~patches~ wrote:

> Dave Smith wrote:
>
> > ~patches~ wrote:
> >
> >
> >>So just a question to play devil's advocate, why take into consideration
> >>your Jewish friends' dietary restrictions but not your nephew's. I
> >>*know* you can cover all bases but having an alternative desert
> >>available if only jello would not hurt you all that much, would it?
> >
> >
> > We're talking a 30 year old who has a selection of close to a dozen different choices,
> > plus fresh fruit, whines "There's nothing I like". When they came for Christmas this
> > year I told his mother to bring something he likes.
> >
> >
> >
> Ok seriously Dave, this still wouldn't fizz me. I always have good food
> on hand so it really is not a big deal. If it is fresh fruit and the
> said guest has no allergies, he can choose not to partake much the same
> I do.

It wouldn't??? What are willing to do to please a guest who is that finicky? We had a
Christmas pudding, mince meat tarts, brownies, short breads, fruit cake, plus a variety of
cookies, including some that his mother had made. There was a variety of fresh fruits. I
consider that a pretty good assortment of desserts.

> Most of our dinners don't include dessert other than fruit and
> I'm sure if so desired he could find something he liked.

One would expect. There were more than a dozen people and everyone else was able to find
something to their liking.

> I certainly
> would not ask someone to bring something they like but that's just me
> and in no way is meant to be judgemental as you know these people
> whereas I don't so it is your call.

I know there is no pleasing this guy. I gave up trying a long time ago. He is way too old to
expect to expect his finicky appetite be pampered, and I am too old to bother.

> I'm just saying that in my home I will go out of the way.

Host someone like that a couple times a year for 30 years, come to the conclusion that there
is no pleasing him and see how much longer you will be willing to indulge that behaviour :-)

> I know what is is like so it really doesn't
> bother me and there is always something to eat here.

For most people there would be enough to eat. Most people are easy to please, or they at
least have the manners to make it through a meal without pouting about how no one has
catered to them specifically.

> You know, you do
> bring up a valid point! How far is a host expected to go for a guest?

I thought so. :-)

>
> Now this has not been a problem yet but hey why not discuss this topic?
>
> I will make non-alcoholic clones *if* I'm serving something alcoholic.

I serve beer, wine, mixed drinks, soft drinks, juice. If I am whipping up a batch of
marguaritas or something like that, please don't expect me to whip up a non alcoholic
version.

> I will make lactose free milk available.

I am lactose intolerant. I can't remember ever liking milk. Maybe I did some time before I
learned to associate it with the pain and discomfort that it causes. I don't drink milk and
I see no reason to get a substitute for something I don't like. I don't know many adults
who drink milk when they go out. If someone brings a lactose intolerant kid, and they know
the kid will drink that soya based milk like product, they are welcome to keep it cold in my
fridge. I am not buying it on spec.

> I've even left off tomatoes in wraps for those who don't like wraps. One way to deal
> with the issue is to have all the fixings and let them assemble their own.

That should be safe. Tomatoes and lettuce are near the top of the list of things I need to
avoid, so I would probably leave them out. If someone serves me pasta with tomato sauce I
will have a small helping and easy on the sauce, and then I will deal with the side effects.



> For casual get togethers this works really well. The other way to deal with it for
> more formal get together is to either make two dishes of each or make
> none of the offending dishes assuming you know the dietary restrictions
> in advance, not always possible.

Hey, I never said that I refuse to adapt a meal to a guest's known food problems, other than
refusing to cater to vegans. They can stuff themselves on anything that fits into their
animal product free diet, as long as they get to the veggies before my wife smothers them in
butter. Just don't show up here unexpected and then get us to scour the cupboards for food
that fits your diet and that you like just as we are sitting down to eat with 15 other
guests. It ain't going to happen .... again.