sf > wrote in
:

>
> When I have people over for dinner, I just invite them... no mention
> of menu unless I have something specific in at the time I'm issuing
> the invitation. At that point, I'll say something general like, I'm
> making leg of lamb. Not "I'm making leg of lamb with a mustard crust"
> (because I usually haven't planned that far). If the guest has an
> aversion to mustard, that's the time s/he can pipe in with "Did you
> plan to make it with a crust? I'm not a big fan of mustard" - to
> which I can say either, I don't plan to put a crust on this lamb or
> yes, I am but I won't be offended if you cut it off and don't eat it.
> How hard is that?
>

Honestly, if someone said to me they were making leg of lamb, "are you
making it with a crust?" is not something that would occur to me to ask. I
certainly don't think anyone I'm likely to ask for dinner would think of
that - not unless I asked someone from rfc :-)or perhaps a keen cook. Most
people would simply assume I was just going to serve roast lamb - but that
would probably be the most common way to see leg of lamb served here.
Obviously different in different areas.

I rarely have people over, but if I am planning on it I don't run the whole
menu by them. I would however ask if there's something they just don't eat
(and would not require them to give me a reason why - though they may wish
to if it's allergy related so I don't risk any cross contamination).

Like you and Om, if I invite people for dinner I'd like to think they'll
really enjoy their meal.

--
Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW, Australia

Core of my heart, my country! Land of the rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine she pays us back threefold.
My Country, Dorothea MacKellar, 1904