Inviting an Indian and Jewish couple over for dinner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had great success with Jews and Chinese. I don't usually mix Indians and Jews but I guess it can be done. The trick is to make sure the caterers have any dietary restrictions in advance.

I guess when you really get down to brass tacks, people are just people, and everyone worships the same Jesus, though we may call him Mohammed or Jaine or whatever.

You talk about Jews as if they are from another world. This is unbelievable!

Quite the opposite. I have frequently hosted Jews, and the evenings have (usually) been extremely pleasant and passed without significant incident. I was merely making the point that Indians and Jews are a somewhat unorthodox combination, but that, with sufficient foresight and flexible caterers, it can be carried off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes me sad to think that when my husband and I come over for dinner we are simply thought of as a generic "Jewish couple" and a list of difficult nutritional demands rather than as individuals, perhaps friends. I wonder if all OP's guests are categorized in this way.

I agree. It makes me sick. Is OP Catholic by any chance? I grew up as a Jew in a very Catholic neighborhood and felt this was the attitude toward Jews by Catholics in my neighborhood. That was confirmed when I once went over to a neighbor's house and she referred to my family as " you people."

Perhaps you don't see the irony in this comment.

[Anonymous]

Aside from those people who are jumping to take offense, this is a pretty funny thread (a Jew and an Indian walk into a dining room . . .). Figuring out everyone's potential food conflicts and possibilities reminds me of the matrices I had to draw for the LSAT.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes me sad to think that when my husband and I come over for dinner we are simply thought of as a generic "Jewish couple" and a list of difficult nutritional demands rather than as individuals, perhaps friends. I wonder if all OP's guests are categorized in this way.

I agree. It makes me sick. Is OP Catholic by any chance? I grew up as a Jew in a very Catholic neighborhood and felt this was the attitude toward Jews by Catholics in my neighborhood. That was confirmed when I once went over to a neighbor's house and she referred to my family as " you people."

Perhaps you don't see the irony in this comment.

I thought the 2 pps were both joking. This is the food forum. Good grief.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It makes me sad to think that when my husband and I come over for dinner we are simply thought of as a generic "Jewish couple" and a list of difficult nutritional demands rather than as individuals, perhaps friends. I wonder if all OP's guests are categorized in this way.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have had great success with Jews and Chinese. I don't usually mix Indians and Jews but I guess it can be done. The trick is to make sure the caterers have any dietary restrictions in advance.

I guess when you really get down to brass tacks, people are just people, and everyone worships the same Jesus, though we may call him Mohammed or Jaine or whatever.

You talk about Jews as if they are from another world. This is unbelievable!

Goodness, I think this guy was kidding. I hope so anyway!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes me sad to think that when my husband and I come over for dinner we are simply thought of as a generic "Jewish couple" and a list of difficult nutritional demands rather than as individuals, perhaps friends. I wonder if all OP's guests are categorized in this way.

+1

I'm so confused by the joking and/or hurt feeling in the cooking forum. OP just wants menu suggestions. Geez.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes me sad to think that when my husband and I come over for dinner we are simply thought of as a generic "Jewish couple" and a list of difficult nutritional demands rather than as individuals, perhaps friends. I wonder if all OP's guests are categorized in this way.

+1

I'm so confused by the joking and/or hurt feeling in the cooking forum. OP just wants menu suggestions. Geez.

You obviously aren't Jewish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It makes me sad to think that when my husband and I come over for dinner we are simply thought of as a generic "Jewish couple" and a list of difficult nutritional demands rather than as individuals, perhaps friends. I wonder if all OP's guests are categorized in this way.

+1

I'm so confused by the joking and/or hurt feeling in the cooking forum. OP just wants menu suggestions. Geez.

You obviously aren't Jewish.

I am Jewish, and my feelings aren't hurt. I think the jokes are funny, and more important, I appreciate that OP would care to try to make a meal that didn't include pork or shellfish for us. If she served it, we wouldn't say anything or complain or think less of her, but we would be touched by her thoughtfulness if she didn't.

I'm sure she invited the guests as individuals and not as representatives of their respective ethnicities (duh!), but we ARE members of groups that do have group eating preferences.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am Jewish, but also live in a highly Indian area:
Do chicken, grilled
Potatoes, roasted
A nice salad
Grilled asparagus
Some bread
Grilled pineapple or peaches for dessert with caramel sauce...

You need a vegetarian main dish. Don't invite me over for potatoes, bread, and salad. You can marinate and grill halloumi or paneer with some grilled peppers. Grilled eggplant is nice, especially if you top it with a small slice of cheese and a slice of tomato. And everyone likes corn on the cobb, boiled or grilled.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You talk about Jews as if they are from another world. This is unbelievable!

They're not!?!!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Taco bar.

Grilled veggies
Chicken tenders, shrimp
salsa (a couple different types)
cheese
sour cream
refried beans
guacamole

Everything is gf, and people can assemble their own vegetarian, dairy-free, non-shellfish taco to their own requirements.

You are smart.