S/O dinner guests

[cahabalily]

EJpint's thread got me thinking....

When you have people over for dinner, do you find yourself watching their plates to gauge how well they did or didn't like something?

Do you take it personally if someone didn't eat a certain dish?

[chessie]

Not really. We normally cook a few different things when we have guests to try to make sure everyone can eat it. The basic pizza/chicken is normally on the menu for most people. I found most people are up to trying new things and crazy recipes which we are both used to.

[Deleted]

No--I don't take it personally. I might offer to get them something else if its really obvious, but given how picky of an eater my H is, its no big deal to me.

[doctorsbaby]

I generally ask if there is anything that a guest doesn't like when I issue an invitation. I'm kind of picky and always want to make sure my guests will eat something.

I also never make plates for people, that way they can take however much they want or don't want. It's always awkward for me when the host insists on making everyone's plates & I don't like something. If I can make my own, I give myself a very small serving, choke it down and eat more of something I do like.

[kadams767]

If I have a dinner or a party, I will watch to see if there happens to be a lot of a certain dish leftover and assume that wasn't a big favorite, so I won't serve it again. But no, I don't watch individual guests' plates. Most of my friends and family are not very picky eaters, though and I try to serve a variety of food so that there is someting for everyone's tastes, so it usually works out OK.

[BAMFMrsB]

Yes, I do watch to see if the main dish is consumed.

I always ask prior to having people over "is XYZ ok? Is there something else you would prefer?"

I try to serve things I know the person has eaten before: Pizza if its DHs friends (boys eat pizza. known fact), Italian or something easily consumed by all if its a more adult crowd. I don't know anyone in our social circle that is a Veggie, but I'd make sure they liked whatever dish I had or made sure their palate was represented if I knew they were attending.

It doesn't offend me if someone doesn't like what I've made.

[Girls Own Love]

I've never even thought to look at how much/what they're eating. And if I did, I wouldn't think of taking it personally. Maybe they're not hungry, maybe they're just getting over an illness (like a stomach flu) that they're just not interested in food at the moment, maybe they don't like a specific food.

I do however, always ask beforehand if they like "X" or have food preferences/allergies.

[ssmjlm]

No, b/c my IL's are notorious picky eaters when it comes to things we serve. They would be all over that cream of _____ recipe posted earlier, but things like a butternut squash recipe would get pushed aside.

[ECB]

Not at all. For one, we serve "family style" and people can take as much or as little of something as they want.

Then, as long as overall, everyone seemed to like everything, I'm not going to worry if one person seemed to not eat a lot of ___.

If I were to serve something and NO ONE ate it, then I'd be worried, but otherwise I don't care.

[noonecareswhoiam]

If I'm going back and forth between 2 recipes, I may do a poll to see if there's a preference. I also used dinner parties as a chance to try new recipes, so I do try to elicit feedback to determine whether the recipe is a keeper.

I do know my close friends' preferences and issues (shellfish allergy, etc) so I work within those guidelines.

[ESF]

I always find out about dietary restrictions before people come over, and I accommodate them. I try to remember food preferences and dislikes as well. But, beyond that, I find picky eaters weird, and absent dietary restrictions (vegetarianism, allergies, etc), I will admit that it bugs me a little if someone doesn't at least try something.

[audette]

I actually do attempt to guage how well food is liked by some guests - particularly those I know I will be hosting again. That way, I can hopefully do a better job of figuring out what they want for the next visit.

I might feel bad if I realize I serve something that isn't too well liked, but I don't take offense, I just note that I shouldn't serve it again to those particular guests.

[noodleoo]

I do notice when people get seconds and it makes me happy because I assume that means they really like it. I've never noticed people not really eating my food. I'm a pretty good cook and I always test recipes before I serve them to company. My H is honest and we weed out the bad recipes pretty fast.

We also mostly invite friends and family for dinner, so we know what type of food they like.

[drloretta]

No
No

[aliciar6]

no, I make a lot of different appetizers, a lot of sides and then a main dish or 2 that i know someone will eat.
we all have different food preferences, so if someone doesn't try something or they don't like something i don't get upset.
if i know of food or dietary restrictions i try to make menu items specific for that person, like for a while my soon to be SIL couldn't have dairy while she was BFing so I made a few dishes that had no or little dairy products (heck even bread has dairy in it)

[Deleted]

I've only had people over for dinner twice.

And I didn't cook either time. LOL.

[Deleted]

Not really but I don't often make dinner for folks. At parties, I watch what goes fast. Evidently I cannot make enough deviled eggs.