French exchange student

[maslinpan]

I have a 13 yo exchange student visiting for a week. I need some ideas for typically English meals that are also halal. I can buy halal meat quite easily, but my mind has gone blank as most of what we eat - tortilla wraps, curry, pasta, pizza - is no particularly English when I think about it. I don't want to challenge him too much in case he is not very adventurous.

If you decide to make a traditional trifle, check the ingredients of the jelly, as most will contain gelatine.

I just remembered that chicken Kiev was my French ex's absolute favourite meal. I had to make them from scratch in France but it was the first thing we picked up whenever we got to England. The processed ones were just better to him. For some reason they only have pre made chicken corden Bleu in France despite garlic and butter being the cornerstone of French food 🤷🏻‍♀️

Make sure you’ve got some decent coffee. They start drinking if from quite a young age and instant won’t be good enough.

As it turns out, all my overthinking was a complete waste of time. He seems to only eat pasta with no sauce of any kind, no vegetables - he's allergic to all of them - halal chicken nuggets, and white bread with Philly. It would have been quite helpful to know that beforehand!

Oh no!

Or has he been hearing how (allegedly) bad British food is, and he's got The Fear ?

Hmmm "allergic" to all veg
Sounds like most French students though, plain pasta with a slice of ham on top (obviously no ham for Muslim kids) is a student staple.
Hope you survive! It's frustrating when you've made a mental effort.

If you serve up jelly make sure there is no gelatine in it or if there is that it is not pork gelatine (in middle eastern shops all the sweets have beef gelatine in!). Check any bought desserts for pork gelatine.