What would you prefer to eat for lunch?

[Susannahmoody]

I've invited 4 people around for lunch : what would you prefer to eat?

Homemade soup, cheese, baguette, pâte, or

Homemade chicken casserole (with veg in the gravy) and roast potatoes

Friend is bringing a cake so I have no control over that

Will serve wine with the meal and coffees /tea afterwards

Soup, cheese and pâté option, then everyone can choose what and how much they would like for themselves. Casserole, roast potatoes etc would be a bit much for me at lunchtime.

Soup, cheese, etc

Soup definitely. I don't like to eat a proper meal like casserole at lunchtime, I prefer something like that in the evening

Casserole, roast potatoes etc would be a bit much for me at lunchtime

I don't understand comments like this. If you find food like that 'a bit much' wouldn't you just eat less of it?

Pate, bread, soup and cheese aren't exactly light options anyway and depending on the soup and the casserole, they could be virtually identical, or the casserole could be 'lighter' than the soup, whatever that means.

Is it Saturday or Sunday?

Saturday - soup.
Sunday - casserole.

Neither to be honest they are quite heavy going for this time of year. I’m not a soup fan or chicken casserole.

I’d do something like a big dressed salad, warm focaccia with cheese and sun dried tomatoes, garlic roasted chicken thighs/breasts, new potatoes/baked potatoes and have folks help themselves.

How is roasted chicken thighs with potatoes, and bread and cheese to start, lighter than chicken casserole and potatoes?

Obviously if you're just having chicken with salad then it's lighter but otherwise surely they're both chicken with potatoes and equally heavy going? Though personally I would prefer the roast thighs because gravy is evil.

I've checked dietary needs : no seafood/ fish and no pork.

The soup would be autumnal veg and lentil.

It's a Thursday that the event is happening

Thanks for all the responses so far!

Cheese

Soup. More flexible with your combination of offerings alongside, and competitive undereaters will feel more virtuous while anyone really hungry can eat more bread etc.

I forgot to answer the question. Probably the soup.

I'd definitely go for the soup!

Definitely the soup option.

All these casserole-haters need to try my mum’s chicken casserole, it’s gorgeous 😋

That said, I think @UntilYourNextHairBrainedScheme’s reasoning is very sound.

I’d prefer casserole. Especially if there’s wine !

Soup please! Casserole is too heavy for lunch, plus the saintliness of eating soup cancels out the cake calories

Will there be salad too? Because if yes can I have just a baguette and cheese with some salad please. Maybe a variety of cheeses. Maybe a few posh crisps to go with it.
Don't like soup or pate.
Don't eat chicken or any casserole so wouldn't be interested in that.

I wouldn't serve either of those tbh. Is there any reason why these are the only two choices?

For lunch, I'd probably do either some form of salad (Nicoise with fresh tuna, or Caesar or Greek or smoked salmon) with a selection of breads, white wine on the side. Or if I wanted something heavier, then I'd bake some Camemberts, served with fresh crunchy bread (homemade, warm from the oven best if you have the time and skill) and crudite. I'd serve that with a nice heavy sleepy red. Or at a push (having checked the guests like them) a bucket full of fresh mussels with fresh bread and butter and a nice crisp white wine.

Definitely the soup at lunchtime. I would be surprised to be served a casserole at that time of day.

Probably the soup - but that's more because I don't tend to eat a meal during the day, so if I go anywhere where I have to in order to be polite, I'll have a lighter option where possible.

Soup, decent bread and an interesting cheese board, add dates, apricots, nuts and grapes, Lovely with wine then coffee/tea and a slice of cake to finish.

Homemade casserole. X

First option.

I'd rather just have bread, cheese, pate, salad etc and not bother with the soup.

Definitely not the casserole, I prefer to have a main meal in the evening rather than lunchtime.

Oh and no wine.

I’m going to say soup/baguettes. This is only my thoughts but I don’t think I’d want a casserole at lunch time, that’s something I would eat at dinner time.

If it was me, I’d probably make up a few sandwiches with some fancy fillings and keep it at that