Does this menu look ok?

[BellaAndDave]

My DS is bringing his newish partner for dinner on Sunday and I’ve never cooked a full vegan menu before. Does this look ok? Is it too over the top for going to your new partners parents for dinner? I just want her to feel welcome.

Spicy butternut squash and sweet potato soup.

Beetroot and mushroom wellington, roast potatoes, parsnip and carrots tossed in dandelion honey and onion gravy will be on the table too.

Coconut passion fruit and mango pavlova.

Sounds amazing 😍

How are you making the pavlova?

Can I come?

I presume you're using aquafaba instead of eggs for the pavlova?

Does sound lovely though. I'd leave out the sweet potatoe in the soup and just go with butternut squash.

Sounds perfect! Assuming you are not using eggs for the pavlova!

I'm not even vegan but I would snarf this down in about a minute.

Just do butternut squash soup and roast the sweet potatoes.

https://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/recipes/vegan-coconut-and-mango-pavlova/

This recipe

Sounds delicious! I tried making meringue using aquafaba once and it was hideous...have you practised??

Sounds bloody lovely. What time do you want us?

Good plan with just butternut squash soup and I never thought of roasting the sweet potatoes! I’ll do that instead of normal potatoes, thank you.

If you decide against the meringue, maybe a crumble for pudding? The Alpro custard is nice.

First attempt was a disaster 😂. Fourth attempt is looking better ha ha

I have googled and apparently strict vegans exclude honey from their diet because they believe it involves exploiting the bees, @BellaAndDave - maybe use brown sugar on the carrots instead?

Obviously check for meat products in the gravy etc. and don't use cream or meat stock in the soup, but I am sure you have already thought of that. The main problem is the pavlova, does the egg white substitute make a good meringue?

I wonder whether having 3 courses may be a little over the top? It does sound nice though. Do check whether any wine or beer is vegan... Most of it is but not all. I was very pleasantly surprised to find that all the pre-rolled chilled ready-made pastry I looked at in the supermarket a few months ago, when cooking for my newly vegan brother-in-law, was actually vegan, so no problem there if you are buying your pastry.

It's very nice of you to take such trouble and I am sure it will be appreciated.

Dandelion honey isn't honey https://www.thespruceeats.com/dandelion-honey-recipe-1806823

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius I think dandelion honey is actually a vegan honey substitute made from dandelion flowers... but I am prepared to be corrected.

Sounds lovely but also a bit try-hard if I’m being honest.
Why not just some normal vegetarian gravy? It’s a bit safer than assuming they like dandelion and honey (which most vegans won’t eat anyway)

i think your menu sounds really lovely but maybe a bit OTT and too formal?

I personally would do-

drinks with some nibbles (nuts/olives)
then the beetroot wellington
then offer a pudding. Keep it a bit more casual.

also if I ate soup I would in no way be able to manage a full main. Soup is very filling.

Sounds delicious! The only thing I'd be unsure of is honey, lots of vegans don't eat it so just check with your DS. Id also stick with regular potatoes not sweet for the main or you've got similar flavours in the first two courses

I agree with this- it looks quite filling and three courses might be a bit full on. Drop the starter.

Sounds delicious, but a tiny bit heavy.

I say this as someone who can get a bit overfaced with a big menu, which used to stress me out when eating at someone's house when I was younger.

(I'm not an MN competitive under eater btw, I can pack it away- just little and often!)

I'm vegan and think it sounds amazing! I wouldn't replace potato with sweet potato though as personally I hate sweet potatoes, maybe check whether she likes them? The dessert sounds lovely, it's rare to get given a vegan dessert so that's really nice.

Same. I’d struggle to eat much after the soup.