Have You Ever Been Excluded From A Social Event Because You're Veggie?

[brokensky]

Originally Posted by staywarm2

It makes my heart joyous to read that someone else uses a formal dining room and prepares a sit down meal!!! I love to seat people around a big table and talk and laugh and eat good food. Even though it is a lot of work and expense, it's so much fun. Bravo to you, Ani

Awwww! Thank you, Staywarm! It is a joy (and lots of work - but enjoyable work!) to put these gatherings together. In this fast paced world, entertaining with all the accoutrements - from crystal to china to table decor - is becoming a lost art.

We usually have a lot going on . . . music - lots of musicians in the crowd - and video games in another part of the house (if the kids so desire that). . . Southerners are big story tellers - strong oral tradition - so the Southern folks entertain the newcomers from other parts of the country . . . and it is interesting to see how quickly others have joined into that story-telling tradition, coming up with their own tales about life in states where they used to live.

Our gatherings range from informal BBQs, where folks are spread all over decks as well as the interior of the house - and I like to have multi-generational groups - from babies to the elderly. My dream would be to have a huge old farm house where I could have 2 x the guests!

My mom is the youngest in a family of 11 siblings . . . so I grew up with huge multigenerational gatherings. WHen I moved to a different state (Kansas) I found so many of my friends and neighbors had no connections in their new neighborhoods . . . so I decided to hold seasonal parties and gather everyone . . . and do it around a Southern theme.

I have never had anyone feel left out in re: to the food! But I try hard to make sure there is a big variety to meet everyone's needs. Then it is up to the guest to pick and choose . . .

Some people are on restricted diets for health reasons . . . I am very conscious of that and make sure there is something for everyone, but I would never NOT throw a BBQ b/c someone in the crowd - even my best friend - was a vegetarian. I would expect them to want to be there b/c of the gathering of friends . . . and happily munch on the things that DID meet their dietary preferences. I would NOT exclude them from the festivities. That would be up to them to decide whether or not they wanted to be around carnivores, lol.

[gentlearts]

Originally Posted by Becca8377

Didn't you just say this previously -

I think I was reinforcing my point that if my guest had not kept quiet, I would have gone to a lot of extra trouble for her. I would have gladly done this. I think OPS original question was did we think she was not invited somewhere because the hostess did not want to cater to a vegetarian's particular diet. I think it is possible.

[purehuman]

AnonChick is right jazzcat22...had you not told her you're vegetarians it probably never would have happened

[jazzcat22]

Originally Posted by purehuman

AnonChick is right jazzcat22...had you not told her you're vegetarians it probably never would have happened

Not sure why you are replying to this old thread that's been inactive for a month...I've moved on and no longer care about being excluded by this woman! But if I hadn't told her---wouldn't she have seen me not eating much/anything/leaving the meat? And then wouldn't she have been upset---that all I ate was a little rice or potatoes or something? And what if she served something very expensive----and I just let it sit on my plate?

So---had I not said anything---I think she might have asked why I didn't eat the main dish----and then I would have to had the reveal the dreaded V identity---and the results would have still been the same---she wou;dn't have invited me the following year.