Stranger For Lunch

[EcclesCake]

Someone I have never met has been invited for lunch and I have no idea of their likes/dislikes. I've decided what I am going to serve but am wondering what others would serve in this situation?

[mallyh]

difficult one but in this weather I would do jacket potatoes and salad and a selection of meats .followed by strawberries and cream or a cake x

[ummmm]

Do you know if they eat meat/fish?

[Old_Geezer]

I'd ask whoever invited them what their guest liked/disliked. But aside from that, whatever I was planning to serve anyway.

[NoMercy]

I'd probably do a roast dinner. You'd be hard pressed to find someone who doesn't like a roast.

[puzzlemaniac]

hmmm....vegetarians?

[ethandron]

I'd do a kind of buffet lunch with some new potatoes, a couple of salad options, some Indian/Chinese nibbles, a couple of interesting pies sliced up (including some with no meat just in case), a selection of chutneys, maybe some tasty bread, a few cheeses...that kind of thing.
What ideas have you had yourself?

[naomi24]

I'd do a buffet lunch with an assortment of meat, fish, cheese, various salads, new potatoes and fresh crusty bread.

[woofgang]

I would ask like OG says....

[jd_1984]

Pasta with roasted vegetables and some warm focaccia or ciabbatta bread. Its a veggie meal but substantial and its something I knock up when in doubt. I would then have some cooked chicken and chorizo on standby to dice up and mix in if it becomes clear they are not a vegetarian.

[woofgang]

the problem with pasta and bread is that if they are coeliac you are stuffed!

[jd_1984]

True. I would hope for some sort of hint before hand. Also, if I was the "stranger" is this scenario I may be inclined to let the host know as a courtesy which may be less awkward than not eating what is served.

[ummmm]

Even without allergies I really struggle with pasta and bread. It fills me up too quickly.

Anyways...what are your thoughts, Eccles?

[ludwig]

I'd go with Marmite sandwiches - there's a 50/50 chance they'll love them.

[EcclesCake]

I'm going down the antipasti board route.

Lots of prosciutto,salami, buffalo mozzarella, olives, artichokes, melon, avocado, tomatoes, focaccia and stuff that I have forgotten.

[mikey4444]

Some kind of salad, with cold meats and cheese, just in case this person is a
Veggie ! Lots of crusty bread and perhaps a fresh fruit salad for afters.

[mccfluff]

as a slightly fussy person.... that menu sounds ace Eccles, you can pick the bits you like and avoid the stuff you don't like without causing offence

i remember going to a friends mothers for dinner and my friend had told her mum that i won;t eat mushrooms or cooked tomatoes so she very kindly made me my own individual lasagna - no mushrooms and tom ketchup instead of tinned. you can draw your own conclusions... ( i ate it all btw)

[EcclesCake]

LOL Fluff. I have fond memories of being invited to a friends house for tea after school. I was asked how many mushrooms I would like. I know what your answer would be but I was lost for words, I just didn't know how to answer the question. I think I settled on three........not sure if that was greedy!

[mikey4444]

I think it always pays to be honest.

42 years ago, some friends of mine got married and I was invited to their first proper dinner party. She gave us stuffed lambs hearts, which were a speciality of her Mothers apparently.

They were revolting, with tubey things hanging out. If that wasn't all, lots of liver was used for the stuffing. But when she asked me how I was getting on, I lied and said they were lovely ( they weren't ! )

Then, for at least 20 afterwards, she made stuffed hearts every time I stayed.

They moved away then, and now I am only in contact by email !

Thank goodness !

[ethandron]

Sounds good to me, what's for pud? Got any room for a strange stranger? Or a few even stranger strangers, we could get up a coach party. I'll bring my free m&s wine...£10 meal deal is on again!

[EcclesCake]

How scary would it be hosting a bunch of random ABers to lunch????