To tell newly vegan guest to bring their own dish on Christmas Day?

[GunpowderGelatine]

I'm hosting Christmas day at my house this year, not something I've done in ages. There's ten of us, including the kids, which is a great number - my plan, like every year I cook, is to order M&S food and pick it up on Christmas Eve then just bung it all in the oven and make some homemade gravy. I usually get a pork joint as I'm not a turkey fan, but will also be getting a turkey joint for my guests. I'm not usually the type to stress about Christmas dinner (it's only a roast after all!) but I also want it to be as simple as possible. One of my guests has declared they are now vegan. Which is a bit of a PITA for dinner if I'm honest as I'll have to sort a vegan main, gravy, dessert etc. I also have a nut allergy sufferer in the group which excludes quite a lot of vegan options as mains.

WIBU to ask the newly vegan guest to bring their own dish on the day or is that really rude? I've kind of planned the food around the size of my oven/hob and could do without the added stuff having to go in it (don't mind warming something up though)?

@justmyview - totally agree about timings and have said so.

I am currently just confused by lockheart, not the OP. I get why an oven full of food is a logistics issue.

The vegan Wellington I had the other day was a filling of butternut squash, chickpeas, red onion and cranberries, OP. I don't think chestnuts were an ingredient.

I'd just not invite the nut allergy person as they could end up eating something with nuts in by mistake. Everything at xmas has nuts in.
I'd just ask the vegan what they wanted and get that. Lidl do a lot of vegan stuff, well they did last year.

You can go the extra mile to make them feel welcome BUT you are likely to get it wrong (either in flavour, cooking or on identifying what is truly vegan) if you are not familiar with the diet.

We have severe food allergies in the family, my son can die if he has the wrong food, but that that doesn’t mean everyone has to turn themselves over to accommodate us, we just bring our own either in a one potion Tupperware or as a big dish that can be shared with everyone around.

I really don’t see why you have to turn yourself around and spend money and time cooking something to fit their CHOICES when you have already a big group to cater for. Just say that you are afraid of getting the wrong and could they please bring something to complement the sides you will have in offer?

Why aren't vegetables vegan??

I can cook very well I just can't be arsed making pigs in blankets and potato dauphinois from scratch when M&S does it tastier and easier

Flip do your guests really feel welcome? I expect people are trying to come up with excuses to give yours a miss this year

Just say "fuck". Seriously no one will mind. Super Judgemental Mummy. Anyway why are you on MN and not off singing carols to your darling precious bundle of joy? Whatever will the neighbours think!

Why aren't vegetables vegan

Because according to some other posters not covering them in real butter and goose fat is "penalising" your guests

they won't care or notice

Can your guest have a raw food vegan meal that you whip out of the fridge?
It will take a bit of prep but would it be better than the vegan guest arriving with stuff you have to juggle heating?

Can I just say, I know it seems like it's easier to use M&S prepared dishes, but when it comes to different diets, I find it's so much less hassle to make your own veg and trimmings.

That way you can separate things as you're cooking and use the same potatoes to make half goose fat and half olive oil, etc. Same with veg dishes containing butter and bacon, and so on. Also, I would make more of the veg vegan so that at least the vegan has lots of choice - no-one else is going to have an issue with veg dishes also being vegan.

@GunpowderGelatine The OP is buying ready prepared veg and potatoes from M and S. They will already have butter and goose fat on them.

YABU, just stick a Quorn Sunday roast joint thingie in the oven. It's not that hard!

Not that hard if you know how to cook that.

I would class myself as a very competent cook, and although the execution of a roast dinner isn't difficult, the timings are. I do find that giving the meat a long resting time makes all the difference, and allows time and the space to finish everything off.

I think it is because there are so many elements to the meal that all need to be ready at the same time that complicates matters.

You are making too much of this. Vegetables and potatoes are vegan. If all you did was serve those I am sure your 'guest' would be happy with that. If you want to push the boat out and add a no nuts vegan pie go ahead!! If not, don't. A bowl of strawberries with sprinkled icing sugar will take all of a minute to prepare.

Are you sure you want to do this? You don't sound very keen and I am beginning to feel sorry for your guests.

If you have an Iceland near you then they do a great vegan range. As it's frozen then you can buy it any time.

Vegan shopping is pretty easy tbh lots of choices at Christmas! But if it’s just for one guest I’d see no reason why you can ask for them to bring their own. Why don’t you meet in the middle and maybe get a nice starter or dessert for them to show you have made some effort?

I'd just not invite the nut allergy person as they could end up eating something with nuts in by mistake. Everything at xmas has nuts in

Yet we've somehow managed 40 years with my sister eating Christmas dinner without any drama (except the time she was hungover and spent the morning puking her guts up)

Right, I have messaged the vegan guest the link to M&S food and they've swiftly come back saying the plant kitchen meat-free sausages and packet gravy will do fine and no problem them being in the oven with the meat. Problem solved

And also cooking roast potatoes in animal fat is not the done thing anymore. Vegetable oil is just as good now. Why are you set on m and s food?

The christmas prepared vegetables are not covered in butter from M&S and the neither are the potatoes. Of course you can buy the goose fat ones, but is it that much trouble to choose the ones without goose fat????

mince pies and christmas pudding may contain nuts unfortunately. I think a nut free xmas is stressful ask your friend for suggestions for what she could eat, explain the nut thing, she may volunteer to bring her own food.

The beauty of M and S at Christmas is you can buy everything ready prepared in a tray just to go in the oven. No chopping or pre preparation.

I am a vegetarian and would be happy to provide my own meal, no problem at all. I actually prefer that than to arrive and realise there is nothing for me to eat, or hear about the extra struggle my host was put into. My decision to have a specific regime, my responsibility.

Re non-vegan veg - I'm getting some ready-prepped veg in a tray slathered in tasty goodness but also a pre-prepared bag on broccoli, carrots and sweet corn to pop in the steamer. I eat olive spread anyway not butter (tastier and spreads like a dream) so plenty of veg will be vegan.

@Considermesometimes Oh I had assumed they were as they usually say they are vegetarian, but not vegan.

Why are you set on m and s food?

Because it's tasty

And also cooking roast potatoes in animal fat is not the done thing anymore

Oh no, what will the village elders say?!

I love my goose fat and I'm sticking with it

Yabu, i cater to all my guests and that includes diets and allergies.
It really won’t take up much room in the oven with one small dish