Complicated mix of dietary requirements - help!

[RockingMyFiftiesNot]

I've a group of friends coming to dinner next weekend.
I've entertained them as individual couples before but never all together. It's a celebration, so would like to make it a special 3 course meal.
I'm a confident cook and am quite used to catering for various dietary requirements. But now I've sat down to think about this group and the combination of requirements, I'm struggling a bit. Partly because I've other things going on at the moment so don't really have a clear head.

Help appreciated with starter, main course, dessert to accommodate:
Gluten free
No nuts (bang goes my usual almond based GF cakes): 'no nuts' is for someone who is avoiding them due to cold sores, not a life threatening allergy)
No heavy dairy (no cream or butter or cows cheese). Vegan butter (Flora) works well but never find vegan cream that good. they are ok with Greek yoghurt. Another guest doesn't like goats cheese.
No chocolate.
One guest really dislikes meringue in any form, this is also the nut free person as I could have done an almond GF cake and a Pavlova as alternative for dessert.
I've a feeling I've missed something, sorry in advance if so am not at home with my list.

I don't mind having slightly different versions of dishes but don't want to serve completely different things to avoid their embarrassment and to be honest less work for me. I appreciate I might have to make two desserts but would rather not if possible .

I'm not out to impress but do want it to-feel special as it's a celebration .

I've had a couple of thoughts but not feeling like they are very special (will share later, don't want to influence suggestions)

Any help appreciated, thanks

Definitely do the figs, ham, Roquefort - drizzle with truffle honey for extra wow. Maybe a boeuf bourguinon main? Marco Pierre White has a great recipe on YouTube (promoting Knorr stockpots, but the result is great, we had it last weekend), just leave out the mushrooms from the garnish. Serve with fondant potatoes (I would say mash, but not if avoiding dairy) and petits pois. Dessert - a tarte tatin with vegan puff pastry and a caramel sauce?

It depends how often you hold dinner parties with all these people but can really recommend this cook book, it has recipes that are all gluten free and can be made vegan really easily.
www.amazon.co.uk/How-Make-Anything-Gluten-Free/dp/1787136612/ref=asc_df_1787136612/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=430871429448&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15583720600124855754&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045572&hvtargid=pla-944284069372&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=97419296822&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=430871429448&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15583720600124855754&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045572&hvtargid=pla-944284069372

Orange or lemon Polenta cake is a great shout - you can serve it with a variety of creams/ice creams/mascarpone/yoghurt and maybe berries.

What's the deal with chocolate? And no nuts due to cold sores???

This is giving me flashbacks to a time when I had to cook for a group who between them didn't eat meat, fish, mushrooms, cheese, lentils, aubergine, courgettes, fennel or chilli. Mumsnet's considered opinion was that I should hide behind the sofa and pretend I was out until they'd gone away

@Heathofhares

Maybe an orange polenta cake for pud

Oh yes that sounds like the kind of cake I would normally make with almonds - will take a look

@PassingByAndThoughtIdDropIn

Orange or lemon Polenta cake is a great shout - you can serve it with a variety of creams/ice creams/mascarpone/yoghurt and maybe berries.

What's the deal with chocolate? And no nuts due to cold sores???

This is giving me flashbacks to a time when I had to cook for a group who between them didn't eat meat, fish, mushrooms, cheese, lentils, aubergine, courgettes, fennel or chilli. Mumsnet's considered opinion was that I should hide behind the sofa and pretend I was out until they'd gone away

Yes I know, I can usually cater for multiple requirements quite easily but this combination has thrown me. Feel like I'm getting sorted now thanks to this thread and everyone's help. Thank you .

@Inextremis

Definitely do the figs, ham, Roquefort - drizzle with truffle honey for extra wow. Maybe a boeuf bourguinon main? Marco Pierre White has a great recipe on YouTube (promoting Knorr stockpots, but the result is great, we had it last weekend), just leave out the mushrooms from the garnish. Serve with fondant potatoes (I would say mash, but not if avoiding dairy) and petits pois. Dessert - a tarte tatin with vegan puff pastry and a caramel sauce?

Sounds great- but don't think vegan pastry is GF. Am thinking maybe poached pears and orange or lemon polenta cake, with a crumb made with GF flour and vegan Flora (no vegan guests but by definition avoids the dairy problem) with a selection of accompaniments (DF ice cream, cream for those who can have it and Greek yog for DF guest. Getting there!

@LunaLoveFood

It depends how often you hold dinner parties with all these people but can really recommend this cook book, it has recipes that are all gluten free and can be made vegan really easily. www.amazon.co.uk/How-Make-Anything-Gluten-Free/dp/1787136612/ref=asc_df_1787136612/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=430871429448&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15583720600124855754&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045572&hvtargid=pla-944284069372&psc=1&th=1&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=97419296822&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=430871429448&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=15583720600124855754&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045572&hvtargid=pla-944284069372

Thank you, I'll take a look. Although it's the combination of all the other requirements on top that was giving me the biggest headache!

Nigellas lemon polenta cake is fab. Crumble works really well with gf oats instead of flour, or half gf flour and half gf oats.

@Tanaqui

Nigellas lemon polenta cake is fab. Crumble works really well with gf oats instead of flour, or half gf flour and half gf oats.

Thank you and great tip re the oats, will add a bit of bite too

Another vote for Becky Excell, she has so many gluten free recipes catered for dairy free as well. And she uses different flours to almond flour so worth a look for a pudding too

Why not go for a cheesecake style base with GF biscuits and vegan shortening?

It's not as though 90% of GF biscuits are remotely edible in their usual state after all

Starter: individual cocktails of smoked salmon, cucumber ribbons and herb yogurt dressing.

Main: fillet of beef, bearnaise sauce, pomme noisette or roasties, tender stem broccoli and green beans.

Dessert: make your own sundaes: provide bananas, ice creams, sorbets, gluten free crumbly biscuits, fruit, liqueurs to pour over, whipped cream, Greek yogurt: big glasses, lots of scoops and let hilarity begin.

Correction: bearnaise too buttery. Consider bordelaise (or similar) instead.

Jus-rol seem to do a gluten-free puff pastry which is also vegan. I've never tried it, and suspect it may taste like cardboard, but then again it might not!

@Inextremis

Jus-rol seem to do a gluten-free puff pastry which is also vegan. I've never tried it, and suspect it may taste like cardboard, but then again it might not!

Ooh I will look out for that thanks but will give it a go on the family before serving to guests another time. I've had vegan puff pastry and it's absolutely fine. Not noticed a GF one, will have a look

@ODFOgrinch

Starter: individual cocktails of smoked salmon, cucumber ribbons and herb yogurt dressing.

Main: fillet of beef, bearnaise sauce, pomme noisette or roasties, tender stem broccoli and green beans.

Dessert: make your own sundaes: provide bananas, ice creams, sorbets, gluten free crumbly biscuits, fruit, liqueurs to pour over, whipped cream, Greek yogurt: big glasses, lots of scoops and let hilarity begin.

Yum, fantastic thanks

If you are looking for a dairy free whipping cream, Elmlea do a vegan version (double abs single) The double whips well and tastes quite nice.

The bought GF pastry is gross. I've made some nice desserts using gluten free flour and gluten free oats. You have to make sure the oats are actually gluten free. My best so far was a summer fruits crumble, yes a bit run of the mill but actually quite fabulous.

I use Knorr GF stock cubes.

A lot of stuff is actually gluten free. Products have to say contains gluten, not that it's gluten free.

Is the dairy free person lactose intolerant, or allergic to dairy? If lactose intolerant, there are some excellent lacto free products available.

I think I’d make them all bring a packed lunch!

@Nemesia

If you are looking for a dairy free whipping cream, Elmlea do a vegan version (double abs single) The double whips well and tastes quite nice.

Thank you, will give that a go. I usually just avoid cream but a friend is coming to us for Christmas with her son who is vegan so definitely want to find a decent cream substitute

Is the dairy free person lactose intolerant, or allergic to dairy? If lactose intolerant, there are some excellent lacto free products available.

I've know this person for years and haven't ever managed to get a proper answer from them. I know for sure no milk, butter or cheese from cows milk. Goat and sheep cheese is fine. But the Greek yogurt they use is from cows' milk. So I just use what they say is ok and avoid what they say they can't have. If making something milky like a sauce or custard, then I use oat milk. But then they said they just use ordinary milk for that, it's heavy dairy they avoid. So I think just butter, cream, cheese. Would rather not risk it though.

Starter - smoked salmon
Main - jambalaya
Pudding - poached pears & Swedish glace ice cream (available in most supermarkets and both vegan & gluten free).

I cook for a lactose intolerant person it's zero dairy products or a full flush. We established that fav wine (containing milk) was off the menu