I have an NCEPR question regarding potlucks

[stephiehun]

(Redheadedbaker, you'll have a personal stake in this.

I'm going to a potluck lunch on Saturday with some friends and their babies. At last count, there are 5 of us. One woman is vegan (or vegetarian). Do we all have to make vegan things? I can make veggie stuff, but vegan cooking seems to involve either boring dishes or ingredients I've never heard of. I've asked her to clarify which she is, but haven't seen a response.

What's the etiquette here? She's awesome, and I'm open to trying new things. I'm just not sure what to bring myself.

[emisi]

I wouldn't say you HAVE to, but since there's only 5 people, the polite thing to do would be to try to find something vegan to make. You could also ask the group if people are restricting what they make to vegan things only.

Usually how I've seen it is the one person with the mega restrictions (vegan, gluten free, whatever) brings their own thing and prepares to eat just that, anything else is a bonus.

[ringstrue]

Part of me thinks that's the "luck" part of "potluck". She can't expect you all to cater to her.

Still, I might be more inclined to make something she can pick around if needed like an Italian pasta salad.

[basilosaurus]

Most vegans I know will bring a dish they can eat and don't expect anything else.

If I know vegans are going, I'll usually make something with them in mind, but that's just b/c I like eating that way sometimes. Usually, I only need to minorly tweak my recipes (ie, leave out cheese), so it's not much of a problem.

[NitaX]

I'd try to bring a dish that she could eat. In fact, I have a delish white bean dip recipe that could do the trick. One of my friends doesn't eat red meat or pork. Whenever I have a function at my house, I always make one appetizer that I know she will eat. I always have fruit and veggies on hand so that she has some variety of foods.

[LLYS]

bring a fresh fruit salad

[redheadbaker]

For the life of me, I cannot remember if she is vegan or vegetarian! Every time I've hung out with her, another mutual friend who I know is vegan has been there, too, so I've had vegan food available anyway.

I plan on making a vegan dish, so if you want to bring something non-vegan (or even non-vegetarian) there will be something for both of them to eat.

[heightsyankee]

I would check with some other folks going and see if anyone else is bringing vegan/vegetarian food also. As long as 2 of 5 dishes (assuming she brings one to cater to her own eating habits) are vegan, the non vegans might appreciate something else. If you think no one else is going to bring a vegan dish, I would consider it.

[myst]

My family's veg, and we always bring a dish that we can eat that is hearty enough that it's fine if no one else does (I'd never expect someone to cater to just our needs at a potluck). It's a nice thought if it's convenient, but not necessary.

One thing I do *love* is when folks have a little card with the ingredients on it with the dish. It's hard to tell with a lot of things if meat (stock, small pieces) is in it or not, and it's nice to know what is and isn't OK for me. I figure people with allergies appreciate it, too.

[wawa]

I'd be nice of you, but I don't think its absolutely neccessary since you know that there will be at least 2 options for her. I usually try to bring something with the non-vegan ingredients served seperately. So maybe some sort of salad w/ the meat or cheese as an optional add on.

example - I'm making a greekish quinoa salad for a cookout. (quinoa, lotsa cucumber, bell pepper, black olives, herbs, red wine vinegrette, feta) if I knew a vegan would be there I'd either put some without feta in a seperate bowl, or just serve the feta on the side for adding as people see fit.

[Deleted]

Just make Mexican food, and let the people put what they want into the Tacos. That way, everyone can have cheese and meat, and the vegan can do the vegetables without adding any of the good stuff. That way, she can feel both welcome AND superior!

The last line was a joke btw.

[knittable]

I would try to have one of you make something that would work for her, that way she has two options. It's perfectly fine to email her and ask if she's veg (with or without fish) or vegan.

You can make something vegetarian and serve the cheese on the side. Things like a plate of hummus and pita are easy. Or a pasta or rice salad with any cheese on the side.

[msmerymac]

I've a vegetarian and I always bring something substantial I can eat to a potluck. Even if it's just that and a salad, I'll be good, you know?

You can throw together a green salad with an olive oil and vinegar dressing and bring that in addition to something else. Or some chips and salsa/guacamole. BOOM, vegan. My BFF is vegan and I often have people over for TV/movie viewing and apps, and things like hummus, veggies, mexican style "dips," etc are super easy to make for vegans.

[casarosada]

Since there aren't very many of you it might be nice to make something she can eat. However, I wouldn't go with something where you expect she "pick around" what she can't eat. I'm a vegetarian and I hate when people make something like pasta salad with chunks of meat and say they didn't leave the meat out/put it on the side because I can just pick around it. Well..I'm not going to. Then I feel bad because they don't get why I'm not eating their salad and I'm annoyed because I shouldn't feel bad and that I'm hungry because being told there'd be food I could eat I dind't bring my own.