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Original poster

To pretend I cooked the restaurant food- dinner party

145 replies

Dual · 08/05/2026 12:24

I’m hosting a dinner party for 7 guests tonight. I’m a truly shit cook, and my guests amongst them have loads of dietary requirements - vegan, gluten free and nut free, and one guest only likes Chinese or Italian cuisine.

i have also had to work late every day this week. I decided last night instead that I’d order from a vegan Chinese restaraunt today that clearly lists all nut free and gluten free dishes.

im embarrassed to admit ive not cooked myself, so aibu to put them into my own dishes and pass them off as my own cooking tonight?

OP posts:
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Lavender14 · 10/05/2026 11:24

Don't lie.

If they're nice people and decent friends then you should feel no obligation to lie to them.

Just own it that you enjoy nice food but aren't into cooking.

I'd not judge someone for not cooking, I would probably distance myself from someone who lied to me though.

Why are you so worried about their approval?

ParmaVioletTea · 10/05/2026 11:22

Dual · 09/05/2026 00:28

update - the night was a success! I compromised and told them up front that two of the four dishes were ordered from a restaraunt, and I made the two easy dishes.

they believed me and were very complimentary! All in all a lovely evening

I just couldn’t contemplate lying to my friends over such a trivial matter. Seriously, you need to think about your life choices @Dual

Booklover78 · 10/05/2026 09:16

I would definitely tell the truth especially as it could cause health concerns. Are the gluten free people actually coeliac? In which case they'd need to be sure no cross contamination and may prefer to bring own food over take out? And are the nut people having serious allergies? You need to be really careful if you're catering for people with severe allergies and not one hundred per cent confident in the restaurants.

Dalmationday · 09/05/2026 22:48

Strange you didn’t just tell the whole truth rather than half lie??

BH90210 · 09/05/2026 22:22

Glad it went well. Hope you’ve had a nice chilled Saturday

OneNewLeader · 09/05/2026 20:55

I hope it went well and you told the truth. I’m always grateful for anyone who provides me with food.

HedgehogMugs · 09/05/2026 20:52

They'd all be getting gluten free garlic and tomato pasta here...

Namechangefordaughterevasion · 09/05/2026 20:47

They are obviously very fond of you if they pretended to believe your lie. Or possibly they are laughing at you behind your back.

And I'm puzzled (and extremely sceptical) - as a non cook how could you know which were the complicated dishes and which were the easy ones?

NarnianQueen · 09/05/2026 08:30

BowlCone · 08/05/2026 12:48

Just be honest. I really don’t think there’s any chance you’ll convince them that you cooked a Chinese takeaway. I think maybe your inexperience means you don’t appreciate how unlikely it is that a home cook would produce that kind of food.

This!

They’re will know you’re lying, even if they politely pretend to believe you!

whywonthelisten · 09/05/2026 08:11

Dual · 09/05/2026 00:28

update - the night was a success! I compromised and told them up front that two of the four dishes were ordered from a restaraunt, and I made the two easy dishes.

they believed me and were very complimentary! All in all a lovely evening

This is such weird behaviour 😂

BudgetBuster · 09/05/2026 08:03

Dual · 09/05/2026 00:28

update - the night was a success! I compromised and told them up front that two of the four dishes were ordered from a restaraunt, and I made the two easy dishes.

they believed me and were very complimentary! All in all a lovely evening

That's not a compromise. That's still you being a Liar and they 100% would have known just didn't say it to your face. I'm embarrassed on your behalf.

BillyButlerTheRightTrackNsoul · 09/05/2026 03:06

You're not on come dine with me
Just tell the truth as the complexity of dietary needs would be a nightmare to navigate.
Enjoy the night with your friends.

DinosaurBlue · 09/05/2026 02:20

Dual · 09/05/2026 00:28

update - the night was a success! I compromised and told them up front that two of the four dishes were ordered from a restaraunt, and I made the two easy dishes.

they believed me and were very complimentary! All in all a lovely evening

You can’t seriously be pleased they were complimentary over food you didn’t cook…?

EverydayRoutine · 09/05/2026 01:43

But why not just tell them the truth? 🤷‍♀️ I don’t understand why you lied to your friends.

Original poster
Dual · 09/05/2026 00:28

update - the night was a success! I compromised and told them up front that two of the four dishes were ordered from a restaraunt, and I made the two easy dishes.

they believed me and were very complimentary! All in all a lovely evening

OP posts:
talktalk66 · 08/05/2026 20:50

Please update us and let us know what you went with and what the reaction from your friends was. personally, I would be mortified if my guests knew I had lied about it. I would be ok to tell them it was takeaway. They will know for sure anyway.

likelysuspect · 08/05/2026 20:32

Just tell them, they should be bloody grateful you went to the effort of getting things (and paying for it) that suits them and they'll enjoy. A great host.

Where's my invite?

pilates · 08/05/2026 20:25

If they are true friends they won’t care if it’s a takeaway.

PonyPatter44 · 08/05/2026 20:23

Dont lie, you'll look like an idiot. Just front it out and say you got it from X Chinese place. One of my friends really struggled with cooking for us all, so often just did starters, and ordered in the main course from a local place. There's really no shame in it - your friends will be there to see you, not judge your catering.

Sometimeswinning · 08/05/2026 20:23

poetryandwine · 08/05/2026 17:31

I would use my own serving dishes to look nice, but I would be open about the whole thing, and careful to check with the guests who have dietary restrictions.

Show quote history

If I’m putting them into serving dishes then I’m saying I cooked it!

PloddingAlong21 · 08/05/2026 20:20

If I had a nut allergy and you told me you cooked, I would trust it was safe.

Imagine if you didn’t tell them, cross contamination from the kitchen and a severe reaction.

tell them.

Jllllllll · 08/05/2026 20:15

Don’t be embarrassed, they sound like quite a complicated bunch dietary wise. I’d just say I’ve ordered to suit everyone, Hope you enjoy!

Emmz1510 · 08/05/2026 20:11

Dual · 08/05/2026 12:38

Sounds silly maybe but I don’t want to be looked as an incompetent adult for failing to cook. Will they not think I’m lazy for having made nothing at all tonight? I’ve got vegan ice cream for dessert

If they do then they aren’t very good friends! Even the most accomplished cooks might well phone a takeaway for this lot!
Just tell you are looking forward to catching up and having a laugh and don’t want to spend time in the kitchen so will be ordering in.
Too much scope for things to go wrong if you lie.

xsquared · 08/05/2026 18:31

I don't get why you need to lie or tell half truths at all. It sounds like too much effort just to protect your ego.

You say you don't want to look like an incompetent cook, but surely that's better than being a known liar and untrustworthy.

Millymollymandy4 · 08/05/2026 18:29

You need to tell them becuase of the allergies and let the judge

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