Afternoon tea difficulty

The savoury part of afternoon tea is the least important part, in my view. Who wants to use up stomach space on that when there are so many delicious cakes and scones to be eaten? If I was your friend, I would simply skip the sandwiches and just go straight to the sweet stuff.

I'm guessing you quoted the wrong person? I don't hate cucumber, I actually love it but it gives me blisters on my lips and inside my mouth and makes my tongue swell. Though I feel like that would be good enough reason to hate it.

Me. I'll eat pretty much anything. On the rare occasion that I don't fancy something, I just leave it. No big deal and I don't expect a substitute to be provided.

I can’t believe people are doubting you. I went to a very fancy hotel last year, not a chain just a one of boutique place for afternoon tea and for my veggie friend they suggested she take the ham out of her sandwich. They then said the salmon and dill was vegetarian. Er… they had no veggie or vegan option, just a here is our afternoon tea menu, no subs. That’s it.

Just to clarify, I was joking. Fusspot 😁
😆 🤣
I've had a lifetime of people telling me to get over it! As if I can just switch my taste buds off!!

I was joking. I think with cucumber, either you taste it or you don’t. I don’t taste it so can’t hate it. My husband HATES it and thinks it tastes like perfume.

My dh and both sons hate coriander and say it tastes like soap. I love it and have always been ' what's your problem!'
Maybe I should be more empathetic as they tolerate my cucumber hatred! 😆

Did you get a chance to phone them to clarify whether they provide a vegetarian or vegan afternoon tea menu OP?

To be honest, if you're a picky eater, you should look at the menu and choose somewhere that has something you will eat. It's a bit rude to go somewhere and just make up your own menu. Plain cheese butties are a bit crap - there's every possibility they just don't want to put their name to that kind of offering, in the case of social media photos etc. And I don't blame them!

I dont think vegetarian is being fussy, I have been to afternoon tea parties for birthdays and couple were vegan, couple were vegetarian and they were able to accommodate, its really surprising that a provider on that scale doesn't have a veg menu. Maybe they thought just wanting cheese on bread is just fussy, but actually ordering as per 1 person is vegetarian and its a dietary need is ok. Also maybe more able to if there was another person vegetarian or up for vegetarian menu as easier to do for 2 thrn one and they get their own separate tier?? Its a really easy thing and honestly basic or less premier providers provide it. I would definitely include that in review that vegetarians are not catered for at all! Its sad that people still have to bring their own food to events like this.... surely the joy is not having to do your own....and in interest of inclusivity....Just saying bad form for them

I know restaurants that do not accommodate requests that are not allergy related or dietary related. It's a blanket policy as people ask for changes to suit personal preferences and they get a lot of them and it slows the kitchen down.

I don’t eat meat and have never had an issue with ordering a vegetarian afternoon tea at the various nice hotels we have met at. Usually I have been given my own plate of sandwiches and some cakes that are definitely gelatine free. I am surprised they aren’t being more accommodating. I personally wouldn’t bother with a crap public review though unless the actual food served was poor on the day.

The hotel's vegetarian provision seems very poor, but why did OP book such a place when there is a vegetarian in the party? Even if she liked cream cheese, it would only be a selection of one sandwich - as a veggie I'd want better, and many places offer better.

I don’t think your request to the hotel is unreasonable OP.
I really don’t understand why they can’t just accommodate it? It’s not wild. You’re paying.

I'd take my business elsewhere.

Some of the comments on this thread are just being obtuse for the sake of it. It is a simple request that any quality establishment with good customer service would and should accommodate without question. Afternoon Tea is an absolute money spinner with huge mark ups. You are not being unreasonable OP.

I'm going to make some and take along in a sandwich box for this person, too.

You cannot bring your own sandwiches. Even to a fecking cafe!

Because the friend is still going to be there, wherever they go.

i don;t understand why you just can't go somewhere else...

I was joking. I think with cucumber, either you taste it or you don’t. I don’t taste it so can’t hate it. My husband HATES it and thinks it tastes like perfume.

Just to clarify, I was joking. Fusspot 😁

There are lots of this type of restaurant - and for lots of reasons.

It simply isn't the case that they are obligated to cater for all.

They do have them, but this vegetarian wanted a specific sandwich, not the pre-prepared veg/vegan options. And therein lies the issue ...

I have been to plenty of afternoon teas as a vegetarian and they have all had a vegetarian/vegan option as a full afternoon tea rather than just one choice of sandwich amongst the normal afternoon tea. Never just had a plain cheese option though

The place I am thinking of is a Middle Eastern place where most of the main courses have some form of nut in them. They say that there is no way to keep people with genuine allergies safe because of the way the kitchen is set up.

Actually some Michelin Star establishments - especially in France - simply won't cater. They have statements that basically say if you can't eat our menu don't come. At that level, they cannot afford to be tweaking recipes with the expense of some of their ingredients and their reputations depending on a certain standard of what they serve.

So all those saying it must be a low rent kind of restaurant aren't actually quite on the money there. Sometimes the better their reputation, the more they stick to their guns about what gets served.

This, what type of allergy are you going to lie about? Anaphylaxis? when they ask if it’s airborne, contact, eating what will you say?

the hotel will need to know so that they can create an appropriate allergen free area to prep and store these cheese sandwiches, and depending on what you lie about this will impact the sweet treats she gets…

Well, your friend has an ‘allergy’, they will change it for that.
Nasty and low handed.
Why would they change cream cheese for 'plain' cheese. They both have the same allergens in dont they?