Food “allergies” and buffets

[rose789]

On Boxing Day we’re hosting 18 people for a buffet and I was really looking forward to it.
Sent a message out a few weeks ago to ask if any one had any dietary requirements. One of my friends has Coeliac disease so I was already making as much stuff as possible gluten free, and I’m planning on having a separate table for food that contains gluten to prevent cross contamination. All fine and dandy.
Couple of people have a shellfish allergy- no problem I won’t serve any.

My friends girlfriend messaged today. Backstory; they’ve been dating about 18 months, love my friend she’s a sweetheart but her girlfriend is so high maintenance. Everything has to be about her, there always has to be some drama every time we get together. I don’t like the woman but I always try to make an effort for my friends sake.

So she messaged this morning, to say that she couldn’t have gluten or wheat as she was allergic (crying face emojis galore)
I don’t believe her at all (I know I sound like bitch) but I have seen her eat gluten before (and recently) and she certainly didn’t show any ill effects. Messaged back to say not to worry friend X has ceoliac so there will be gf options.
Obviously didn’t give her the response she was looking for as she responded oh and did I tell you I was vegan?
Fuck off are you!! You decided to be vegan over night- nah mate.
I really want to respond back saying not to bother coming, but that will play right into her hands and give her the drama she wants. I think the only thing I can do is a message saying if she had told me this on X date when I asked I would have catered but it’s too late now. There will be salad on the table but she is welcome to bring her own food.
WWYD? And AIBU to want to punch her in the throat right now

Wait for the response that she doesn't eat palm oil either. Although non pre-made stuff will not contain it, a lot of the ready made will, unless you shop at Iceland and buy own brand.

"I'd get a nice selection of... "
Nah, forget that, just ignore her now and let her work it out for herself on the night. As long as there's salad and fruit on the table she's sorted.

This was like the vegetarian who was scoffing the smoked salmon mini quiches at a party i went to. Spent ages telling us she was a vegetarian🙄

Catering for your coeliac friend is lovely op. I've been a coeliac for years but family rarely cater for me. I always come with food but it's nice to be included.

Give her a bowl of nuts.

I’d fuck her off and tell her she will have to bring vegan options as you already asked about dietary requirements and she didn’t bring it up then
People with genuine allergies/intolerances 9 times out of 10, either tell you way in advance or offer to bring their own food.
DS has a life threatening dairy allergy, plus 6 other less severe allergies including soya, eggs and nuts. If we go anywhere where food is involved, we always take food for him rather than rely on someone else to cater for him - it’s safer for him.

Whatever vegan food you decide to prepare please do stand by the buffet poised to snatch anything that isnt vegan out of her hands with a loud "ooooo no you can't eat that! Here have some lettuce"

You definitely need to tell her to bring her own booze

"I'd get a nice selection of... "
Nah, forget that, just ignore her now and let her work it out for herself on the night. As long as there's salad and fruit on the table she's sorted.

I think the quote is from my post. I'm assuming you've never tried vegan cheese. There is no such thing as a "nice" selection. It's the work of the devil.

For the record, I am incredibly careful to cater for all dietary requirements and completely understand the need to take food intolerances seriously and to be respectful of other people’s principles. When I bring cakes in to work I bring in four different types to allow for all my colleagues with various combinations of gluten/dairy intolerance, nut allergies and veganism. When I’m hosting I would absolutely want everyone to feel welcome and catered for.

But someone you saw eating steak two months ago casually dropping in ‘you know
I’m vegan, right?’ as an afterthought in the conversation? Nah.

"I think the quote is from my post. I'm assuming you've never tried vegan cheese. There is no such thing as a "nice" selection. It's the work of the devil."

Agreed, it's nasty. A lot of people seem to think that Op should go buy some extra stuff to provide a nice vegan selection. What I'm saying is that there is no need to go to the effort of getting a special and nice selection of anything (including vegan cheese) for this lady. Vegans eat fruit, nuts, salad - which I guess will already be available. I might just add a jar of Marmite and suitable peanut butter, which always goes down a treat.