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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be upset by PILS choice of celebration meal.

581 replies

Shardlake63 · 03/07/2025 09:10

My PILs have just celebrated a significant wedding anniversary.
As part of that celebration, they hosted dinner in a private room at a local (to them) restaurant for their extended family - about 20 of us in total.
I am definitely not a picky eater. I eat pretty much everything, except salmon (which I am allergic to - it brings me out in a very itchy rash) and lamb (which I have always hated, and even the smell makes me want to throw up). My PILs are fully aware of this.
We travelled the best part of 200 miles to attend this dinner, not to mention the cost of an overnight stay in a local hotel as relatives with spare rooms were already full with their own sons/daughters and families staying overnight.
The meal was a set dinner - no choice or alternative was offered.
First course was smoked salmon, which I could not eat due to my allergy. Fair enough, I thought I would just fill up on the main course. However, the main course turned out to be a roast lamb dinner.
Apart from the smell of it knocking me sick, I couldn't even just eat the veg as it came to the table already smothered in a lamb based gravy.😥
I ended up just eating the dessert - a slice of lemon cheesecake - which was lovely, but hardly a satisfying substitution for what should have been a 3 course dinner.
AIBU to be upset at the lack of thought and consideration here? I was quite happy to forego the starter, but most restaurants do at least offer a vegetarian alternative for the main, which I would have been more than happy with. I also eat beef, chicken, pork, turkey, duck etc. and other fish (including shellfish) - I am not a fussy eater by any stretch of the imagination, so it would not have been difficult for my in-laws to ask the restaurant to provide me with an alternative to the lamb.
As it was, I had barely any dinner and by the time the meal was finished it was too late for me to eat anywhere else.
Am I being unreasonable to think they could at least have ordered me a vegetarian alternative in the full knowledge that I wouldn't be able to eat/didn't like their choice of set meal?

OP posts:
Mumble12 · 10/07/2025 11:57

HarrietBond · 07/07/2025 20:45

Yes, but none of that is really a big pain compared to the whole party enjoying themselves properly. Like many posters I suspect I've done it for both work and personal events and it really isn't the biggest inconvenience, particularly when it's people you care about. I suspect for an event like this someone else would gladly have taken it on as a favour to the hosts.

Added to the fact that if I was paying for all these meals, I would want people to actually eat (and enjoy!) them!!

Wayhome · 22/07/2025 19:26

Needlenardlenoo · 05/07/2025 08:39

Oh dear OP. I guess pre warned is pre armed if FIL invites you to anything else catered!

I had a similar (but less upsetting) experience last summer. My DSis and DBIL are a year apart in age. She threw a surprise 50th for him two years ago, and he threw a surprise 50th for her. In the time between the two events I became gluten intolerant. BIL didn't ask for dietary needs and I didn't volunteer the info because I assumed the food would be similar to the previous event. But it wasn't - it was all sandwich based and every item in the buffet had gluten in except a few cherry tomatoes!

I had to sneak downstairs to the cafe and order and pay for a baked potato. The woman who brought it told me off for not telling them in advance. But it was better than some separate shrink wrapped item!

I reckon I got away with it (nieces covered for me) but the difference is DBIL is a kindly soul who would have been mortified! And I did feel it was somewhat my fault, but I was also reluctant to be demanding.

Number one rule of hosting though is make your guests comfortable.

👍that is the way to handle a 50th party when the food doesn’t suit @Needlenardlenoo

MayaPinion · 17/12/2025 16:02

That’s such a weird choice for a set meal for a big group. Loads of people don’t like smoked salmon or lamb (I love salmon but absolutely hate lamb and lamb gravy). Normally with a group that size you puck the least offensive meal - the vegetable type soup and the chicken. It’s not riveting but at least most people will eat it.

godmum56 · 17/12/2025 17:05

hello? zombie

JohnTheRevelator · 17/12/2025 17:27

Are they aware of your salmon allergy/dislike of lamb? If so it sounds totally unreasonable of them. Sounds like the sort of thing my (now thankfully ex) MiL would have done. She goes to the chippy to get us all some dinner, and for some bizarre reason,knowing full well I can't stand offal of any kind. Comes back with a steak and kidney pie and chips for me. 🤢 Everyone else has fish (which I love) and chips.

readingismycardio · 17/12/2025 17:40

Shesellsseashellsnotinmystreet · 03/07/2025 09:15

Next time ils visit serve up a strict vegan 5 course meal...

Raw vegan if possible!

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