Take Care of the Minority... {feeding vegetarians}

Although I am not a vegetarian myself, I have never understood what is so difficult about feeding a small minority of people something as yummy and visually appetizing as the entree being served to the majority of the guests.  Before I started doing full event design, the caterers would provide a menu to the couple with the listing of the food being served.  The vegetarian always said "Vegetarian Option Also Available" and most couples would simply smile and say "I think I maybe have 5 AT THE MOST".

 

 {via Gallery of Regrettable Food}

I feel that those 5 {and any veggie vendors, your culinary minority, still deserved the same caliber of entree and not simply an entree of EVERYTHING BUT THE MEAT.  You know, a bowl of side dishes as it were.  Maybe some potato or rice and steamed or grilled vegetables without any sauce and they have to ask for butter. 

Our menus even go so far as to create entirely different first courses and middle courses IF they contain meat, chicken or fish so that the guest can enjoy a FULL MEAL instead of skipping courses. Why is it important to take care of your minority?  Because they are your guests.  And if they came to your house for dinner you would have accommodated them.  Why wouldn't you do that at your reception?  

 Is it really so hard for the hotel banquet director to instruct the chef to make a yummy and filling pasta course for the vegetarians?  Pasta is a lot less expensive than say a slab of meat, pork or chicken.  A little extra cutting, some fresh tomatoes, sauce and cheese and all are happy and well fed. 

 

{via tastespotting}

Consider your culinary minority and you can ensure that all your guests will think you're the best hostess ever...

Comments

[Las Vegas Wedding Concierge (& self professed Disco Queen)]

I always ensure we have a satisfying meal for vegetarians & for most of my preferred venues, that's a given.

What gets interesting though is when you have guests who neglect to inform their hosts ahead of time of various other food allergies, etc.

Recent wedding had a table where apparently every one claimed they had an allergy to something or other (or they just said they did because they were probably just on diets). It was Four Seasons so they took care of them for each course...with a smile.

How far does the host have to go in accommodating every guest culinary quirk (I think of the poor pizza guys who would get annoying orders from teens with a different topping on each slice) and when is it the guest's responsibility to say something OR just make sure they take care of themselves & be prepared to eat in advance if they feel they might have concerns with the food?

Thoughts?

[k* to the b*]

thank you for mentioning that which must not be named : The Vegetarian.

A long time ago when I went to get my vegetarian vendor meal the kitchen staff came back with my entree: 3 sticks of asparagus. It was all I could do not to kill the catering manager with my tripod after having worked 8hrs with still 3 to go.