Help me think of a family dinner for guests with lots of fussy people...

[MsAstronaut]

Kids who don't like foods mixed together / foods in sauce
Some people don't like various veg
Some people don't like various meat

All I can think of is baked potatoes with lots of choices of toppings, which I would love but it doesn't seem formal or "dinnery" enough.

I have v limited oven space too, so while I could do a batch of baked potatoes, I couldn't do for example lots of pizzas.

Any genius ideas (or tell me baked potatoes would be ok!?)

TIA

Frittata party?

Tortillas with variety of fillings?

Diy burgers/vegetables burgers/portobello mushroom

Some kind of pic n mix salad?

Oh yes Giles I like the burgers idea! Thanks v much.

Would an Italian theme work?

Antipasti for starter

Pizzas for kids, pasta for adults

A big Mediterranean salad on the side

I'm not sure I would try to find one thing for everybody -- adults shouldn't really have to live by the kids' no food mixed together or sauces rule

Mexican, make your own tacos or burritos?

I'd do a pic'n'mix too - maybe picnic style.

I sort of agree bohemian, the no sauce thing is not much fun for adults. But if I can do something where you self-assemble and add your own sauce etc then we could all have the same thing. The limited cooking space means making multiple different options will be tricky...

I tend to do a risotto as a base dish - veggie with some Parma ham/ cheese on the side. Then have bread, salad - depending on how many people, possibly 1/2/3.

People then can choose how to do it. I also don't take masses of notice of children's likes/ dislikes.

Or I do veggie tagine and shoulder of lamb with a salad.

Essentially one veggie dish which acts as the base, one meat dish which people can choose to have and bits on the side.

And amongst my friends are vegans/ allergic to tomatoes/ carnivores.

Mmmmm Mexican - big pot of chilli, then just some unflavoured chicken strips etc for the kids, plus wraps, salad, guacamole etc.

A plan is forming...

No veggies in this case, so that makes it as bit simpler.

I'm not good at making risotto sadly. But do a good chilli.

I was going to suggest Mexican. It is my go to meal with fussy eaters and is even great for veggies with a refried bean dish, salsa, etc

What about a big roast then? Would that suit everyone?

Fajitas.

Sorted.

Would do a roast but don't have the oven capacity.

Chilli and associated sides is go. I knew MN would help me get there!

for big groups I always make the chilli really mild then make 2 salsas, one without chilli and one mindblowingly hot. It really works if you have anyone fussy about hotness (and I have some who hate it and some who put chilli on everything.

Bangers n mash?

Pudding? Maybe have some amazing pudding so really fussy ppl can just stuff their faces with pudding instead... Perhaps buy loads of different ice cream flavours and have different sprinkles available. And a fruit salad for the health conscious.

Ah I have to cater this situation regularly.

I do a casserole or curry type thing in the slow cooker - take the pot to the table for people to help themselves. Then I do some sort of "dry" meat for those who don't like sauce. Chicken Kebabs are a big hit with children or maybe some sort of steak/burger.

Plus one or two of bread/pasta/rice/couscous - whatever goes with the casserole and some nice salads, including a plate of carrot sticks, cherry toms, peppers, apple slices etc.

I do enough so everyone can have seconds of everything (which they don't) and then I don't have to cook again all week!