Proper Protocol: What to serve at dinner parties when you're a vegetarian?

Thanks for the article. We learn a lot from Active Rain Blogs. Best Regards,

Hi Ralph,

I am not a vegetarian, but have friends & family who are. In a reverse situation I always have veggie burgers, eggplant rollatini, etc. for them., and I have stuff for me & other non-vegetarians.

I think if you are not comfortable serving others meat & being you eat fish, you could have a lovely non-meat party with shrimp, pasta, fruit, vegatable dishes, etc. You can even mix ethnic dishes, vegatable samosas &  dumplings. There are so many delicious non-meat foods that I think no one would question "Where's the beef".  Truly no right or wrong thing to do & whatever you decide is 100% correct.

Good luck!

Jeana Cowie, Broker Associate/Real Estate Agent, Re/Max Real Estate Ltd, Bergen County, NJ

Hi Ralph-

Vegetarian lasagna does the trick every time.  Serve with a green salad and garlic bread (preferably sourdough), and you will be all set.  If you have a last-minute vegetarian addition, you can cook some pasta, throw on some cream and Parmesan and have fettuccine alfredo in a flash. 

Of course, If you fix a great dessert, no one will remember what you serve or the main course!

Sara in San Antonio

Hi Ralph ~ I would probably think more seriously about becoming a vegetarian if I could cook.  Not for health reasons but because I don't feel good about eating animals, factory farming, etc. When I worked for a college we visited a Waldorf school one day and were served the most delicious vegetarian lunch I've ever had. I've never forgotten it.  Me oh my - if you can cook a tasty vegetarian meal - go for it!

Liz

This is hard.  The vegetarian lasagna would be great and even carnivores would like it.  Or you could serve seafood entrees.  My sister-in-law and her family eat kosher and she gets offended if non-kosher meals are served.  Eating meat or eating non-kosher food one time isn't going to hurt anyone IMHO, but people tend to get really touchy about this for some reason.  Oy vey. 

It sounds like you surround yourself with many people who are vegetarians and most of the time the people you invite over know that about you anyway. My advice, serve what you enjoy but still serve one dish of meat for others who are not vegetarians. At the end of the night, offer to send the left-overs home with them as well so you know the food won't go to waste.

Ralph,

My daughter is in the same boat you're in. She eats fish and shellfish but no meat. Her friends are a mixed bag of meat eaters, vegans and vegetarians. She finds amazing recipes in vegetarian or seafood cookbooks and online. My husband and I are meat eaters, but we've never had a problem eating dinner at her house! Vegetarian Times is a magazine she loves, or even the vegetarian section of the Food Network website. I'm sure you already have a ton of great dinner ideas, but I thought this might help. Good luck, I hope it's a huge success!