Anonymous wrote:

My husband and I are both vegetarians. When we host people for dinner, we will oftentimes offer meat alternative; like a meat based chili and a vegetarian, chili; chicken and steaks on the grill, etc. Yes, you cater to your guests. What the hell kind of host are you?

I've been a vegetarian since 1995 and have encountered many meat eaters, vegetarians, and vegans since then. Assholes abound in each group.

OP: I'm not sure what the problem is. Do you think there will be repercussions or something? You are what you are.

"Thank you so much for asking! We are actually vegetarians. Aside from not eating meat we eat, well, everything else " (Assuming you do.)

Anonymous wrote:Well, there's catering and then there's catering to someone's every need. Friend once invited someone to dinner and was told yes. But the answer to "Is there anything we shouldn't serve?" was "We're vegan, and we try to stay away from wheat." At some point, it makes more sense to say, "We follow a pretty strict diet; why don't we just meet at [restaurant]?"

But ovolacto vegetarians are easy to accommodate. As a host, I'd want to know before I dropped $$ and went to the trouble of cooking a particular main course that my guests couldn't eat it.

I'm a vegetarian of almost 30 years and I have to agree, at some point you become uninvited! But I've never had trouble informing people who have asked about my dietary restrictions. (I don't inform them ahead of time if it's a large dinner party, but I will if it's a small get together of just me and my husband, for example. It's rude not to let them know because they'll just waste time and money preparing your meal that you won't eat. If it's a large gathering, I just always carry a protein bar in my purse if I'm going somewhere where it's a crapshoot if I'm going to eat or not.
But in this case, the boss was kind enough to ask, and it's your responsibility to her as a host to answer it. It's not a big deal.

Well, there's catering and then there's catering to someone's every need. Friend once invited someone to dinner and was told yes. But the answer to "Is there anything we shouldn't serve?" was "We're vegan, and we try to stay away from wheat." At some point, it makes more sense to say, "We follow a pretty strict diet; why don't we just meet at [restaurant]?"

But ovolacto vegetarians are easy to accommodate. As a host, I'd want to know before I dropped $$ and went to the trouble of cooking a particular main course that my guests couldn't eat it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Cute. But proper hosts DO cater to their guests' needs.

+1

Anonymous wrote:

Cute. But proper hosts DO cater to their guests' needs.

As a host I hate when people only eat side dishes. If you are a vegetarian just tell her that. Unless it was arranged that you were going to offer to bring a dish anyways, don't offer to bring a dish. Often people plan a meal with dishes that go together and I always find it awkward when I host a dinner and people bring some random dish they made. Now if it is a potluck, sure but otherwise no.

Being vegetarian isn't exactly unusual these days, especially among well-educated people. Just tell the truth. If the hosts didn't care, they wouldn't ask.

Anonymous wrote:I'm a total carnivore and don't know how to make many vegetarian meals other than pasta, but as a hostess I always ask guests if they have dietary restrictions. I would be upset if I spent time making a dinner no one wanted to eat.

This. OP shouldn't hesitate to tell her boss she is a vegetarian.

No pork, ok I'll boil some broc for you LOL

I'm a total carnivore and don't know how to make many vegetarian meals other than pasta, but as a hostess I always ask guests if they have dietary restrictions. I would be upset if I spent time making a dinner no one wanted to eat.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

No. I just won't eat the meat. No need to cater to anything. Some people are self absorbed twits, and some people will just peel the pepperoni off the pizza and eat it.

The host asked. Should the OP lie? What's wrong with "We're vegetarians, actually, but we'll be fine with just the veggie side dishes!"
How, precisely, would you recommend that OP make a pork tenderloin vegetarian?

I was responding to the stupid picture, not the actual OP. I did respond to the OP's question previously, though, with something similar to what's bolded since that's what I usually say.

Anonymous wrote:

I posted that. I agree, but offering to bring something seems like it would be polite if you're asking for special accommodation. I have always been vegetarian and have done this many times. Conversation usually goes like this - "So happy you're coming for dinner. Is a pork tenderloin okay?" "We're really excited to. We actually don't eat meat. I'd be happy to bring a hearty side dish to go with the pork if you'd still like to make it." "Oh, I didn't know! How about a [insert vegetarian main dish] instead? I've been wanting to try it." "Sounds great. Can we bring a dessert?"

This is a perfectly polite and acceptable way to deal with this.

OP, I would just politely write back that you appreciate the invitation and that you are vegetarian and do not eat pork.

I agree with another PP. I wouldn't be apologetic, but I also wouldn't be snarky. Just straightforward.

Be prepared for follow-up emails, though, as some people have a hard time planning a meal without meat being the main course.

Anonymous wrote:Unless you are allergic I would just eat the meat. Very rude otherwise

would you say the same thing if the person were muslim or jewish and pork was being served?