help - vegan coming for dinner.

[HufflepuffRavenclaw]

Having friends over for dinner next week. Woman of the couple is quite faddy in her eating. Over the time we have know them she has been gluten-free for about 6 months, abandoned that and then gave up alcohol completely for about a year, stopped doing that and then cut out sugar, was also a pescetarian for a while. Latest is that she is vegan.

I am not a vegan and have zero interest in vegan food/cooking. I am looking for ideas which are easily adapted to vegan diets - so for example I could do tomato/mozzarella/basil and crusty bread for a starter and use vegan "cheese" for her.

Think I may buy a dessert for her as any decent pud has to have cream and butter in it.

Any ideas?

Do you have a recipe for vegan cheese @BocolateChiscuits?

I make my own cashew cream, and it is a game changer for a korma curry.

@HufflepuffRavenclaw
to be fair tbh you have made some really good points in this thread and you really don’t sound stuck in the 80’s. Some posts are a little harsh and uncalled for. Good luck with your dinner party

@RampantIvy my MIL bought me a vegan cheese kit so I uaw the recipes in that, but I think this is basically the same one as the mozzarella one: www.noracooks.com/easy-stretchy-vegan-mozzarella-cheese/ It won't taste like mozzarella, but it will definitely taste good on a homemade pizza.

Cashew cream korma sounds devine- totally going to try that one!

Rates of heart disease disagree.

Just 80 billion land animals every year.

My thoughts exactly. God forbid anyone actually tries to improve their health! 🙄

Maybe she has underlying health conditions and she's trying to cut out certain things to see if it helps.

@BocolateChiscuits

www.bosh.tv/recipes/creamy-roast-veggie-korma-veganuary-week-1

I am a vegetarian, almost vegan if it wasn't for cheese and yoghurt. I like applewood. It's a smoked cheese and nothing like the horrible vegan cheeses.

I understand your quandary OP, and would have the same dilemma.

In my opinion ( and I know opinions may vary) it would be a compromise to produce an entirely vegan meal for everyone in these circumstances. ( especially given what you have said about her pickiness) I know, how unethical, unkind, and old fashioned of me!

There have been lots of curry based suggestions-for me despite extensive trying, I still dislike it. It's a texture more than a taste issue. Do the other guests enjoy curry?

It's also very true that if your heart isn't in what you're cooking, it rarely turns out well. If you can adapt starter and pudding, I would do one of your usual lovely choices for the main event and maybe cook something separate and simple for her. It's terribly cliched but nut roast can be quite tasty. Have a google, and good luck.

So curry or chili isn't enough of an event meal (which it absolutely can be imo, with the right side etc), but haggis neeps and tatties is? The only time that's an event meal is on burns night - every other day of the year its the equivalent of mince and tatties.

I'm not sure this thread is supposed to be as funny as it is.

What your planning is what I'd always do, OP. I don't understand this special meal planning. Plain a meal that is basically low on the animal products but still what you like, and add a little extra to cover off the vegan's needs. Tapas is a good way to do it if you like Tapas.

Really no need to feed her non-vegan wine, it’s really easy to find something she can have (or at least, have in for any real vegans that come along) www.barnivore.com

Really? Better stop eating all vegetables, fruits, beans, lentils, pasta, bread, etc. Then.

Very, very churlish. I can almost see your bottom lip curling and your foot stomping like a petulant child.

@Panpig I'd love the recipe for this if you're able to share 😊

I see the vegans have turned up with their weird ideas that those of us who are not vegan exist entirely on a diet of eggs, cheese and bacon, never eating any fruit, veg or pasta.

People who are ominvores eat a much wider range of food than people who are vegan. The clue's in the word "omnivore". It's the vegans who have stopped eating stuff, not us. Totally missing the point of the thread too which was me asking for meals which can be adapted. Think it's churlish if you like to not to want an entirely vegan meal - don't really care. I'd not sooner follow an exclusively vegan diet than you would follow an onmivorous one.

And yes @Words it feels like a compromise. It means my choice of all the foods in the world to cook/serve has been slashed to what feels like about 2% of the dishes in the world. To accommodate the latest fad.

Do you make your own curry paste @Panpig? A lot of the ready made ones contain fish sauce.

I agree @aveline161. Vegan wine is easily available at any supermarket, and is indistinguishable from non vegan wine.

It never fails to astonish me that so many people don't realise that a lot of foods they eat are in fact vegan @Quinoawoman.

I am not vegan BTW. I'm just not narrow minded.

@Panpig's idea is excellent. What's wrong with that OP? I'm sure it could be done without a slow cooker. Your guests will think you're so clever too to accommodate everyone.

I've noticed a thing tho about perceived pickiness - several omnivore posters declaring for instance they don't like curry. What? ALL curry? Does that make them picky? My dear mum hated anything 'spicy'. That was far harder to accommodate than vegan imo.

It means my choice of all the foods in the world to cook/serve has been slashed to what feels like about 2% of the dishes in the world. To accommodate the latest fad.

Yes. It might FEEL like 2% but it really isn't is it?
Have you looked at Ottolenghi recipes OP? Free online and Google able. Lots of sharing type plates. Really fun for a dinner party and pleases everyone

@RampantIvy it is fairly easy to get Thai curry paste without fish sauce can’t remember the brand but bought it yesterday.

@HufflepuffRavenclaw I am assuming the latest fad is personal to your guest rather than veganism. But actually very few dishes are slashed. Ingredients yes (and even them meat/dairy/eggs) is usually just the protein side and it can need some invention to find suitable protein but nothing is off limits (apart from meat and two veg)

I've already said I am doing Spanish style tapas. With some sort of shop bought dessert for the vegan.

I'd just get a vegan ready meal and continue with the yummy stuff that you are planning for everyone else.

You are the one who said you don't want to eat a vegan meal, though. Like ONE vegan meal out of every meal you've ever eaten? I'm not a vegan by the way - but myy sister was for years, back when no good subsitutes were awailable, and I bent over backwards, quite happily, to cater for her. I just find this 'I won't eat vegan food' attitude very odd.

It sounds to me like you are more interested in showing off your cooking skills rather than catering to your guests, which really is not good hosting. I wonder why you invited them at all if you're going to have this attitude about it?

You could have just googled recipes but instead you came on here in the hope that everyone would tell you not to bother catering for her. When it is clear that people think your attitude as a host leaves room for improvement, you accuse them of being vegans, which to you, is literally the worst possible thing to be. 😂

To be fair @Quinoawoman I don't think she was planning to impress with her tomato and mozzarella starter. That's the ultimate relaxed (and I mean that in a good way) starter.
Anyway OP you've had some questions answered - varied but generally negative views of vegan cheese but lots of alternative ideas. If ultimately you feel the way you do about vegan and other diets I'd bet guests more carefully in the future.

Oh and, going slightly off topic, may I share my favourite (easy) vegan pud? Summer pudding. Cheap white bread, sugar and cheap frozen fruit. It's so easy, and great for everyone. You can service dairy or dairy free cream/ice cream to accompany. See that's vegan, naturally, and what's not to like for an omnivore?

Mmm, summer pudding.