Dinner for 6 inc 1 pescatarian, 1 nut allergy, 1 "no spicy".

[Trills]

I don't cook fish much.

My options are either to do a main fishy dish, or to do "little bits" and let people pick.

Or go full veggie, but I get the impression that most animal-eaters are a little bit disappointed if they don't get some animal.

I'll have all evening the day before to prep or do stew/curry/etc, but not a lot of time on the day itself.

The people I've invited are lovely and will be happy no matter what, but I still felt like asking you clever people for some inspiration.

Paella?

Big cheesy lasagne and homemade garlic bread. Lentils and a tablespoon of Marmite along with a half bottle of good heavy red wine in the ragu should make it sufficiently meaty for omnivores. Grilling or roasting the veg will bring out the flavours nicely and some gooey whole cloves of roasted garlic are always a hit. Oh I'm making myself hungry!

I'd do a huge veggie shepherds pie type thing; no spice, no meat and no nuts. Then serve with a salad. Veggies to go in the pit include onions, peppers, loads of courgettes, veggie mince if you want it meaty but the courgettes chopped up finely do that, tomatoes, a nice thick gravy from veggie stock and a lovely buttery cheesy mash.

And you can make it the day before and let it sit overnight and then cook.

Paella sounds like a good idea abut it'd have to be a truncated paella - I'd normally always have chorizo in it, and I don't like mussels.

I was contemplating a thai curry of some kind - a creamy coconutty one not a spicy one.

Lasagne would be fine. I do like lasagne. I just don't feel very "ooh, lasagne".

How about a big fishy tray bake? Lots of Mediterranean veg (peppers, tomatoes, courgettes, olives etc) on the bottom with olive oil and herbs. Roast in the oven for a bit then for the last 15 minutes put fillets of fish (cod or salmon) on the top. You could put a breadcrumb crust on too. Serve with garlic and rosemary roasted new small potatoes.

Salmon coulibiac

Salmon fillets
New potatoes
Green veg
Other veg

Crusty bread and butter, green salad

Lemon meringue pie

I'd probably do a fish pie with salmon, prawns, white fish and perhaps some smoked fish, in a white wine and tarragon white sauce, maybe a bit of saffron, then top it with grated (rather than mashed) potato and cheese - Gruyere, probably - for a bit of added 'dinner party-ness'.

I'd avoid curry of all kinds if one guest doesn't like 'spicy' - that doesn't necessarily mean 'hot' does it?

Salmon en croute , with spinach/cream cheese or Mary Berry's roasted veg version.

I would do three dishes, the first two of which can be made the day before:

aubergine parmigiana
wild mushroom stroganoff and tagliatelle
vegetable paella (delicious Ottolenghi recipe here) but go easy on the cayenne if you want "not spicy"

Then crusty bread and salad.

How about salmon en croute? (Here's a recipe www.eatdrinkcook.co.uk/recipe-salmon-en-croute/). It can all be prepared in advanced and then just bunged in the oven when your friends arrive. Easy peasy!

Fish pie or salmon pasta bake is too fishy for me I think (sorry!)

Maybe I should do some main veggie thing with extra bits to add on the side, so people can pick and mix a bit depending on what their "thing they don't eat" is.

I would do 'bits'

like a vegetarian sharing platter, a plain one and a spicy one. breadrolls/tear-and-share bread and dips/crudities.

What about something like a quiche? You could even make individual ones and put some bacon or something in all but the pescatarian one?