What do you cook when you have fussy guests for dinner?

[TedOnTheBed]

Have a family we are friends with coming for dinner on Friday night, they are all very fussy so I am struggling to think of something suitable to cook. They don’t have any allergies but two of my dc do so that eliminates things they would normal eat like waffles, nuggets etc.

You need to specify what you mean by fussy. It means different things to different people.

Deliveroo & everyone chooses their own thing?
Pasta (one pan can be g free), plain Tom sauce (or just butter/olive oil), meatballs separate, salad separate, cheese separate.
That works for a mix of fussy eaters for me , covers g free, vegan, doesn't eat veg, veggie and can't cope with flavour as they can have just pasta and butter.

I agree with just bung the stuff in the oven their kids like and make everyone else a proper meal

I have a particular DD and I’m vegan if we go somewhere else I offer to bring my own dish and warn them DD is fussy so make whatever they want and I’ll bring her a pot of pasta pesto in case she doesn’t like it. If they turned round and said o don’t worry we’ll do her own pasta pesto I’d be fine with that - it’s just nice to be catered for

Going out/takeaway sounds like a good option!

Otherwise I’d probably just get a bag of regular chicken nuggets that you know their kids eat and cook on a different tray from the gluten free ones for your kids. Or if your kids will eat the same as the adults then don’t bother with nuggets for them.

Hopefully you can come up with something all the adults like. I usually go for serving yourself in these kind of situations, so maybe a bit more variety than your usual family meals, but everything on bowls on table and just take what you like onto your plate. Kids included.

I have a dc with sensory issues, and extended family members who are coeliac, diabetic, on blood thinners, diets to lose weight etc.

Generally I do either buffet style meals or deconstructed meals and let everyone help themselves to whatever they can manage without comment.

But if eating out is an option I think you should do that.

@LetsGoCrazyPurpleBanana

Get a takeaway. Can't deal with fussy people. Allergies are different.

This what I'd do. My step-MIL is incredibly picky, so we just get a take away so she can choose what she likes.

Depends what you mean by picky though...

Just cook something really plain simple and homely. Mince and mashed potatoes. Chicken and chips. Bangers and mash. Some steamed veg.

Pudding; fruit salad, and a cheese board with crackers.

I tend to do a choice and cater to have lots of leftovers so I don't need to cook next week

E.g. when cooking for my vegan BIL, very fussy mum, dad who thinks a meal without meat is sacrilege and children who won't eat anything messy with a sauce, I'll do:

-A vegan chilli or curry in the slow cooker
-Some sort of marinated chicken, possibly kebabs
-Jacket potatoes or some sort of bread and rice (mum won't eat rice)
-salad and crudités

Those who have the meat can treat the chilli/curry as a veg side.

I'd be pretty tempted to do an absolute feast of all my best dishes - maybe a really good roast dinner, or a spectacular curry, plus plain pasta followed by ice cream for the kids, partly because the parents must be so bloody sick of either having to cook 2 meals or eating beige shite.

Self Assembly meals - for example tacos and burritos or meatballs/falafel/pita/salad items and some interesting sauces, pizza with choice of toppings, sushi. Also if several people coming a couple of different pasta dishes eg veg lasagna and spaghetti with a meat-based sauce.