Omelet wrote:

> Well, what I did last time was make suggestions based on what was
> available and affordable. :-) I simply let them make their suggestions
> from there. _I_ still chose how it was going to be cooked.

I don't know if that would entice me to come to dinner. It sounds a
little sad and as a guest I'd feel awkward telling the hostess what to
prepare. There would be no element of surprise or pleasure if all I felt
was that I was at a restaurant where I had to order what *I* wanted. No
pleasant anticipation of the meal to be discovered there. No feeling of
being pampered by someone taking care of me.

>
> And they made their choices based on that. Shark steak is one of the
> cheaper meats and they requested fish or poultry.

Did you ever go out on a date with a guy and feel obligated to order the
cheapest thing on the menu so he didn't spend too much money? But what
you REALLY wanted was Lobster.

>
> The important thing to ME is that my guests truly enjoy the meal!

I bet they'd enjoy not being expected to plan the meal. Being a GUEST
and not having to make ANY decisions. It is just as pampering as making
them pre-order their meal. Entertaining means sharing your home, your
style, your tastes with others, and hope that they find it pleasing too.
It is for MUTUAL pleasure.

>
> And I've known these people for a few years. Their dietary guidelines
> are similar to my own so that made it even easier.
>
> I will, however, prepare special dishes for guests on request. I happen
> to ENJOY doing that and cannot understand anyone that does not feel that
> way.

Some people like being doormats too. Does that make it appropriate for a
dinner party? A dinner party is something a bit more special than some
backyard get together or a "combined resources" group meal. If one
expects the guest to dictate the meal, why should they bother to get
dressed up and drive over if they could just as soon stay at home or go
to a restaurant and get the same thing?
>
> Please explain your selfish attitude???

Please explain why you don't trust your tastes to be able to plan an
attractive, tasty menu on your own?
>
> What was most amusing was one of his e-mails where he stated that maybe
> he was too picky to be invited for dinner. <g> I had to reassure him
> that that was just not so. Not to ME anyway!
>
> If I'm going to cook for guests, I'm going to cook for the guests, not
> myself!

Maybe they sense you have limited social and entertaining experience,
and feel they are trying to make it easy for you since you don't appear
confident enough to pull it off otherwise? <shrug>
>
> I guess it comes from cooking for family for so long. It's not unusual
> for me to prepare a separate meal for myself if what they want does not
> accommodate MY picky tastes and requirements!