Anonymous wrote:I always ask for food preferences and allergies. I inevitably have guests who are vegetarians so I always have veg and non-veg dishes. Peanut, other nuts, sesame and gluten allergies are more common now. I also see a lot of seafood allergies and dairy allergies.

+1
OF COURSE when you invite someone for a dinner party you ask this.
Not for appetizer events where there are choices. They can offer up the info if they like though.

I always ask for food preferences and allergies. I inevitably have guests who are vegetarians so I always have veg and non-veg dishes. Peanut, other nuts, sesame and gluten allergies are more common now. I also see a lot of seafood allergies and dairy allergies.

I have food allergies so I always ask or drop a line in invite asking them to let me know of any food folks can’t eat. This leaves space for anything from food intolerances or preferences to faith based eating.

I offer things i personally can’t eat sometimes for a broader menu, (i have an anaphylactic milk allergy as well as celiac). I also do my best to be allergy aware when cooking for others when they’ve let me know there is something they cannot eat, and where things are on the table so foods/utensils don’t cross contaminate. It becomes second nature when it’s a part of your life.

It’s kind of you to consider this. And I agree, many of us eat before and seek out the few things we can enjoy safely to be less conspicuous.

I always ask but I could not feed a celiac guest safely, my kitchen has too much flour and breadcrumbs and so on floating around.

Anonymous wrote:In reading the post about dinner party food, I realize I never ask if our guests have food allergies in advance. Now, I'm not hosting big events with people I don't know, and it's usually friends/family, but am I wrong in assuming people usually offer up the fact that they have a life or death allergy? Personally, I have a major food intolerance to cruciferous veggies, but I can avoid those if served.

Obviously, I know I should ask as the host, so no need to flame me for having bad manners - I can see that, and will do better. Just curious.

The people with allergies just do not eat or will eat before coming to your house. It is hard enough finding a restaurant that will not poison you even after talking to the staff. I would not expect a home cook to be aware of gluten or nut restrictions. Europe is so much better at this vs the states.

Anonymous wrote:Both I and my son have allergies (anaphylactic) and I always say this to hosts, but most people do ask and when I am hosting I always ask - probably because I am so aware of the issue.

Editing myself to add, both of us are OK with the food being around, but we won’t be able to eat it. So I say things like “no problem to have dishes with almonds in, just please let us know which they are so kid can avoid”

Both I and my son have allergies (anaphylactic) and I always say this to hosts, but most people do ask and when I am hosting I always ask - probably because I am so aware of the issue.

The most polite thing to do is ask, “If you have any allergies or restrictions, please let me know.”

In reading the post about dinner party food, I realize I never ask if our guests have food allergies in advance. Now, I'm not hosting big events with people I don't know, and it's usually friends/family, but am I wrong in assuming people usually offer up the fact that they have a life or death allergy? Personally, I have a major food intolerance to cruciferous veggies, but I can avoid those if served.

Obviously, I know I should ask as the host, so no need to flame me for having bad manners - I can see that, and will do better. Just curious.