guest for weekenight dinner - app and dessert question

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A dessert can be a cookie tray with tea/coffee. I get chocolate lace cookies from TJ or Whole Foods and serve those on a nice plate

Ugh no. That's tea time not after dinner dessert.

OP LIVES IN AMERICA

But their guest does not. And they wanted to do a three course meal. I know, in America reading comprehension is not well-taught. Sorry for you!

So when he hosts her in Europe, he should serve an Amerian meal?? No! You go do something like this to experience the local culture. We just have a lack of it here.

There’s no lack of American culture where I live. So sorry for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A dessert can be a cookie tray with tea/coffee. I get chocolate lace cookies from TJ or Whole Foods and serve those on a nice plate

Ugh no. That's tea time not after dinner dessert.

OP LIVES IN AMERICA

But their guest does not. And they wanted to do a three course meal. I know, in America reading comprehension is not well-taught. Sorry for you!

So when he hosts her in Europe, he should serve an Amerian meal?? No! You go do something like this to experience the local culture. We just have a lack of it here.

Exactly. No European wants to eat cheese grits and ham, or chicken tenders withe a Caesar salad on a Tuesday night. Infact, I would say even most UP families I know would not want to eat that. We sit down and eat three course meals consisting of a soup or salad, the entree with 2 vegetable sides, and a light dessert and a small cheese course.

You typically eat a 4 course meal including cheese course and dessert on Tuesday nights? Even if I go out to eat on a weeknight I don’t eat like that, and I notice at most weeknight work dinners rarely does someone order dessert nor do they have much (alcoholic) to drink. My two cents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Okay, I did not expect so many to say dessert is necessary. I was viewing the cheese course as dessert- planned to include some fruit and crackers, I could add some chocolate pieces, too. I hear you all and I’m game to add a proper dessert after, but Doesn’t a full dinner, cheeses and dessert seem a lot on a Tuesday night? (plus possibly soup/salad, as an above PP suggested) Maybe I drop the cheese course for a proper dessert?

I’m planning to roast chicken pieces, vegetables and potatoes as the main course.

Could just do homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert. American cookies are very in right now at least in Paris. Saw many shops dedicated to American cookies and brownies when I was there this month.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Okay, I did not expect so many to say dessert is necessary. I was viewing the cheese course as dessert- planned to include some fruit and crackers, I could add some chocolate pieces, too. I hear you all and I’m game to add a proper dessert after, but Doesn’t a full dinner, cheeses and dessert seem a lot on a Tuesday night? (plus possibly soup/salad, as an above PP suggested) Maybe I drop the cheese course for a proper dessert?

I’m planning to roast chicken pieces, vegetables and potatoes as the main course.

Doing cheese squares, fruit slices and high quality chocolate (not Hershey or Nestle) for dessert will be totally fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:A dessert can be a cookie tray with tea/coffee. I get chocolate lace cookies from TJ or Whole Foods and serve those on a nice plate

Ugh no. That's tea time not after dinner dessert.

OP LIVES IN AMERICA

But their guest does not. And they wanted to do a three course meal. I know, in America reading comprehension is not well-taught. Sorry for you!

No one ever said they wanted a three course meal.

[Anonymous]

I would skip the cheese. Who really wants cheese at the end of the meal? (Unless he's French?). I would do something more typically American. I have done hot fudge sundaes (small) at dinner parties and people love them.

The reason to serve dessert is so everyone can relax and chat over coffee/dessert. It can be cookies if you don't want to be fancy.

[Anonymous]

My colleagues are European guys and I would serve American pizza, craft beer, and a large nice salad (that I make) and something easy for dessert. They would be into that.

[Anonymous]

This thread is stressing me out!! Aren’t people just happy to be hosted?

[Anonymous]

Serve dessert. A nice flourless chocolate cake, not too sweet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is stressing me out!! Aren’t people just happy to be hosted?

Yes, but people are not happy preparing to host. They're only happy they hosted IF everything looks Instagram-worthy and the guest raves about the experience.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This thread is stressing me out!! Aren’t people just happy to be hosted?

On DCUM? No. Nothing is good enough.

[Anonymous]

OP here. I’m not stressed at all, I’m looking forward to hosting my colleague, just wanted to crowdsource 2 aspects of the planned meal. He has lived in the U.S., this dinner isn’t to expose him to American culture, but rather to have a nice, more personal dinner (he’ll get to know my spouse, too) with someone I work a lot with, while he’s in town.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would skip the cheese. Who really wants cheese at the end of the meal? (Unless he's French?). I would do something more typically American. I have done hot fudge sundaes (small) at dinner parties and people love them.

The reason to serve dessert is so everyone can relax and chat over coffee/dessert. It can be cookies if you don't want to be fancy.

- NP. Do you serve the sundaes pre-made, or give everyone a scoop of ice cream and let them add toppings?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would skip the cheese. Who really wants cheese at the end of the meal? (Unless he's French?). I would do something more typically American. I have done hot fudge sundaes (small) at dinner parties and people love them.

The reason to serve dessert is so everyone can relax and chat over coffee/dessert. It can be cookies if you don't want to be fancy.

- NP. Do you serve the sundaes pre-made, or give everyone a scoop of ice cream and let them add toppings?

And are your guests 5 year olds?