What can I make for dinner

[paulinespecial]

Friends coming over Saturday for dinner. There’s 6 of us.
One is vegetarian
One is keto
the other 4 like anything

It’s mid winter here so cold. It’s also a public holiday and celebration (Matariki in NZ so basically new year). I’d normally make a roast because it’s warming, celebratory, always delicious, easy and everyone loves it(the veggie loves a plate of all the side dishes just no meat and the keto person does the same no potatoes) except we are going out on Friday for a big roast with family.

Any ideas? Keto person is happy to swap rice or pasta for veggies where that’s possible.

Paella?

Mac and cheese with sides?
Sides of chicken, salad, garlic bread.
The keto person can have the chicken, do some boiled eggs, slices of cheese, bacon with the salad (or on the side).
The vegetarian can avoid the chicken and bacon.

Eggs

Smoked tofu, peanuts or cashews, dried and fresh mushrooms, and aubergines, in a Chinese-style stew. Heaps of bright steamed and roast vegetables, including sweet potato wedges. Rice. Curried shrimp or dry-fried prawns as another side.

Fajitas? Tacos?
Plonk everything on the table and they help themselves to the bits they want. I've done similar when we had a vegan visit and I was doing keto:

-onions and peppers cooked together
-rice. Cauli rice is a good sub for the keto. Either made from scratch or you can normally get single serve bags in the freezer section
-Grated cheese (need to check for rennet for veggie)
-Lettuce and tomato
-Refried beans
-Guacamole
-Chicken in a fajita/taco mix
-Halloumi strips in fajita mix for the veggie

I found these lower carb wraps from NZ online but there might be other versions. I'd checked with the keto friend though, because they might just want to use a lettuce leaf to wrap their's up, or just eat from the plate. https://kiwicornerdairy.com/products/farrahs-ultra-keto-low-carb-wraps-5-pack?variant=50414785659154&country=GB&currency=GBP&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&srsltid=AfmBOoq1F52J898VGAAdMQYadVJuZa8tzu2GGQhLiPeOdz4C8S8YDeSt6qk

Hmm good suggestions for an informal friends meal but I’m not feeling these are quite right for a winter celebratory meal.
Matariki is a bit like our xmas as we have xmas in the blazing sun (so that’s when paella etc comes out).
Maybe we just suck up the double roast!

Sorry, I think because MN is very UK centric. I didn't realise Matariki is like a Christmas, celebratory meal. When you said like new years, I was thinking more nibbles and drinks type get together. Some other ideas:

-India themed meals. A curry with lots of sides such as saag ponir, tarka daal, aloo gobi, cauli rice etc
-If you could find small caulis, you could do 2- one with and one without bacon https://www.delish.com/cooking/recipe-ideas/a26882653/bacon-wrapped-cauliflower-recipe/
-Go Middle eastern with some of Ottilenghi's recipes. Maybe lamb with sides? https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/roast-aubergines-yogurt-harissa
https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/roast-lamb-shoulder-potatoes-fennel
https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/celebration-rice-lamb-chicken-garlic-yoghurt
https://ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/baked-halloumi-fennel-carob-syrup
ottolenghi.co.uk/pages/recipes/black-white-hummus