S/O What is the unobjectionable meal to serve to guests

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If I know absolutely nothing about the guest's preferences or dietary restrictions:
- Green salad with lettuce and a variety of vegetables, chopped large enough that they can push whatever they don't like to the side
- Grilled chicken with a lemon-garlic-herb marinade
- Roasted new potatoes with parmesan
- Another vegetable such as roasted broccoli, steamed green beans, or grilled zucchini

I know you can't please everyone, but this avoids the biggest offenders (pork, seafood, nuts, etc) and hopefully offers enough variety that people can find something they like, even if they don't eat everything. I've never had anyone complain or go without eating anything.

If I know the people better, I love cooking fish or more complicated dishes, but I'm not going to try that unless I know they'll be OK with it.

This is pretty good except I would skip parmesan on potatoes for dairy insensitivity and assure no croutons on salad for gluten sensitivity/celiac.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I know absolutely nothing about the guest's preferences or dietary restrictions:
- Green salad with lettuce and a variety of vegetables, chopped large enough that they can push whatever they don't like to the side
- Grilled chicken with a lemon-garlic-herb marinade
- Roasted new potatoes with parmesan
- Another vegetable such as roasted broccoli, steamed green beans, or grilled zucchini

I know you can't please everyone, but this avoids the biggest offenders (pork, seafood, nuts, etc) and hopefully offers enough variety that people can find something they like, even if they don't eat everything. I've never had anyone complain or go without eating anything.

If I know the people better, I love cooking fish or more complicated dishes, but I'm not going to try that unless I know they'll be OK with it.

This is pretty good except I would skip parmesan on potatoes for dairy insensitivity and assure no croutons on salad for gluten sensitivity/celiac.

The premise of the OP states that no one has any of these issues.

[Anonymous]

Everyone just eats differently. I make a huge variety of foods on a daily basis. I have a stocked spice cabinet and play with different flavors and vegetables. But this one doesn't like spicy, and this one doesn't like dill or cumin, and that one thinks eggplant is mushy and Brussels sprouts are gross. So by the time it gets dumbed down, it's grilled chicken, roasted broccoli, mashed potato, and a green salad with dressing on the side. Which is just plain boring, even if cooked well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If I know absolutely nothing about the guest's preferences or dietary restrictions:
- Green salad with lettuce and a variety of vegetables, chopped large enough that they can push whatever they don't like to the side
- Grilled chicken with a lemon-garlic-herb marinade
- Roasted new potatoes with parmesan
- Another vegetable such as roasted broccoli, steamed green beans, or grilled zucchini

I know you can't please everyone, but this avoids the biggest offenders (pork, seafood, nuts, etc) and hopefully offers enough variety that people can find something they like, even if they don't eat everything. I've never had anyone complain or go without eating anything.

If I know the people better, I love cooking fish or more complicated dishes, but I'm not going to try that unless I know they'll be OK with it.

This is pretty good except I would skip parmesan on potatoes for dairy insensitivity and assure no croutons on salad for gluten sensitivity/celiac.

The premise of the OP states that no one has any of these issues.

But we've learned from another PP that some people with allergies/sensitivities would rather get sick than tell their hosts about it

[Anonymous]

For lunch my go to is fruit salad and croissant sandwiches. All different meats and cheeses as well as vegetarian spreads. Roasted vegetables and something sweet like a scoop of sherbet, ice cream or whipped cream on fruit.

For dinner I usually do a family traditional Gullah meal and make sure there are plain options like white rice and pasta noodles if a guest doesn't like flavored rice or macaroni and cheese.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Everyone just eats differently. I make a huge variety of foods on a daily basis. I have a stocked spice cabinet and play with different flavors and vegetables. But this one doesn't like spicy, and this one doesn't like dill or cumin, and that one thinks eggplant is mushy and Brussels sprouts are gross. So by the time it gets dumbed down, it's grilled chicken, roasted broccoli, mashed potato, and a green salad with dressing on the side. Which is just plain boring, even if cooked well.

I believe I have eaten this exact menu at hotel luncheons during government functions. It always needs salt.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Ok I'll play. I'm a vegetarian and the cook of the family, but DH cooks meat. Most recent gathering was for pretty picky eaters (nothing spicy or strong flavors).

-Grilled sliced steak
-Roasted farm stand tomato, eggplant, garlic, mixed with white beans with homemade pesto on the side
-quinoa with caramelized onions
-home made focaccia, some plain, some with roasted onions

And for the record, I'm also the OP of the chicken salad thread, which is bringing me endless joy today.

What were you planning to serve with the chicken salad?

I never finalized a menu for it because I'm not making it, but when I do a simple meal like that it's usually some kind of hearty chopped salad, and a bean or a veggie patty (like a zucchini fritter, falafel style patty, or mini black bean burgers with a sauce that goes with it like a tzatziki or chipotle mayo - since I'm veg I try to work in beans into the salad or fritter). Whatever bakery bread looks good. Homemade cookies or fruit cobbler. Fresh iced tea or lemonade.

NP. Soooo your husband asked you to make chicken salad but you’re a vegetarian? Burying the lede there.

What will you be serving the colleague guest?

Bean patties. OP is obviously trolling.

Falafel or black bean burgers are offensive, as a side dish to a meat main, when the host is veg?

In OPs list what was the meat main? Can't see it. I see salad and bean/veggie patty.

"it's usually some kind of hearty chopped salad, and a bean or a veggie patty (like a zucchini fritter, falafel style patty, or mini black bean burgers with a sauce that goes with it like a tzatziki or chipotle mayo - since I'm veg I try to work in beans into the salad or fritter). Whatever bakery bread looks good. Homemade cookies or fruit cobbler. Fresh iced tea or lemonade.

OP was asking "what are you planning to serve with the chicken salad"? Chicken salad is the meat main in that context.

I mean OP was asked.

That's not how I read it at all. She gave a menu for a simple meal "like that". Not in addition to.

You don't read very well. The question was literally "what were you planning to serve with chicken salad?"

And she said "for a meal like that (meaning just a few people for lunch, with chicken salad) . . . "

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:Ok I'll play. I'm a vegetarian and the cook of the family, but DH cooks meat. Most recent gathering was for pretty picky eaters (nothing spicy or strong flavors).

-Grilled sliced steak
-Roasted farm stand tomato, eggplant, garlic, mixed with white beans with homemade pesto on the side
-quinoa with caramelized onions
-home made focaccia, some plain, some with roasted onions

And for the record, I'm also the OP of the chicken salad thread, which is bringing me endless joy today.

What were you planning to serve with the chicken salad?

I never finalized a menu for it because I'm not making it, but when I do a simple meal like that it's usually some kind of hearty chopped salad, and a bean or a veggie patty (like a zucchini fritter, falafel style patty, or mini black bean burgers with a sauce that goes with it like a tzatziki or chipotle mayo - since I'm veg I try to work in beans into the salad or fritter). Whatever bakery bread looks good. Homemade cookies or fruit cobbler. Fresh iced tea or lemonade.

NP. Soooo your husband asked you to make chicken salad but you’re a vegetarian? Burying the lede there.

What will you be serving the colleague guest?

Bean patties. OP is obviously trolling.

Falafel or black bean burgers are offensive, as a side dish to a meat main, when the host is veg?

In OPs list what was the meat main? Can't see it. I see salad and bean/veggie patty.

"it's usually some kind of hearty chopped salad, and a bean or a veggie patty (like a zucchini fritter, falafel style patty, or mini black bean burgers with a sauce that goes with it like a tzatziki or chipotle mayo - since I'm veg I try to work in beans into the salad or fritter). Whatever bakery bread looks good. Homemade cookies or fruit cobbler. Fresh iced tea or lemonade.

OP was asking "what are you planning to serve with the chicken salad"? Chicken salad is the meat main in that context.

I mean OP was asked.

That's not how I read it at all. She gave a menu for a simple meal "like that". Not in addition to.

You don't read very well. The question was literally "what were you planning to serve with chicken salad?"

And she said "for a meal like that (meaning just a few people for lunch, with chicken salad) . . . "

K. OP was never going to make it anyway and it sounds like only her in-laws eat. She’s not to be taken very seriously.

[Anonymous]

Often, chicken or salmon, if fish is ok. Berries for dessert

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Pears. Frangelico.

If you don't like that, you must be trash.

I’ll defend the pear, cheese and frangelico lady until I die. She has a great palate and a strong sense of self.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I invite friends for dinner frequently. The meal is always some variation of animal protein (meat or seafood), starch, and a cooked vegetable. Sometimes also a salad. And sometimes two of the categories are combined, like for example beef bourguignon, which has both meat and vegetables. Obviously I’m mindful of specific dietary restrictions my guests have.

For all the commentary posted on DCUM, nobody has ever expressed any issues with this type of menu. People here are just complainers.

This is what I do. Nobody is going to complain about a roast and mashed potatoes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Often, chicken or salmon, if fish is ok. Berries for dessert

You had me until berries...as DESSERT!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:The safest thing I can offer is buttered pasta with parmesan cheese. Skip the butter and the cheese if you must. Red sauce for those who prefer. Green salad wih choice of veggie add-ins and dressings.

For meat-eaters, medium roast beef with peas and mashed potatoes.

I feel like buttered pasta is for small children, no? I'm a picky eater and would eat roast beef and mashed potatoes. Minimal peas, but more green beans.

PP. Buttered pasta can be very comfy. Just like mashed potatoes. Red sauce available helps people who believe there is a difference between kid food and grownup food. I started eating buttered shells and parmesan because of my adult bf (later husband).

If you served me shells with marinara from a jar I would wonder why you invited me for dinner. The only time I’ve been served that as a guest was by my SIL who was a doctor on call that weekend with 2 young kids. In that case I obviously felt it was fine and even more than expected!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Baked potato bar. Taco bar. Salad bar.

Bar bar.

No, no, no. I would not be thrilled with any of these options. I’d prefer chicken salad!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I invite friends for dinner frequently. The meal is always some variation of animal protein (meat or seafood), starch, and a cooked vegetable. Sometimes also a salad. And sometimes two of the categories are combined, like for example beef bourguignon, which has both meat and vegetables. Obviously I’m mindful of specific dietary restrictions my guests have.

For all the commentary posted on DCUM, nobody has ever expressed any issues with this type of menu. People here are just complainers.

This is what I do. Nobody is going to complain about a roast and mashed potatoes.

OP here,


I have read plenty of posts where people complain that meat and potatoes is "too heavy" or that their in laws eat it in flyover country and how dreadful it is to visit them.

I'm happy to eat them any time, flyover country or not, but they are definitely something people complain about.