Dinner party suggestions?

  • Hi, I am having a dinner party next week for four people. One is a non-drinking health nut who usually eats pretty extreme (and yucky-looking; mushed this, gray that) health food. I'm going to be non-drinking. Then there's a large meat-eatin' guy and an average-sized woman who do both drink. The guy does like fish and such too. I have a grill. Would love suggestions so I don't go off the rails and will satisfy everyone.
  • I would serve fish, lean meat and vegetables for grilling - don't know how fancy you want to make things, but cutting both into pieces and putting them on skewers would be a good idea. Maybe marinate some of them?

    Then I would have a salad bar - lots of different things to put in salads, and a dressing or two or three so that everyone can make their own salad in varying degrees of healthyness.

    And I'd offer some bread, too, maybe home-made garlic bread so you can make it with more garlic and less butter. Obviously that depends if bread is a trigger food for you, I know it is for many people. On the other hand most people I know will always have bread with something grilled. Depends on you and your friends, really.

    For drinks you could offer some beer and/or wine for the two who are drinking, but also get something a bit more fancy than water for the two of you who are not drinking - maybe home-made sugar-free iced tea?
  • mexican themed fajita night can work well.
    - cook and put in separate bowls chicken or beef, peppers and onions , variety of toppings, refried beans, cheese, guacamole. have a plate of tortillas.

    Then everyone can assemble to their liking.

    have sparkling water and sol or dos equis beer with a side of lime.

    fruit salad for dessert

    easy to prepare, permits everyone to only eat what they want!
  • I was about to suggest "taco bar" too because that way you just have to put out things and they assemble as they please. Here's some ideas...

    tomato salsa
    mango salsa
    chips
    guacamole
    lettuce
    tomato
    cheese
    grilled chicken cut in strips
    beef strips, grilled
    ground beef
    sour cream
    taco shells / fajita shells
    black bean soup / refried beans
    fruit salad
    mexican wedding cookies
    spanish flan
    dulce de leche ice cream
    sangria
    pina colada
    daquiri
    spanish sodas
    punch
  • Yummy! I am SO having tacos tonight!!
  • (I've had this before too!) For dessert, get something light that you can eat, but that everyone else can, too. I'd go with meringues, because you can probably find organic ones out there somewhere, plus they're usually 10 calories or less per cookie!
  • For the small ones, anyway!
  • How about a pork tenderloin? It's very very lean, easy to cook, and mild in flavor. I like to sear mine on the stove top and then finish cooking in the oven for about 20 minutes. Season beforehand with crushed fennel seeds, salt pepper, and thyme.

    Serve with fresh spinach sauteed with garlic, a little olive oil, and a dash of nutmeg.

    A beautiful apple slaw on the side (I don't have a recipe at the moment but it's easy to find one on the internet).

    Lemony basmati rice as well.

    For dessert serve sliced pound cake with fresh berries and a dollop of whipped cream (beaten with a little sugar, vanilla, and a small container of mascarpone)
  • How fancy a dinner party are you looking at?

    Roast chicken is always nice, or shishkebabs (especially since you can vary the meats and veg on them to suit your guests).

    You could start with a chilled gazpacho soup (tomato and veg), which is easy to make and very healthy.

    You may want to serve a nice marinated lentil and veg salad on the side, as well as a green salad. That allows your health-minded guest an option if he doesn't want any/much meat, without screaming "Vegetarian!!" There are some very tasty recipes out there.

    Something fruit-based for dessert could be very healthy, and tasty, too. If you want it fancy, poached pears with optional cream are always a treat, and are a bit fancier than fruit salad and not as heavy as a pie/tart or cake.