Back to what originally prompted this thread...catering for vegetarians....

....I believe that anyone cooking for anyone else has to be sensitive to their preferences and needs........IF they want them to enjoy their meal (a big IF, for some, perhaps?).  It seems to me that it's simply common courtesy that comes with being "a host"...and I think it applies to ANY cooking, not just curries.

Regarding curries, even within the family context, if I cook one, solely for myself, I cook a stinky hot one (e.g. a vindaloo or phal).  But my wife doesn't like them as hot as me, so I generally cook milder curries (e.g. madras, jalfrezi, etc) for her.  I then "spice" them up for myself.  Our children prefer even milder curries (e.g. CTM and Korma) so I often cook these, if they are having some.

My wife doesn't eat red meat, so I generally make chicken or prawn curries.  I prefer red meat (e.g. lamb), so I occasionally cook a stinky hot lamb curry just for me (yes, selfish, I know).

We have friends that like red meat but not lamb, so, if we're entertaining, I don't cook lamb for them.  We have Muslim friends, so I don't cook pork for them.  We have friends that prefer vegetables, so I cook vegetables for them.  We have friends that aren't too keen on coloured (or pilau, or fried) rice, so I also make plain, uncoloured rice.  We have friends that love onion bhajis, so I make those for them...etc, etc.

If we're entertaining, I try to cater for everyone's tastes by providing a variety of dishes that I know they will enjoy (at least one or two or the dishes, if not all of them).

Is this a faff?  Perhaps, but not for me.  I derive satisfaction from knowing that they have enjoyed their meal to the fullest.  And to achieve this I try to cater for their needs. 

I reckon it's probably called being a good and considerate host?

Quote from: George on July 22, 2011, 01:46 PM

Quote from: Curry Barking Mad on July 22, 2011, 01:14 PMIt was never my sole objective to insult you but to state what I believe your attitude and behaviour displays about you. You do come across as a cantankerous misery.

I wasn't singling anyone out (initially) like you've done. You're well out of order. How this sits with the huge contribution you've made to the BIR cause (videos etc) I don't know.

Come on George, Let it go,
Ref your comment...It hasn't stopped me sleeping at night ;D
Do us all a favour and stop trying to bait me, move on old son.

@ CA,
A good post and one that I believe sums up the feelings of most people when it comes to catering and entertaining friends and family, be they vegetarians or of different religions.
Mick

Fair points that I agree with 100 per cent and practise myself CA but in the same feign I believe vegetarians should make available meat dishes if the majority of quests are carnivorous - even if they have to don gloves and nose peg if necessary. It's just about good hosting - all vegetarians that I have come across just appear to think that they are excluded from this or just do not feel as if they need to go out their way like they expect us carnivorous folk to do.

Bon hosting

It just does not cut the fat with me. I know several strict vegetarians that work all day long in kitchens making, preparing and cooking meat dishes - here they appear to be able to put their principles to one side. But suddenly when they host their own party they cannot bare to even mention the word meat yet alone cook with it for anyone else to enjoy - its just selfish in my opinion.

Bon gosht

My reference to vegetarians was really aimed at the 'cool to be a veggie when its suits us brigade' rather than vegetarians with genuine religious doctrines against eating, touching or even associating themselves in anyway with meat or particular types of meat. Obviously I would agree with your reasonings in these circumstances. Conflict avoidance or not.

Bon jovi