. Mezze, traditionally, are full dishes. Actual cultural dishes that are often nutritious and substantive, just in a smaller size. Mezze aren’t appetizers

Ham is what my mother has served as the main course for Christmas for 60 years. And her mother served it for Christmas for years as well. It's a traditional Christmas dinner for many. What a weird thing to say.

Pigs in a blanket is just like eating a hot dog, only fancier and not as big which means you can eat more of other things. And a hot dog is an American style sausage, which are served in many countries as dinner.

You are very rigid in your definitions of what one can / should eat when.

Look, you can eat all the American hot dogs that you want for Christmas dinner. The menu to me is still unappealing. It's not what I would ever serve but perhaps we just cook more. Cooking culture is very big in my family. I understand that is not the case for all, and for many people cooking is a chore. Particularly around the holidays. I don't actually care what you eat (or what OPs family eats) but PPs are clearly misguided in what they think a meal vs appetizers are. That was my point. If you enjoy only appetizers, fine. I have learned when we need to eat before heading over to a party and when not so this thread is enlightening.

And no, bruschetta with a slice of parma ham on it is not a Christmas ham dinner. You're purposefully misreading text.

And you are being rigid in insisting your definition of a meal is the only one out there.

I am an experienced cook. Appetizers / finger foods can take a hell of a long time to prepare and cook. Way longer than putting a roast and potatoes in the oven.

You also refuse to acknowledge that serving lots of different kinds of "appetizers" can be a godsend for people who aren't interested in/can't eat the main "big" entree for whatever reason.

No, I'm not being rigid. I've said repeatedly that subjectively I dislike the menus and hosting styles listed above. It is unappealing to me to eat finger foods all day. I find it a bit lazy and inhospitable. I don't know how many times to repeat that it is clearly a subjective assessment. Objectively, however, a ham and cheese roll up from Costco is not a meal, though it does resemble a 2nd grade lunch box.

And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options. I didn't need a small plate of hot dogs to feed people. But I do recognize that our guests eat like us. We don't have guests who aren't accustomed to our foods so it would never occur to me to make the foods that you mentioned.

You served 10-12 different entrees at one get together? What are you, a Cheesecake Factory?

NP. The previous poster did not say she had 10-12 entrees. She implied that she made more than one entree, and state that she had 10-12 options (which I take to mean including side dishes). To me, her post read as someone who offered (just as an example) beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna as entree options, and then numerous side dishes (options) in addition to more than one entree.

So like what everyone else is doing. What's so special about it again?

I never said it was special. Do you have reading comprehension problems? You deliberately misread her post as her claiming she served 10-12 “entrees” when she said “options,” and you deliberately misread my post as me saying she did something special when I said no such thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ I can totally see someone being treated to that menu and thinking, wow the host really doesn’t give AF

To be fair, OP served it to her parents and sister. She knows what they like. Her sister just decided to be an ass and ruin the day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

The food bears no resemblance.

Why does it have to? Appetizers are appetizers. That’s the point. The style of serving small plates of food goes by many names.

That’s where we seem to have discord. Some PPs think appetizers are dinner. Others think appetizers are only a small bite, pre-dinner portion that’s not intended to be a full meal. I wouldn’t view bruschetta and ham, or a pig in blanket as dinner. So many of us would just be surprised if that’s all that was served. Mezze, traditionally, are full dishes. Actual cultural dishes that are often nutritious and substantive, just in a smaller size. Mezze aren’t appetizers

Ham is what my mother has served as the main course for Christmas for 60 years. And her mother served it for Christmas for years as well. It's a traditional Christmas dinner for many. What a weird thing to say.

Pigs in a blanket is just like eating a hot dog, only fancier and not as big which means you can eat more of other things. And a hot dog is an American style sausage, which are served in many countries as dinner.

You are very rigid in your definitions of what one can / should eat when.

Look, you can eat all the American hot dogs that you want for Christmas dinner. The menu to me is still unappealing. It's not what I would ever serve but perhaps we just cook more. Cooking culture is very big in my family. I understand that is not the case for all, and for many people cooking is a chore. Particularly around the holidays. I don't actually care what you eat (or what OPs family eats) but PPs are clearly misguided in what they think a meal vs appetizers are. That was my point. If you enjoy only appetizers, fine. I have learned when we need to eat before heading over to a party and when not so this thread is enlightening.

And no, bruschetta with a slice of parma ham on it is not a Christmas ham dinner. You're purposefully misreading text.

And you are being rigid in insisting your definition of a meal is the only one out there.

I am an experienced cook. Appetizers / finger foods can take a hell of a long time to prepare and cook. Way longer than putting a roast and potatoes in the oven.

You also refuse to acknowledge that serving lots of different kinds of "appetizers" can be a godsend for people who aren't interested in/can't eat the main "big" entree for whatever reason.

No, I'm not being rigid. I've said repeatedly that subjectively I dislike the menus and hosting styles listed above. It is unappealing to me to eat finger foods all day. I find it a bit lazy and inhospitable. I don't know how many times to repeat that it is clearly a subjective assessment. Objectively, however, a ham and cheese roll up from Costco is not a meal, though it does resemble a 2nd grade lunch box.

And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options. I didn't need a small plate of hot dogs to feed people. But I do recognize that our guests eat like us. We don't have guests who aren't accustomed to our foods so it would never occur to me to make the foods that you mentioned.

You served 10-12 different entrees at one get together? What are you, a Cheesecake Factory?

NP. The previous poster did not say she had 10-12 entrees. She implied that she made more than one entree, and state that she had 10-12 options (which I take to mean including side dishes). To me, her post read as someone who offered (just as an example) beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna as entree options, and then numerous side dishes (options) in addition to more than one entree.

So like what everyone else is doing. What's so special about it again?

I never said it was special. Do you have reading comprehension problems? You deliberately misread her post as her claiming she served 10-12 “entrees” when she said “options,” and you deliberately misread my post as me saying she did something special when I said no such thing.

Just cut to the chase. People just don't like OPs actual food. They do the exact same thing but with food they like and have put themselves on a high pedestal for doing so. It's just food snobbery. "What is a meatball? I would never eat that for dinner". Sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

The food bears no resemblance.

Why does it have to? Appetizers are appetizers. That’s the point. The style of serving small plates of food goes by many names.

That’s where we seem to have discord. Some PPs think appetizers are dinner. Others think appetizers are only a small bite, pre-dinner portion that’s not intended to be a full meal. I wouldn’t view bruschetta and ham, or a pig in blanket as dinner. So many of us would just be surprised if that’s all that was served. Mezze, traditionally, are full dishes. Actual cultural dishes that are often nutritious and substantive, just in a smaller size. Mezze aren’t appetizers

Ham is what my mother has served as the main course for Christmas for 60 years. And her mother served it for Christmas for years as well. It's a traditional Christmas dinner for many. What a weird thing to say.

Pigs in a blanket is just like eating a hot dog, only fancier and not as big which means you can eat more of other things. And a hot dog is an American style sausage, which are served in many countries as dinner.

You are very rigid in your definitions of what one can / should eat when.

Look, you can eat all the American hot dogs that you want for Christmas dinner. The menu to me is still unappealing. It's not what I would ever serve but perhaps we just cook more. Cooking culture is very big in my family. I understand that is not the case for all, and for many people cooking is a chore. Particularly around the holidays. I don't actually care what you eat (or what OPs family eats) but PPs are clearly misguided in what they think a meal vs appetizers are. That was my point. If you enjoy only appetizers, fine. I have learned when we need to eat before heading over to a party and when not so this thread is enlightening.

And no, bruschetta with a slice of parma ham on it is not a Christmas ham dinner. You're purposefully misreading text.

And you are being rigid in insisting your definition of a meal is the only one out there.

I am an experienced cook. Appetizers / finger foods can take a hell of a long time to prepare and cook. Way longer than putting a roast and potatoes in the oven.

You also refuse to acknowledge that serving lots of different kinds of "appetizers" can be a godsend for people who aren't interested in/can't eat the main "big" entree for whatever reason.

No, I'm not being rigid. I've said repeatedly that subjectively I dislike the menus and hosting styles listed above. It is unappealing to me to eat finger foods all day. I find it a bit lazy and inhospitable. I don't know how many times to repeat that it is clearly a subjective assessment. Objectively, however, a ham and cheese roll up from Costco is not a meal, though it does resemble a 2nd grade lunch box.

And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options. I didn't need a small plate of hot dogs to feed people. But I do recognize that our guests eat like us. We don't have guests who aren't accustomed to our foods so it would never occur to me to make the foods that you mentioned.

You served 10-12 different entrees at one get together? What are you, a Cheesecake Factory?

NP. The previous poster did not say she had 10-12 entrees. She implied that she made more than one entree, and state that she had 10-12 options (which I take to mean including side dishes). To me, her post read as someone who offered (just as an example) beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna as entree options, and then numerous side dishes (options) in addition to more than one entree.

So like what everyone else is doing. What's so special about it again?

I never said it was special. Do you have reading comprehension problems? You deliberately misread her post as her claiming she served 10-12 “entrees” when she said “options,” and you deliberately misread my post as me saying she did something special when I said no such thing.

Just cut to the chase. People just don't like OPs actual food. They do the exact same thing but with food they like and have put themselves on a high pedestal for doing so. It's just food snobbery. "What is a meatball? I would never eat that for dinner". Sure.

j

Why don’t we cut to the chase: I had never contributed to this thread before today. When I did, I clarified a willfully obtuse reading of the (rather snarky) PP’s, where someone claimed she had said she made 10-12 entrees. And then you can’t admit that you deliberately read into my post, so instead you are now apparently blaming me for every exaggeration, deliberate misinterpretation, and bad-faith post in this thread.

Want to try again, by saying that I am right in that I never said PP’s menu was “so special”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

The food bears no resemblance.

Why does it have to? Appetizers are appetizers. That’s the point. The style of serving small plates of food goes by many names.

That’s where we seem to have discord. Some PPs think appetizers are dinner. Others think appetizers are only a small bite, pre-dinner portion that’s not intended to be a full meal. I wouldn’t view bruschetta and ham, or a pig in blanket as dinner. So many of us would just be surprised if that’s all that was served. Mezze, traditionally, are full dishes. Actual cultural dishes that are often nutritious and substantive, just in a smaller size. Mezze aren’t appetizers

Ham is what my mother has served as the main course for Christmas for 60 years. And her mother served it for Christmas for years as well. It's a traditional Christmas dinner for many. What a weird thing to say.

Pigs in a blanket is just like eating a hot dog, only fancier and not as big which means you can eat more of other things. And a hot dog is an American style sausage, which are served in many countries as dinner.

You are very rigid in your definitions of what one can / should eat when.

Look, you can eat all the American hot dogs that you want for Christmas dinner. The menu to me is still unappealing. It's not what I would ever serve but perhaps we just cook more. Cooking culture is very big in my family. I understand that is not the case for all, and for many people cooking is a chore. Particularly around the holidays. I don't actually care what you eat (or what OPs family eats) but PPs are clearly misguided in what they think a meal vs appetizers are. That was my point. If you enjoy only appetizers, fine. I have learned when we need to eat before heading over to a party and when not so this thread is enlightening.

And no, bruschetta with a slice of parma ham on it is not a Christmas ham dinner. You're purposefully misreading text.

And you are being rigid in insisting your definition of a meal is the only one out there.

I am an experienced cook. Appetizers / finger foods can take a hell of a long time to prepare and cook. Way longer than putting a roast and potatoes in the oven.

You also refuse to acknowledge that serving lots of different kinds of "appetizers" can be a godsend for people who aren't interested in/can't eat the main "big" entree for whatever reason.

No, I'm not being rigid. I've said repeatedly that subjectively I dislike the menus and hosting styles listed above. It is unappealing to me to eat finger foods all day. I find it a bit lazy and inhospitable. I don't know how many times to repeat that it is clearly a subjective assessment. Objectively, however, a ham and cheese roll up from Costco is not a meal, though it does resemble a 2nd grade lunch box.

And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options. I didn't need a small plate of hot dogs to feed people. But I do recognize that our guests eat like us. We don't have guests who aren't accustomed to our foods so it would never occur to me to make the foods that you mentioned.

You served 10-12 different entrees at one get together? What are you, a Cheesecake Factory?

NP. The previous poster did not say she had 10-12 entrees. She implied that she made more than one entree, and state that she had 10-12 options (which I take to mean including side dishes). To me, her post read as someone who offered (just as an example) beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna as entree options, and then numerous side dishes (options) in addition to more than one entree.

So like what everyone else is doing. What's so special about it again?

I never said it was special. Do you have reading comprehension problems? You deliberately misread her post as her claiming she served 10-12 “entrees” when she said “options,” and you deliberately misread my post as me saying she did something special when I said no such thing.

You read it again. PP said :"And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options"

Options to what? To the entrees, meaning more entrees.. 10-12 entrees. She's full of shit, obviously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

The food bears no resemblance.

Why does it have to? Appetizers are appetizers. That’s the point. The style of serving small plates of food goes by many names.

That’s where we seem to have discord. Some PPs think appetizers are dinner. Others think appetizers are only a small bite, pre-dinner portion that’s not intended to be a full meal. I wouldn’t view bruschetta and ham, or a pig in blanket as dinner. So many of us would just be surprised if that’s all that was served. Mezze, traditionally, are full dishes. Actual cultural dishes that are often nutritious and substantive, just in a smaller size. Mezze aren’t appetizers

Ham is what my mother has served as the main course for Christmas for 60 years. And her mother served it for Christmas for years as well. It's a traditional Christmas dinner for many. What a weird thing to say.

Pigs in a blanket is just like eating a hot dog, only fancier and not as big which means you can eat more of other things. And a hot dog is an American style sausage, which are served in many countries as dinner.

You are very rigid in your definitions of what one can / should eat when.

Look, you can eat all the American hot dogs that you want for Christmas dinner. The menu to me is still unappealing. It's not what I would ever serve but perhaps we just cook more. Cooking culture is very big in my family. I understand that is not the case for all, and for many people cooking is a chore. Particularly around the holidays. I don't actually care what you eat (or what OPs family eats) but PPs are clearly misguided in what they think a meal vs appetizers are. That was my point. If you enjoy only appetizers, fine. I have learned when we need to eat before heading over to a party and when not so this thread is enlightening.

And no, bruschetta with a slice of parma ham on it is not a Christmas ham dinner. You're purposefully misreading text.

And you are being rigid in insisting your definition of a meal is the only one out there.

I am an experienced cook. Appetizers / finger foods can take a hell of a long time to prepare and cook. Way longer than putting a roast and potatoes in the oven.

You also refuse to acknowledge that serving lots of different kinds of "appetizers" can be a godsend for people who aren't interested in/can't eat the main "big" entree for whatever reason.

No, I'm not being rigid. I've said repeatedly that subjectively I dislike the menus and hosting styles listed above. It is unappealing to me to eat finger foods all day. I find it a bit lazy and inhospitable. I don't know how many times to repeat that it is clearly a subjective assessment. Objectively, however, a ham and cheese roll up from Costco is not a meal, though it does resemble a 2nd grade lunch box.

And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options. I didn't need a small plate of hot dogs to feed people. But I do recognize that our guests eat like us. We don't have guests who aren't accustomed to our foods so it would never occur to me to make the foods that you mentioned.

You served 10-12 different entrees at one get together? What are you, a Cheesecake Factory?

NP. The previous poster did not say she had 10-12 entrees. She implied that she made more than one entree, and state that she had 10-12 options (which I take to mean including side dishes). To me, her post read as someone who offered (just as an example) beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna as entree options, and then numerous side dishes (options) in addition to more than one entree.

So like what everyone else is doing. What's so special about it again?

I never said it was special. Do you have reading comprehension problems? You deliberately misread her post as her claiming she served 10-12 “entrees” when she said “options,” and you deliberately misread my post as me saying she did something special when I said no such thing.

You read it again. PP said :"And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options"

Options to what? To the entrees, meaning more entrees.. 10-12 entrees. She's full of shit, obviously.

Her response IMPLIES that of those 10-12 “options,” at least two would be entrees. Because in her (limited) view, a host must serve more than one entree—so by default, we must assume that at least two of her “options” are entrees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

The food bears no resemblance.

Why does it have to? Appetizers are appetizers. That’s the point. The style of serving small plates of food goes by many names.

That’s where we seem to have discord. Some PPs think appetizers are dinner. Others think appetizers are only a small bite, pre-dinner portion that’s not intended to be a full meal. I wouldn’t view bruschetta and ham, or a pig in blanket as dinner. So many of us would just be surprised if that’s all that was served. Mezze, traditionally, are full dishes. Actual cultural dishes that are often nutritious and substantive, just in a smaller size. Mezze aren’t appetizers

Ham is what my mother has served as the main course for Christmas for 60 years. And her mother served it for Christmas for years as well. It's a traditional Christmas dinner for many. What a weird thing to say.

Pigs in a blanket is just like eating a hot dog, only fancier and not as big which means you can eat more of other things. And a hot dog is an American style sausage, which are served in many countries as dinner.

You are very rigid in your definitions of what one can / should eat when.

Look, you can eat all the American hot dogs that you want for Christmas dinner. The menu to me is still unappealing. It's not what I would ever serve but perhaps we just cook more. Cooking culture is very big in my family. I understand that is not the case for all, and for many people cooking is a chore. Particularly around the holidays. I don't actually care what you eat (or what OPs family eats) but PPs are clearly misguided in what they think a meal vs appetizers are. That was my point. If you enjoy only appetizers, fine. I have learned when we need to eat before heading over to a party and when not so this thread is enlightening.

And no, bruschetta with a slice of parma ham on it is not a Christmas ham dinner. You're purposefully misreading text.

And you are being rigid in insisting your definition of a meal is the only one out there.

I am an experienced cook. Appetizers / finger foods can take a hell of a long time to prepare and cook. Way longer than putting a roast and potatoes in the oven.

You also refuse to acknowledge that serving lots of different kinds of "appetizers" can be a godsend for people who aren't interested in/can't eat the main "big" entree for whatever reason.

No, I'm not being rigid. I've said repeatedly that subjectively I dislike the menus and hosting styles listed above. It is unappealing to me to eat finger foods all day. I find it a bit lazy and inhospitable. I don't know how many times to repeat that it is clearly a subjective assessment. Objectively, however, a ham and cheese roll up from Costco is not a meal, though it does resemble a 2nd grade lunch box.

And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options. I didn't need a small plate of hot dogs to feed people. But I do recognize that our guests eat like us. We don't have guests who aren't accustomed to our foods so it would never occur to me to make the foods that you mentioned.

You served 10-12 different entrees at one get together? What are you, a Cheesecake Factory?

NP. The previous poster did not say she had 10-12 entrees. She implied that she made more than one entree, and state that she had 10-12 options (which I take to mean including side dishes). To me, her post read as someone who offered (just as an example) beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna as entree options, and then numerous side dishes (options) in addition to more than one entree.

So like what everyone else is doing. What's so special about it again?

I never said it was special. Do you have reading comprehension problems? You deliberately misread her post as her claiming she served 10-12 “entrees” when she said “options,” and you deliberately misread my post as me saying she did something special when I said no such thing.

You read it again. PP said :"And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options"

Options to what? To the entrees, meaning more entrees.. 10-12 entrees. She's full of shit, obviously.

Her response IMPLIES that of those 10-12 “options,” at least two would be entrees. Because in her (limited) view, a host must serve more than one entree—so by default, we must assume that at least two of her “options” are entrees.

Who knows because what she said is clear as mud. OP served meatballs and sandwiches. Those can be entrees as well. So, options. But the rigid PP took huge offense at that idea and then pretended she does something totally different, which she doesn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Appetizer isn't dinner. I don't get people who do that but just tell her I'm sorry you didn't enjoy it. You can host next time.

Op here. Our family did this last year so I followed suit. Plus there was tons of food. The one who complained about the food was the one who did heavy apps last year

Just serve a meal. How hard is that.

+1 a Christmas open house = apps. ‘Hosting Christmas’ = dinner.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

The food bears no resemblance.

Why does it have to? Appetizers are appetizers. That’s the point. The style of serving small plates of food goes by many names.

That’s where we seem to have discord. Some PPs think appetizers are dinner. Others think appetizers are only a small bite, pre-dinner portion that’s not intended to be a full meal. I wouldn’t view bruschetta and ham, or a pig in blanket as dinner. So many of us would just be surprised if that’s all that was served. Mezze, traditionally, are full dishes. Actual cultural dishes that are often nutritious and substantive, just in a smaller size. Mezze aren’t appetizers

Ham is what my mother has served as the main course for Christmas for 60 years. And her mother served it for Christmas for years as well. It's a traditional Christmas dinner for many. What a weird thing to say.

Pigs in a blanket is just like eating a hot dog, only fancier and not as big which means you can eat more of other things. And a hot dog is an American style sausage, which are served in many countries as dinner.

You are very rigid in your definitions of what one can / should eat when.

Look, you can eat all the American hot dogs that you want for Christmas dinner. The menu to me is still unappealing. It's not what I would ever serve but perhaps we just cook more. Cooking culture is very big in my family. I understand that is not the case for all, and for many people cooking is a chore. Particularly around the holidays. I don't actually care what you eat (or what OPs family eats) but PPs are clearly misguided in what they think a meal vs appetizers are. That was my point. If you enjoy only appetizers, fine. I have learned when we need to eat before heading over to a party and when not so this thread is enlightening.

And no, bruschetta with a slice of parma ham on it is not a Christmas ham dinner. You're purposefully misreading text.

And you are being rigid in insisting your definition of a meal is the only one out there.

I am an experienced cook. Appetizers / finger foods can take a hell of a long time to prepare and cook. Way longer than putting a roast and potatoes in the oven.

You also refuse to acknowledge that serving lots of different kinds of "appetizers" can be a godsend for people who aren't interested in/can't eat the main "big" entree for whatever reason.

No, I'm not being rigid. I've said repeatedly that subjectively I dislike the menus and hosting styles listed above. It is unappealing to me to eat finger foods all day. I find it a bit lazy and inhospitable. I don't know how many times to repeat that it is clearly a subjective assessment. Objectively, however, a ham and cheese roll up from Costco is not a meal, though it does resemble a 2nd grade lunch box.

And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options. I didn't need a small plate of hot dogs to feed people. But I do recognize that our guests eat like us. We don't have guests who aren't accustomed to our foods so it would never occur to me to make the foods that you mentioned.

You served 10-12 different entrees at one get together? What are you, a Cheesecake Factory?

NP. The previous poster did not say she had 10-12 entrees. She implied that she made more than one entree, and state that she had 10-12 options (which I take to mean including side dishes). To me, her post read as someone who offered (just as an example) beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna as entree options, and then numerous side dishes (options) in addition to more than one entree.

So like what everyone else is doing. What's so special about it again?

I never said it was special. Do you have reading comprehension problems? You deliberately misread her post as her claiming she served 10-12 “entrees” when she said “options,” and you deliberately misread my post as me saying she did something special when I said no such thing.

You read it again. PP said :"And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options"

Options to what? To the entrees, meaning more entrees.. 10-12 entrees. She's full of shit, obviously.

Her response IMPLIES that of those 10-12 “options,” at least two would be entrees. Because in her (limited) view, a host must serve more than one entree—so by default, we must assume that at least two of her “options” are entrees.

Who knows because what she said is clear as mud. OP served meatballs and sandwiches. Those can be entrees as well. So, options. But the rigid PP took huge offense at that idea and then pretended she does something totally different, which she doesn't.

A meal of appetizers (which I fully enjoy and agree is a meal) is a completely different preparation process, serving style and type of event than a buffet dinner that involves two entrees and numerous side dishes. I like both of these kinds of meals, I host both of these kinds of meals. But I’m not going to pretend like they’re the same level of work or the same vibe.

I served Christmas dinner with turkey, ham and all the traditional Thanksgiving sides, because that is what my ILs like for Christmas, and it was their turn with us. A few days later, my aunt had an awesome appetizer dinner. I’m not saying one was better than the other, but it was a completely different level of shopping, cooking, planning and pulling it off, and it’s just silly to pretend like those are the same amount of work for a host. That said, I liked my aunt’s meal better, because I only “need” Thanksgiving once a year to be fully done with it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

The food bears no resemblance.

Why does it have to? Appetizers are appetizers. That’s the point. The style of serving small plates of food goes by many names.

That’s where we seem to have discord. Some PPs think appetizers are dinner. Others think appetizers are only a small bite, pre-dinner portion that’s not intended to be a full meal. I wouldn’t view bruschetta and ham, or a pig in blanket as dinner. So many of us would just be surprised if that’s all that was served. Mezze, traditionally, are full dishes. Actual cultural dishes that are often nutritious and substantive, just in a smaller size. Mezze aren’t appetizers

Ham is what my mother has served as the main course for Christmas for 60 years. And her mother served it for Christmas for years as well. It's a traditional Christmas dinner for many. What a weird thing to say.

Pigs in a blanket is just like eating a hot dog, only fancier and not as big which means you can eat more of other things. And a hot dog is an American style sausage, which are served in many countries as dinner.

You are very rigid in your definitions of what one can / should eat when.

Look, you can eat all the American hot dogs that you want for Christmas dinner. The menu to me is still unappealing. It's not what I would ever serve but perhaps we just cook more. Cooking culture is very big in my family. I understand that is not the case for all, and for many people cooking is a chore. Particularly around the holidays. I don't actually care what you eat (or what OPs family eats) but PPs are clearly misguided in what they think a meal vs appetizers are. That was my point. If you enjoy only appetizers, fine. I have learned when we need to eat before heading over to a party and when not so this thread is enlightening.

And no, bruschetta with a slice of parma ham on it is not a Christmas ham dinner. You're purposefully misreading text.

And you are being rigid in insisting your definition of a meal is the only one out there.

I am an experienced cook. Appetizers / finger foods can take a hell of a long time to prepare and cook. Way longer than putting a roast and potatoes in the oven.

You also refuse to acknowledge that serving lots of different kinds of "appetizers" can be a godsend for people who aren't interested in/can't eat the main "big" entree for whatever reason.

No, I'm not being rigid. I've said repeatedly that subjectively I dislike the menus and hosting styles listed above. It is unappealing to me to eat finger foods all day. I find it a bit lazy and inhospitable. I don't know how many times to repeat that it is clearly a subjective assessment. Objectively, however, a ham and cheese roll up from Costco is not a meal, though it does resemble a 2nd grade lunch box.

And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options. I didn't need a small plate of hot dogs to feed people. But I do recognize that our guests eat like us. We don't have guests who aren't accustomed to our foods so it would never occur to me to make the foods that you mentioned.

You served 10-12 different entrees at one get together? What are you, a Cheesecake Factory?

NP. The previous poster did not say she had 10-12 entrees. She implied that she made more than one entree, and state that she had 10-12 options (which I take to mean including side dishes). To me, her post read as someone who offered (just as an example) beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna as entree options, and then numerous side dishes (options) in addition to more than one entree.

So like what everyone else is doing. What's so special about it again?

I never said it was special. Do you have reading comprehension problems? You deliberately misread her post as her claiming she served 10-12 “entrees” when she said “options,” and you deliberately misread my post as me saying she did something special when I said no such thing.

You read it again. PP said :"And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options"

Options to what? To the entrees, meaning more entrees.. 10-12 entrees. She's full of shit, obviously.

Her response IMPLIES that of those 10-12 “options,” at least two would be entrees. Because in her (limited) view, a host must serve more than one entree—so by default, we must assume that at least two of her “options” are entrees.

Who knows because what she said is clear as mud. OP served meatballs and sandwiches. Those can be entrees as well. So, options. But the rigid PP took huge offense at that idea and then pretended she does something totally different, which she doesn't.

A meal of appetizers (which I fully enjoy and agree is a meal) is a completely different preparation process, serving style and type of event than a buffet dinner that involves two entrees and numerous side dishes. I like both of these kinds of meals, I host both of these kinds of meals. But I’m not going to pretend like they’re the same level of work or the same vibe.

I served Christmas dinner with turkey, ham and all the traditional Thanksgiving sides, because that is what my ILs like for Christmas, and it was their turn with us. A few days later, my aunt had an awesome appetizer dinner. I’m not saying one was better than the other, but it was a completely different level of shopping, cooking, planning and pulling it off, and it’s just silly to pretend like those are the same amount of work for a host. That said, I liked my aunt’s meal better, because I only “need” Thanksgiving once a year to be fully done with it!

OP said the table was set. She planned for everyone to sit and eat the food together. But really? Someone with young kids should go all out for immediate family and work herself to the bone to impress them on Christmas Day? It's not like she was expecting the Queen (RIP) and needed to pull out all the stops, break the bank, and exhaust herself for them just to give off the right vibe and become a martyr. She wanted to enjoy the day too and it was probably an exhausting run up to Christmas, like it is for many people with young kids.

[Anonymous]

OP here… is there a way to ask for this thread to get deleted? I wasn’t trying to start a discussion on apps vs dinner and many posters (but not all!!) are being purposely obtuse to the question of the original post. It’s just spiraling.

Thank you to those that offered good feedback/advice/commiseration.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

The food bears no resemblance.

Why does it have to? Appetizers are appetizers. That’s the point. The style of serving small plates of food goes by many names.

That’s where we seem to have discord. Some PPs think appetizers are dinner. Others think appetizers are only a small bite, pre-dinner portion that’s not intended to be a full meal. I wouldn’t view bruschetta and ham, or a pig in blanket as dinner. So many of us would just be surprised if that’s all that was served. Mezze, traditionally, are full dishes. Actual cultural dishes that are often nutritious and substantive, just in a smaller size. Mezze aren’t appetizers

Ham is what my mother has served as the main course for Christmas for 60 years. And her mother served it for Christmas for years as well. It's a traditional Christmas dinner for many. What a weird thing to say.

Pigs in a blanket is just like eating a hot dog, only fancier and not as big which means you can eat more of other things. And a hot dog is an American style sausage, which are served in many countries as dinner.

You are very rigid in your definitions of what one can / should eat when.

Look, you can eat all the American hot dogs that you want for Christmas dinner. The menu to me is still unappealing. It's not what I would ever serve but perhaps we just cook more. Cooking culture is very big in my family. I understand that is not the case for all, and for many people cooking is a chore. Particularly around the holidays. I don't actually care what you eat (or what OPs family eats) but PPs are clearly misguided in what they think a meal vs appetizers are. That was my point. If you enjoy only appetizers, fine. I have learned when we need to eat before heading over to a party and when not so this thread is enlightening.

And no, bruschetta with a slice of parma ham on it is not a Christmas ham dinner. You're purposefully misreading text.

And you are being rigid in insisting your definition of a meal is the only one out there.

I am an experienced cook. Appetizers / finger foods can take a hell of a long time to prepare and cook. Way longer than putting a roast and potatoes in the oven.

You also refuse to acknowledge that serving lots of different kinds of "appetizers" can be a godsend for people who aren't interested in/can't eat the main "big" entree for whatever reason.

No, I'm not being rigid. I've said repeatedly that subjectively I dislike the menus and hosting styles listed above. It is unappealing to me to eat finger foods all day. I find it a bit lazy and inhospitable. I don't know how many times to repeat that it is clearly a subjective assessment. Objectively, however, a ham and cheese roll up from Costco is not a meal, though it does resemble a 2nd grade lunch box.

And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options. I didn't need a small plate of hot dogs to feed people. But I do recognize that our guests eat like us. We don't have guests who aren't accustomed to our foods so it would never occur to me to make the foods that you mentioned.

You served 10-12 different entrees at one get together? What are you, a Cheesecake Factory?

NP. The previous poster did not say she had 10-12 entrees. She implied that she made more than one entree, and state that she had 10-12 options (which I take to mean including side dishes). To me, her post read as someone who offered (just as an example) beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna as entree options, and then numerous side dishes (options) in addition to more than one entree.

So like what everyone else is doing. What's so special about it again?

I never said it was special. Do you have reading comprehension problems? You deliberately misread her post as her claiming she served 10-12 “entrees” when she said “options,” and you deliberately misread my post as me saying she did something special when I said no such thing.

You read it again. PP said :"And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options"

Options to what? To the entrees, meaning more entrees.. 10-12 entrees. She's full of shit, obviously.

Her response IMPLIES that of those 10-12 “options,” at least two would be entrees. Because in her (limited) view, a host must serve more than one entree—so by default, we must assume that at least two of her “options” are entrees.

Who knows because what she said is clear as mud. OP served meatballs and sandwiches. Those can be entrees as well. So, options. But the rigid PP took huge offense at that idea and then pretended she does something totally different, which she doesn't.

A meal of appetizers (which I fully enjoy and agree is a meal) is a completely different preparation process, serving style and type of event than a buffet dinner that involves two entrees and numerous side dishes. I like both of these kinds of meals, I host both of these kinds of meals. But I’m not going to pretend like they’re the same level of work or the same vibe.

I served Christmas dinner with turkey, ham and all the traditional Thanksgiving sides, because that is what my ILs like for Christmas, and it was their turn with us. A few days later, my aunt had an awesome appetizer dinner. I’m not saying one was better than the other, but it was a completely different level of shopping, cooking, planning and pulling it off, and it’s just silly to pretend like those are the same amount of work for a host. That said, I liked my aunt’s meal better, because I only “need” Thanksgiving once a year to be fully done with it!

OP said the table was set. She planned for everyone to sit and eat the food together. But really? Someone with young kids should go all out for immediate family and work herself to the bone to impress them on Christmas Day? It's not like she was expecting the Queen (RIP) and needed to pull out all the stops, break the bank, and exhaust herself for them just to give off the right vibe and become a martyr. She wanted to enjoy the day too and it was probably an exhausting run up to Christmas, like it is for many people with young kids.

Op here, thank you.

[Anonymous]

I have no problem with apps for dinner but those were not great apps.-

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

The food bears no resemblance.

Why does it have to? Appetizers are appetizers. That’s the point. The style of serving small plates of food goes by many names.

That’s where we seem to have discord. Some PPs think appetizers are dinner. Others think appetizers are only a small bite, pre-dinner portion that’s not intended to be a full meal. I wouldn’t view bruschetta and ham, or a pig in blanket as dinner. So many of us would just be surprised if that’s all that was served. Mezze, traditionally, are full dishes. Actual cultural dishes that are often nutritious and substantive, just in a smaller size. Mezze aren’t appetizers

Ham is what my mother has served as the main course for Christmas for 60 years. And her mother served it for Christmas for years as well. It's a traditional Christmas dinner for many. What a weird thing to say.

Pigs in a blanket is just like eating a hot dog, only fancier and not as big which means you can eat more of other things. And a hot dog is an American style sausage, which are served in many countries as dinner.

You are very rigid in your definitions of what one can / should eat when.

Look, you can eat all the American hot dogs that you want for Christmas dinner. The menu to me is still unappealing. It's not what I would ever serve but perhaps we just cook more. Cooking culture is very big in my family. I understand that is not the case for all, and for many people cooking is a chore. Particularly around the holidays. I don't actually care what you eat (or what OPs family eats) but PPs are clearly misguided in what they think a meal vs appetizers are. That was my point. If you enjoy only appetizers, fine. I have learned when we need to eat before heading over to a party and when not so this thread is enlightening.

And no, bruschetta with a slice of parma ham on it is not a Christmas ham dinner. You're purposefully misreading text.

And you are being rigid in insisting your definition of a meal is the only one out there.

I am an experienced cook. Appetizers / finger foods can take a hell of a long time to prepare and cook. Way longer than putting a roast and potatoes in the oven.

You also refuse to acknowledge that serving lots of different kinds of "appetizers" can be a godsend for people who aren't interested in/can't eat the main "big" entree for whatever reason.

No, I'm not being rigid. I've said repeatedly that subjectively I dislike the menus and hosting styles listed above. It is unappealing to me to eat finger foods all day. I find it a bit lazy and inhospitable. I don't know how many times to repeat that it is clearly a subjective assessment. Objectively, however, a ham and cheese roll up from Costco is not a meal, though it does resemble a 2nd grade lunch box.

And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options. I didn't need a small plate of hot dogs to feed people. But I do recognize that our guests eat like us. We don't have guests who aren't accustomed to our foods so it would never occur to me to make the foods that you mentioned.

You served 10-12 different entrees at one get together? What are you, a Cheesecake Factory?

NP. The previous poster did not say she had 10-12 entrees. She implied that she made more than one entree, and state that she had 10-12 options (which I take to mean including side dishes). To me, her post read as someone who offered (just as an example) beef tenderloin or vegetable lasagna as entree options, and then numerous side dishes (options) in addition to more than one entree.

So like what everyone else is doing. What's so special about it again?

I never said it was special. Do you have reading comprehension problems? You deliberately misread her post as her claiming she served 10-12 “entrees” when she said “options,” and you deliberately misread my post as me saying she did something special when I said no such thing.

You read it again. PP said :"And on what planet do you only serve one entree for guests to eat? We did the holidays. We had 10-12 different options"

Options to what? To the entrees, meaning more entrees.. 10-12 entrees. She's full of shit, obviously.

Her response IMPLIES that of those 10-12 “options,” at least two would be entrees. Because in her (limited) view, a host must serve more than one entree—so by default, we must assume that at least two of her “options” are entrees.

Who knows because what she said is clear as mud. OP served meatballs and sandwiches. Those can be entrees as well. So, options. But the rigid PP took huge offense at that idea and then pretended she does something totally different, which she doesn't.

A meal of appetizers (which I fully enjoy and agree is a meal) is a completely different preparation process, serving style and type of event than a buffet dinner that involves two entrees and numerous side dishes. I like both of these kinds of meals, I host both of these kinds of meals. But I’m not going to pretend like they’re the same level of work or the same vibe.

I served Christmas dinner with turkey, ham and all the traditional Thanksgiving sides, because that is what my ILs like for Christmas, and it was their turn with us. A few days later, my aunt had an awesome appetizer dinner. I’m not saying one was better than the other, but it was a completely different level of shopping, cooking, planning and pulling it off, and it’s just silly to pretend like those are the same amount of work for a host. That said, I liked my aunt’s meal better, because I only “need” Thanksgiving once a year to be fully done with it!

OP said the table was set. She planned for everyone to sit and eat the food together. But really? Someone with young kids should go all out for immediate family and work herself to the bone to impress them on Christmas Day? It's not like she was expecting the Queen (RIP) and needed to pull out all the stops, break the bank, and exhaust herself for them just to give off the right vibe and become a martyr. She wanted to enjoy the day too and it was probably an exhausting run up to Christmas, like it is for many people with young kids.

I’m not saying OP didn’t throw a lovely event. I’m not saying that I’ve never hosted appetizer meals, even on holidays—I certainly have! Those are nice things to host. But they are not the same level of effort or expense as hosting a traditional large holiday meal, and I’m not going to pretend those are the same level of effort or expense. I know from personal experience that they are not. But of course I’m not saying OP should have hosted anything more elaborate, or worked any harder! And her sister sounds like a jerk.

But I’m still not going to pretend like the effort, expense and energy it takes to host, say, a traditional Thanksgiving meal is “the same” as hosting an appetizer meal. It’s not. That’s rather the point of the appetizer meal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Maybe if they were called tapas or mezze people might recognize that what OP served was perfectly “hospitable.”

+1 Do these people never eat tapas or mezze? Some of my favorite meals!

You guys don’t know what mezze is. Mezze is full salads, kibbe, fattoush, tabbouli, sambousik, fassoulia, etc. It is actual salad, grains, prepared meats, stuffed pies and similar. Mezze is not bagel bites and rolled ham and cheese. We spend a lot of time with family on the Med. You are confusing any food put on a small plate with mezze, without realizing that mezze isn’t some cheese puff.

Now you might like cheese puffs for dinner (and you do you!) but stop calling it tapas/mezze! And no, we never serve mezze at home. It’s just a restaurant thing bc they need the smaller plates

You’re being pedantic. The idea is the same.

No it isn’t, and you’re purposely being obtuse. You think any food put on a small plate is mezze. That’s not correct. You don’t put cold cuts on a plate and call it mezze. The substance of the food is important, and it has to be good. Here, you guys missed the quality part and just kept the cute plates

What's the matter with cold cuts? Or meatballs? Do you disapprove of meatballs for dinner? How do you know what kind of salad OP served? Ham and cheese roll ups, I assume those are the ones like you can buy at Costco. They are huge. I can never eat more than 2.

I don't understand what people mean when they say they can't fill up on things like meatballs, ham and cheese sandwiches, appetizers, desserts, etc. Seriously. How big is your stomach if that won't fill you up?

So I think this is the issue. No, I would not eat meatballs for dinner. Or Costco roll ups, or whatever that is. I would not feed my kids that either. It’s gross. So you can technically fill your stomach with this but it sounds ill to me. I would never serve this, though am learning that some people eat this for dinner . This sounds like a school lunch menu

It sounds ill? That’s…not a standard use of the word.