Puester wrote:

> > Sorry, but people who adopt fad diets can't expect to be catered to in
> > group situations. Most vegetarians cheat and sneak meat once in a while,
> > so they might as well come clean and partake in flesh when being
> > entertained
>
> You are assuming it's a fad diet. Many vegetarians are
> life-long avoiders of meat, or are on a diet prescribed for
> health or religious reasons. Assuming it's a "fad" is
> presumtuous and unkind.

I am basing it on the basis of the people I have known who have tried
vegetarian diets. None of them lasted very long on it, and it does indeed to
seem to run in cycles. Granted, there are some people who belong to religious
groups who practice vegetarianism. Bear in mind that the OP was talking about
a holiday theme. If I were going to a Hindu feast, I would expect not to find
meat. When I go to a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner, I expect a big roast of
some sort.

We have my wife's family down every year after Christmas and put on a buffet.
Two years ago my nephew brought along his 16 year old daughter, a newly
recruited vegan. He said that he had meant to bring something for his daughter
but had forgotten it had home. That left my wife to scramble around to try to
find something that met her approval. So there she was poring over the lists of
ingredients of everything that she was offered and rejecting just about
everything. Frankly, when I am entertaining 16-20 people, the last thing I
need to be doing at the last minute is to waste my time trying to appease
someone who is bragging about her new found and self imposed dietary
restrictions.


> > I did Coquilles St. Jacques the other day and they were incredibly easy,
> > and not at all time consuming.
>
> Delicious, but not something you want to do while your guests
> are waiting, however. She needs something she can do ahead
> and cook or reheat that morning. Coquilles might fit that
> description, but many poeple don't like fish or shellfish.

Have you never been to someone's home for dinner and been served something that
you do not like? Many of us were raised to eat what was served and pretend that
you like it.

> I suggest some kind of casserole like Turkey Tetrazzini,
> something creamy and rich containing meat, pasta and
> mushrooms, or a luxurious homemade soup (lobster bisque?),
> a pretty bowl with green salad plus rolls or croissants.
> Dessert could be a tiny scoop of an exotic sherbet/sorbet
> with a nice assortment of cookies.

Sound good, but everything there, other than the salad would not be suitable
for a vegetarian, except perhaps the salad.