Food and meals
Plan dinner for people who eat different things
A shared dinner gets easier when you separate the base of the meal from the optional additions. Name the restrictions precisely before asking for a menu.
A text to start with
Six people are coming Saturday. Two are vegetarian, one avoids dairy and everyone else eats anything. Suggest a main meal with toppings served separately. I have one oven and want most preparation finished before guests arrive. Include questions I should ask them.
Example request. Change the details to fit your situation.What to check in the reply
Look for a meal people can assemble without requiring several complete dinners. Confirm the restrictions directly with your guests. Vegetarian, dairy-free and allergy-safe are different requirements; an assistant should not treat them as interchangeable. Check sauces, stocks and packaged ingredients. If someone has an allergy, ask them what preparation and serving arrangements they need.
The next step
Send the proposed menu to the guests who need accommodations and adjust it from their replies. Ask for a cooking order based on your actual oven and hob space. Leave the final ingredient checks to the cook, including any cross-contact precautions the guests have requested.