When did this change?

gocurlygirl

I have no problem trying to cater for different likes or needs-just let me know!

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I became vegetarian aged 11. My Nan would always offer me meat, and say in aggrieved tones "but I've cooked it for you so it's ok!" Quite a few of my friends went through this "phase" so it wasn't an issue having tea round their houses. Never had a problem eating out or as a guest in this country- went hungry at a wedding once, but that's my problem for hating fungi, which annoyingly is often the main ingredient in veggie options.

I have a gluten-free friend, which I do find hard, but she usually brings stuff or helps with the cooking. She says having the intolerance has made her a better cook; more imaginative and resourceful.

I think I've told this on here before, but my worst example of hosting rudeness happened to a friend visiting her in-laws. The mother had always shrugged and said "oh, I don't understand vegetarians so I can't cook anything for you" and her boyfriend had rustled up something. On one occasion he forgot, and she sat down to dinner; tired, hungry (while breastfeeding) to an empty plate and no effort to get something for her.

LameWolf

Another memory has just sprung to mind - I can't remember where the restaurant was (possibly just as well) but some years ago, I was offered a menu which claimed all the veggie options were marked with a "V". Ok, nowt wrong with that - except there was a "V" beside all the fish dishes! Clearly they didn't know their vegetarians from their pescatarians. And they were most put out when I drew this to their attention.

Also, when I was still working, my place of work had a "compulsory" dinner out at the pub - and they'd arranged fish for the vegetarians.:wall:

PasturesNew

I've not been a host or hosted.... not had/been to a dinner party.

But - if you're cooking for me then I'll eat what I can and not feel put out if there's nothing I like. I'm happy with a plate of veggies and spuds.... and no starter .... and giving the afters a miss.

I consider it my responsibility to feed myself, not somebody else's to !!!!! foot round what I say I like/don't like, will/won't eat, etc.

I can give clues and pointers ..... but I'd not want the responsibility of being the person that dictated what you could cook.

moneyistooshorttomention

Out,_Vile_Jelly wrote: »

I think I've told this on here before, but my worst example of hosting rudeness happened to a friend visiting her in-laws. The mother had always shrugged and said "oh, I don't understand vegetarians so I can't cook anything for you" and her boyfriend had rustled up something. On one occasion he forgot, and she sat down to dinner; tired, hungry (while breastfeeding) to an empty plate and no effort to get something for her.

Agreed that that is just plain rude of the in-laws there.

I couldn't sit there and see someone sitting there hungry at my table personally. I think its just plain "ignorant" if someone is prepared to see me still sitting there hungry and I don't want anyone else being hungry and thinking I'm "ignorant" in return. Hence I cater accordingly - and expect to be catered for in turn.

I did/do have distinct personal reservations about whether so many people can honestly have allergies/etc as to what food they can or cant eat (as it does seem to be such a large number of people)

BUT I take the view personally that it may or may not be the case and its not up to me to start analysing whether that is or isn't the case - and I just serve up whatever food the person says they require personally (whether its for health reasons or personal choice reasons) and it makes life a good deal simpler all round, ie everyone is happy.

meritaten

reminds me of when my cousin who is vegetarian, was invited by her fianc! to dinner at his parents house. He had informed his mum that she didn't eat meat - so his mother cooked chicken! on the grounds it was 'Poultry not Meat'!

squeekymoo

I am veggie but will cook meat for guests although most are happy to eat veggie food as it is a different experience for them and an opportunity to try something new.

It is not unusual to have only 1 or 2 veggie choices when eating out this can mean like or lump it if you don't like goats cheese.

One year our works Christmas 'do' at national hotel chain the veggie option was traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings (sprouts, carrots, stuffing, roast potatoes etc) but substituting QUICHE for turkey - even had the waitress pour gravy over it!!! She couldn't understand why I asked for this to be taken away and asked for some more bread, I still had to pay my £35 a head - having said that so did the teetotaller so the 1/2 bottle of wine as part of the meal deal was consumed by others. Aw well some you lose and some you lose.
BTW we now have our works do after Christmas when there usually is not a set menu to chose from usually at a Mediterranean or Indian type restaurant

moneyistooshorttomention

Ugh! re gravy on quiche. The mind boggles.....yuk......

To my mind quiche is a lunchtime option served up with salad and baked potatoes or the like and not a "special occasion" thing and/or served with gravy:eek:

I've heard of the thing that some people apparently don't seem to realise :cool: that poultry is indeed meat. Since when was a living/breathing being NOT meat (unless it was a fish of course....and then its up to the person concerned whether they are vegetarian or pescetarian obviously).

It is one of my minor gripes that many restaurants don't seem to realise that vegetarian food is cheaper - and that therefore means they should obviously charge vegetarians less for their main course than meat-eaters.....

I do think that Mediterranean and Indian food is the best option for non meat-eaters from what I can see.

lostinrates

squeekymoo wrote: »

I am veggie but will cook meat for guests although most are happy to eat veggie food as it is a different experience for them and an opportunity to try something new.

It is not unusual to have only 1 or 2 veggie choices when eating out this can mean like or lump it if you don't like goats cheese.

One year our works Christmas 'do' at national hotel chain the veggie option was traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings (sprouts, carrots, stuffing, roast potatoes etc) but substituting QUICHE for turkey - even had the waitress pour gravy over it!!! She couldn't understand why I asked for this to be taken away and asked for some more bread, I still had to pay my £35 a head - having said that so did the teetotaller so the 1/2 bottle of wine as part of the meal deal was consumed by others. Aw well some you lose and some you lose.
BTW we now have our works do after Christmas when there usually is not a set menu to chose from usually at a Mediterranean or Indian type restaurant

My husband went to a recent extended family gathering at a restaurant where there was NO vegetarian option. One of his siblings is pescatarian but prefers to be vegetarian. He had no choice BUT to have fish, and there was no choice of fish dish . :mad: Someone in the family chose this place. Grrrr.

I don't expect to eat meat in a vegetarian home.

I do expect to eat what's given to me that will not make me ill or is against religious objections.

I had to go to some strange places as a child and was taught early that one does not refuse food alien or undesirable to you in someone else's home. I've swallowed some pretty hideous stuff . I've also eaten stuff I thought I would hate and would like.


Similarly, I've watched an aubergine hating vegetarian eat the inside out of stuffed aubergines, leaving the shells saying they were the best things ever, shame I had to put them in aubergine shells. When he pushed for what was in them the friend sitting next to me kicked me and shook his head, so I listed tomatoes, onions, spices etc, Until I couldn't lie by omission any more and said, ' and the inside of the aubergine shells'. They were of course MAINLY the detested aubergine.

I'm happy to cater to real hatreds, I don't want people unhappy at my table! ( I don't serve tripe ) and any food allergy, but of really do feel the fussiness issue I sometimes a bit crazy.

The other point re vegetarianism.....I have often thought it would be a good idea if school lunches were vegan / vegetarian so than MOST of the children ( I know some will have allergies that prevent this) can all eat the same meal together, regardless of religion, or vegetarianism etc. it would also seem healthy.

meritaten

squeekymoo wrote: »

I am veggie but will cook meat for guests although most are happy to eat veggie food as it is a different experience for them and an opportunity to try something new.

It is not unusual to have only 1 or 2 veggie choices when eating out this can mean like or lump it if you don't like goats cheese.

One year our works Christmas 'do' at national hotel chain the veggie option was traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings (sprouts, carrots, stuffing, roast potatoes etc) but substituting QUICHE for turkey - even had the waitress pour gravy over it!!! She couldn't understand why I asked for this to be taken away and asked for some more bread, I still had to pay my £35 a head - having said that so did the teetotaller so the 1/2 bottle of wine as part of the meal deal was consumed by others. Aw well some you lose and some you lose.
BTW we now have our works do after Christmas when there usually is not a set menu to chose from usually at a Mediterranean or Indian type restaurant

I worked for a charity a few years back and they had a 'fundraising do' at a local hotel. as it was near Christmas the options were
Turkey with roast potatoes, seasonal veg and boiled potatoes.
Chicken - ditto
Beef with Yorkshire pudding and the above veg.
vegetarian option (only one) was Mushroom Stroganoff.
not vegetarian but not particularly fond of roast dinners so ordered the Beef for OH and the Mushroom Stroganoff for myself as I really like that.
well, OH got his beef dinner and apart from being lukewarm (only two wait staff for about 300 people)he said it was fine. after all the carnivores had been served the Mushroom Stroganoff came out.
it was served with - Roast potatoes, cabbage, boiled potatoes, peas, Yorkshire pudding and gravy! When it was put in front of me I was speechless!
and the stroganoff itself was disgusting. tinned mushrooms in a packet sauce! I couldn't eat it, and we left early so I could go get a Chinese takeaway! I was starving!