Telling guests your menu

Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 9:05 am Post subject: Telling guests your menu

Having had guests and being guests where the following might have helped, I was wondering about doing something, and why people do or don't do something.
Ever go to someone for a meal, they serve the course, and then you fill yourself up, and then discover there's another course? Or they serve the course, and expecting another course, you eat barely anything, only to discover- THATS IT! Or, you eat a little in the first course expecting the second, and the second course is something you hate, so you're hungry?

Wouldn't it help a lot (especially if your shabbos meals arent the standard) if you told your guests at the start of the meal "This is what we're serving. First course is ___, second is ___, third is ____. So that way your guest knows what to expect and to eat accordingly?

Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 9:17 am Post subject: re: Telling guests your menu

yes, if I were having several courses I'd tell them.. I warned my last guest a little too late and he didn't have room for dessert... I was disappointed Sad

Carribian rum cake at that ...

Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 9:33 am Post subject: re: Telling guests your menu

Unless one of the guests has a medical condition or allergies, I think it's kind of tacky to "announce" your menu.
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Diamond Member Joined: Apr 29 2006 Posts: 4772

Ya I think its tacky too. Maybe its a cultural thing. I think unless ur doign something unusual or serving somethign unusual, listing a menu is strange. If u can casually comment or bring it up in conversation, that can work better.
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Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 2:24 pm Post subject: re: Telling guests your menu

Rather then tell the entire menu I think just to give a general idea so noone is left in the lurch, that makes sense.

Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 2:53 pm Post subject: re: Telling guests your menu

I was once at a shavuos meal that had the menu typed up. It was printed on really pretty paper and placed at each setting. (was a small little card)
It wasn't tacky at all....was very elegant and a nice way to announce what we were going to have.

Of course that could get very annoying to do for each meal!

Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 2:56 pm Post subject: re: Telling guests your menu

Writing it is too much imho... maybe for a wedding... just say it outloud, and if it's a casual context, say it jokingly, like "I hope no one will be full for my _____".
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Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: re: Telling guests your menu

Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 3:11 pm Post subject: re: Telling guests your menu

You know, I just remembered something. I have a wedding invitation from a relative, hand-written style, fancy menu in French (for the class?) on it, under a cute pic of the couple arm in arm... all this back from 1936. Now, THAT is fancy... (also interesting how habits changed, today the son of the city's chief rabbi woud not put a touching pic Laughing

).

Diamond Member Joined: Apr 29 2006 Posts: 4772

I agree bout the saying vs writing it

Platinum Member Joined: Aug 12 2007 Posts: 20493

Eat challa if you are hungry.

Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 4:53 pm Post subject:

I really don’t care if they choose to stuff themselves before the main course!
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Platinum Member Joined: Sep 11 2004 Posts: 19241

I've told a certain guest what we're having a few times and learned my lesson when the reply was: "Oooh, gross, you know I don't like that." Rolling Eyes

As if there's something wrong with meat/vegetable lasagna or chicken and kugel. Rolling Eyes

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Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 5:09 pm Post subject: Re: re: Telling guests your menu

Posted: Thu, Oct 23 2008, 5:10 pm Post subject: re: Telling guests your menu

I would think most people who serve 2 courses would have 2 plates at each setting at the beginning of the meal so you know a second course is coming. I often fill up at the fish/first course and don't really eat the main. I'm not a guest often and I just like lighter food. At my own table it's no biggie but I hope my host would not be insulted. Most people pace themselves.

I have been to a meal where the hosts served a real tiny bit of food and I felt really funny as the kids kept saying, "Is that it? I'm hungry, there's nothing for me to eat." I always make sure to serve child-friendly food as well when I'm making some unusual things. Too much food is never a problem, whatever your guests don't eat, you'll have for leftovers!