Self employed. All day meeting at my house tomorrow. What do I feed the person coming?

[Goandplay]

Just that really. I have someone coming to my home tomorrow for work, 10-3pm.

Do I have to give them lunch?

I don't want to but what else can I do, they will get hungry. Is there something I can offer that is pretty much ready made to prevent me needing to mess around in the kitchen.

I'll offer normal teas, coffees, water and biscuits.

Thank you.

I'd say a sandwich but that is so obvious there is a reason you dont want to do it?

You could send them a message saying you haven't had time to go to a shop and could they bring their own lunch?

Can you take a lunch break and during that offer to walk with them to a shop or cafe?

Ugh this is like my worst nightmare. Have you got a bakery or something nearby you could nip for a sandwich from?

Have a plate of sandwiches in the fridge, to put in the middle of the table (maybe 6 slices of bread worth) - pull off the cling film as you boil the kettle for tea/coffee.

I'd be tempted to do what you'd do for a lunch meeting in an office - small platter of sandwiches & crisps.

Sandwiches - make them up before 10? Or just bread and cheese?
Soup?
Both?

Or you could ask them to bring a packed lunch but that does seem churlish.

I’m a bit fussy about sandwich fillings and wouldn’t want to be given pre made ones. How about some cheese, cold meat, salad bits and nice bread and let the visitor put together what they fancy?

How about a selection of shop bought sandwiches you can just unwrap and plate up.
Otherwise is there a shop or cafe you can both go to for a lunch break?

Marks and Spencer do nice platters of ready-made sandwiches with a variety of fillings - you could buy one of them or make up something similar? And have a small bowl of fruit and plate of biscuits available.

Might the person coming bring their own lunch anyway?I

In which case, why not have something in that you can prepare quickly, but which won't go to waste if not needed? E.g soup and bread or cheese and crackers?

Can you get a Deliveroo? that's what we do at work when we have external people come for meetings over lunch.

Yes you have to feed someone (or at least let them know to bring their own food) if they are going to be with you from 10-3.

Why so you not want to????

why do* you not want to?

I would think it rude to tell your visitor to bring their own lunch!

If there's a nice spot nearby, go there. If not, check with the person about whether they are vegetarian etc and make sure that you have a simple meal that is suitable for them..... sandwich, soup or microwave meal.

Why wouldn’t you want to offer a simple lunch. Is it that much of a hardship?
Presumably the business meeting is of benefit to you? Therefore it is good manners to surely offer some basic refreshments?

Order Deliveroo

I’d make up a small platter of cold meat and cheese, a platter of fruit and carrot sticks etc and stick them in the fridge. Buy some nice rolls, wraps and perhaps some nice biscuits.

It won’t take two minutes for you both to make up a sandwich.

You send an email/phone them and say “Mary, what were you thinking of for lunch on Wednesday? do you want me to grab a couple of packs of sandwiches from Tesco’s or do you want to bring something to pop in the microwave? I’ve got tea/coffee/custard creams - Let me know if you have any allergies etc”

I have a colleague who comes to my house to work for the day fairly regularly. I often make a big pot of soup the night before (lentil, curried parsnip, roasted tomato or something else). I make a fresh loaf of bread in the morning (I have a bread machine) and have in some good butter and a couple of nice cheeses.

Always seems to go down well and she has started bringing lovely leftover curries or tarts etc...

I've done this loads - and yes, you do need to feed someone coming to work at your house imo.
I do:
Ready made soup and nice bread
Fresh pasta with fresh pesto/cheese/pine nuts
Falafel/pitta bread/fresh salad
Jacket spuds - shoved in oven an hour before then ready to eat when you are
in summer: hearty salad (bulgar wheat/roasted veg type) made in advance

Have you checked with your colleague re any food allergies/issues?

It's a mutally benefical business relationship.

I think the reason I am being odd it I know the whole time in the morning I'll be thinking about when to do a sandwich etc. I am just a classic over thinker.

I know I should and that's why I will.

I would honestly think this much about the other way round. If I was going to them all day I would wonder what to take with me, if I should take us both something, will they offer me something, if they do will I like what's offered.

I am just overthinking and want someone to tell me what to do.

Thank you so much for the suggestions. I feel more in control of the situation, the situation being the one I have made up in my head.

Going with chocolate spread in a hot dog roll

I will be going with sandwiches and will look into keeping soup warm while we work with rolls as an option for the future.

Also when you're starting your meeting perhaps you could mention what you expect to cover over the course of the day, and suggest you break for lunch at whatever time for however long, that way the person coming knows what to expect too, rather than wondering if you're ever going to offer them something!

Does your oven have a timer function? You could put soup in an ovenproof dish and set the timer to come on to have it ready, or at least close to ready, for you at the appropriate time.

get some nice soup like covent garden and a baguette , butter cheese and some grapes

email before hand and say, I think we'll organise it like this, coffee when you arrive and another quick break at 11.30 we'll have lunch about 1 and hopefully tie up everything by 3pm

I’m an over thinker too! Teacups idea abound is great, plus you can add in “Ive got xxxx for lunch, let me know if you’d rather bring something of your own or have any allergies”

Not awkward then!