WWYD Ethnic food for party

[meltoine]

DH is Syrian and Lebanese. We eat Syrian and Lebanese foods at home regularly. We are throwing a party after DS3's baptism. H wants to serve Syrian and Lebanese food exclusively at this party. Guest list includes some of his extended family (also Syrian) and many of our friends and neighbors (white southerners who have probably never eaten Syrian/Lebanese food).

I think it's a little inconsiderate/being a poor host to serve only food that many people may not eat or enjoy. H thinks everyone will love it and I'm being silly.

WDMMMT?

Having some Syrian/Lebanese food and some other food is not an ideal option because we are having it catered and I don't want to coordinate delivery with two different restaurants.

[karinothing]

I think this is fine. I mean at it base it is rice, meat, vegetables, and bread. I woils enjoy something different than basic American party food

[Deleted]

You can serve whatever you like as long as there's a good variety and enough food. I love trying different ethnic foods at people's houses.

[Deleted]

I eat a lot of lebanese food (because of where I live) and I think as long as there are some of the more 'simple' options, people will find something to eat and like.

[cricketwife]

I think he is right! Yum!!!

[karinothing]

Oh we served only Mexican at DS1 baptism.

[rugbywife]

I love food from other ethnicities. Like really love. So I am totally okay with this scenario. I would love to come eat Syrian food. I have had Lebanese but never Syrian.

[Deleted]

What are you planning to serve? Something like Shawarma and hummus should be well received but I'm sure there are more authentic things that people might question.

[Brie]

I think it's a little obnoxious to assume your neighbors won't like Lebanese/Syrian food just because they're white southerners.

[CrazyLucky]

Well, how "worldly" are your guests? I go to church near Raleigh, and I think Syrian and Lebanese food would go over well and be a welcome opportunity to try something new. I work in the rural area of NC, and if it's not fried or nasty vinegar barbecue sauce, they will not want it.

[jeaniebueller]

Team your H. I think it would be fun to have something out of the ordinary at a party.

[bears]

I've never had Syrian food, but I love Lebanese food and I don't think it's a polarizing food. I would make sure to have some basics, like salad, meats, and bread.

[Deleted]

I can't say I've specifically had Syrian or Lenanese food. Is it very different from other Middleastern and Greek food? If not, I think most people like that.

Especially if it involves some dishes like roasted/grilled meat, breads, etc that are simple, people like that. So maybe just choose a couple of dishes that are more similar to what your friends eat.

My husband is a super picky eater so he always pre-eats for parties anyway. I assume other picky eaters do the same.

[D2M]

That is the best kind of food! And stuff like hummus and pita is pretty mainstream, even in my very meat-and-potatoes family. That said, I get it. My H is Indian and some people have very strong feelings about Indian food/spice, so I'd be hesitant to serve just Indian food at a mixed gathering. Could you throw together a cheese and crackers platter, just in case? Honestly, I don't think it's necessary for the type of cuisine you're offering, but it's minimal effort, so not a big deal in the grand scheme of things.

[imojoebunny]

I am a southerner, and I love all kinds of ethnic food. I would be thrilled to go to a party that the food was entirely Syrian and Lebanese.

[CloudBee]

Fine! Sounds great!

If you have concerns about kid friendly options - you can always throw a few frozen pizzas into the oven, or get veggie and fruit platters at the grocery store the day before.

[AmyRI]

I think it's fine. I would consider putting out signs next to any dishes that are not easily identifiable with ingredients and a description to help people choose what to try, but I don't think you have to serve non ethnic food.

[SJ]

I think it's a great idea and not weird at all.

I like the ideas of putting out little signs/labels and maybe having fruit/veggie trays as well.

[ECB]

Oct 12, 2015 11:52:32 GMT -5 @tambcat said:

Around here some older people would probably grumble. I would do it anyway, though. I don't think you are being a bad host. Catering to people with food allergies is one thing. Catering to picky, unadventurous eaters is another.

This.   I feel a part of being a guest is being open to what various hosts do/offer at their parties.  

[awkwardpenguin]

I was put in charge of provisioning the "American food" at my Indian friend's mom's funeral. They were worried all the suburban Ohioans would balk at the Indian food. But honestly the Indian food was much more popular than the American food, even among the non-Indian guests. I think it would have been fine to have just the ethnic food.

[mellimel19]

I'd be excited to go to a party and get to try a new cuisine. My only thought is if there are going to be lots of little kids present, you might want to have some simpler dishes or kid friendly options on hand.

[awkwardpenguin]

Also, I think Syrian food is pretty universally likable. My 66 year old Mom loves it, while she is a little less than enthusiastic about some other ethnic foods.

[bowies]

I grew up in the South but ate foods from all different regions and LOVED IT. Just do it.

[h]

I don't see why this would be an issue. My baby shower hosted by my mom's white, Southern, very traditional 60+ yo friends was exclusively Lebanese food because the hostess in charge of the food loves it and knew a great Lebanese caterer. No one seemed to think it was weird.

White Southerners eat plenty of ethnic food, IME. And even if they are total strangers to Middle Eastern cuisine, there is nothing wrong with serving food that your family enjoys at what is essentially a family celebration.

[speckledfrog]

No need to go for the lowest common denominator, I think it's totally fine to get the Syrian and Lebanese food. Any picky people can just eat the foods they think are "safe" (rice, bread, some of the meat, etc) and eat when they get home.

[undecidedowl]

I really don't have much exposure to ethnic food and I'm not an adventurous eater so I guess I'm the type of person you would be concerned about. The thing I would appreciate the most would be labels and maybe descriptions of the food or ingredients because I prefer to know what I am eating. I usually stick to simpler foods if I'm not sure so if there are dishes that have fewer ingredients that might help.

I don't know what type of dishes Syrian/Lebanese food would include but I definitely don't think you need to cater from two different places. If you are really concerned, you could maybe pick up fruit/veggie or cheese/cracker trays.

[moopoint17]

While it's a great idea I would feel bad not providing a dish or two that would be more common.

At our family parties we serve mainly Filipino food but when H's family is coming I try to have a pasta dish. They're not too adventurous when it comes to food and they tend to stay away from the Filipino stuff.

[speckledfrog]

undecidedowl, I think the idea of labeling the food is a great one. The name of the food and a short description would be perfect.

[wavepool]

I love going to events where ethnic food is served. Like others have said, some fruit, maybe sandwiches for the kids (?)--something easy or even pizza and you're good.

[pooh8402]

Another white Southerner who would love to try Syrian/Lebanese food. I'd appreciate labels so I knew what to order when I went to a restaurant.