UGHH!

I'm going to a wedding this weekend and these are my two choices for the entree

Stuffed Chicken Breast ~ Filled with Ham, Cheese and Topped with a Pesto Basil Sauce

Talapia ~ Pan Seared Macadamian Nut Encrusted with Hawaiian Pineapple Cherry Chutney

Both sound horrible to me.  I can't eat dairy & hate breaded chicken so the stuffed chicken is out.  The tilapia would be Ok without the "macadamian nut encrusted" and "pineapple cherry shutney" part.

What the heck do you do when you know you can't eat at a wedding?  I mean really - at most weddings they have choices that will appeal to a large # of people like a filet or something.  Usually when there's something beyond the normal preparation of a food (like the tilapia) there are at least 3 choices and one is usually normal.  These both sound horrible. 

I guess I'll just eat before I go, fill up on salad as much as possible while I'm there, and bring some snacks in my purse.

So disappointing.

so who's getting married?

I'm surprised they didn't offer something a little more generic, but when I come across a wedding with essentially unacceptable choices, I skip the entree and stick to the side dishes and salad.  Just tell people you're not that hungry.

However, in this case, you could just scrape off the macadamia crust and the chutney.  (I personally think it sounds yummy...)

santonacci I'm so happy that you agree that choices are usually more generic to accomodate more people.  I'm kind of picky, so I thought maybe it was just me.  But I think ablotof people are picky, hence the generic meal options at large events.

Yeah, I might just scrape it off.  I didn't even think of that.  How hard do you think that would be?  

Edit: Its my husband's cousing getting married.  i'm not sure why that matters, but whatever.

Original Post by minie13:

Yeah, I might just scrape it off.  I didn't even think of that.  How hard do you think that would be?  

 

Well, "chutney" is just another word for a relish or salsa, so it should be pretty easy to scrape off.  For the crust, it depends on what was used to "bind" it to the fish (oil, butter, sauce), how much, and how long it's been seared.  I've seen "crusts" that slip off with touch of a finger, and some that are practically fused to the meat.

What do you think the chances are I could request one without the crust and actually be accomodated?

Okay... I may get flamed for this, but I sincerely feel that bringing your own snacks in your purse, complaining about your HOST'S food choices (would you do this if you were invited to a dinner party?) is pretty rude. It sucks you don't like there choices, but maybe you should concentrate more on the happy occaision, eat what you can to be a polie guest, and get something on the way out if you still need it. I mean, yes, they could have gone more generic, but it it their event and you are a guest.

I mean, the only reason you can't eat the fish is because you are worried about the calories in the "crusted" part? Just deal... or stay home because you are worried about calories.

Sorry this touches a nerve with me because I know what it takes to plan successful weddings and guests still manage to be ungrateful or selfish.

Original Post by minie13:

What do you think the chances are I could request one without the crust and actually be accomodated?

Probably slim to none - dinners for catered events like weddings are cooked in batches, and part of the package price is that the dishes are all cooked the same.   I guess it depends on when it's prepared, and the individual practices of the caterer.

Unless it's an actual dietary requirement because of food sensitivities or you're a vegetarian, I don't think it's a prudent thing to consider anyway.  How would you feel if, when you received the RSVP for your wedding, you saw a note at the bottom of the response card saying "please prepare my dinner like this...." 

Would it really be all that awful to try something new? (macadamia nut crusts are fabulous on tilapia!)  Otherwise, stick to the side dishes or eat before you go.

choco9- its not like I'm going to sit around the table and eat snacks that I brought.  Yeah, that would be ridiculously rude and tacky.  But popping a snack or two in a bathroom stall isn't so bad I don't think. 

Yes, its a happy occassion and yes I'm venting about food....on an anonymous website.  Its not like I'm telling the bride & groom that their choices suck because alot of people are vegetarian or lactose intolerant or need to eat a gluten free diet.  of course they can;t accomodate everyone.

I'm not worried about calories - that doesn't even enter into my equation here....I dislike things that are breaded are crusted.  I have never liked them and never will.  I run 40-45 miles a week and eat 2000-2500 calories a day to maintain - more if I want to gain (which I do).  The thin film between the breading/crust and themeat really grosses me out.  I'm weird/picky/whatever.  Not ungrateful or selfish.

And I tooo know what it tkaes to plan successful events and have done so many times. 

santonacci - I love nuts, its not that....I hate crusting and breading....it grosses me out.  I'm sure if it was a sauce with nuts I'd be down for it.

Whatever, I'll deal with it and move on. I'm not going to make a big deal over it at the wedding.  Asking for special requests is embarassing anyway and even though I think about doing it all the time I never actualyy do it because its tacky.

I didn't mean to come off harsh, and I actually don't think requests, when made in a restaurant at a meal you're paying for, are "tacy" as you say. I am a vegetarian and make adjustments all the time (there's a way to do it without being a pain in the you-know-what). I just think going to a wedding, an event someone is hosting, is like going to someone's house for a dinner party in this way, they have chosen what to serve. Eat it or don't but I was just saying that I, personally, think it's rude to make this special requeest just because the food isn't your "thing." If it were a religious or vegetarian thing, maybe. But you are basically just saying you don't like it.

If you say there's salad, then there's probably bread and veggies and other stuff you can have. Baked pototo maybe? I am sure you'll be fine without having to be too "disappointed."

Or just get drunk and dance ;)

I feel your pain - as a vegetarian I am screwed at any and all social events - wedding, Christmas parties, you name it.  Filling up on salad isn't even a sure bet either, because 9 times out of 10 the salad is caesar, which is made from ground up anchovies (blech) so I can't eat that either, and vegetables are often cooked with meat for "seasoning".  So, I just make sure to eat before I go to something like that, then honestly state that I am not hungry and forego the meal. 

If you are paying for people to eat at your wedding, wouldn't you want them to actually eat?  I would not have a problem what-so-ever with people who wanted to have their meal altered a bit for whatever reason.  At least the money I am spending for my friends to have a good time would not be wasted on a piece of fish or chicken that is going into the trash can.

be thankful you get a choice, I went to my sister's wedding, yes my sisters, and because I wasn't sitting at my parents table, but with my brother, his girlfriend and my other sisters girlfriend, plus our cousins, they thought we were completely unimportant, and we got whatever was left over after all the more "important" people got served. (somehow we were the completely last table)

I don't think i've ever been to wedding where there was more than 2 options, generally either alternated, with no choice (or like my sisters with special people getting a choice only). I would have thought that the choices they have made would please many people. I am also a pretty picky eater (fine with unusual ingredients but don't eat alot of staples), but in social situations I just leave the bits I don't like, I don't complain, if somebody comments on the piles of whatever left on my plate, i say I was full and ask if they want them!

If you had legitimate health reasons for not eating it, then I think you could have mentioned this about a month ago, but the week before the wedding is way too late. Try whatever you end up being given, maybe you will actually like it.

yeah, at my cousin's wedding the choices were much more generic. The usual, chicken francaise, or some type of steak (can't remember if it has a specific name), with some type of seasoned potatoes & a green vegetable. Those are the main 2 choices i've had for almost every catered event i've ever been to (not just weddings). My suggestions are no different from anyone else's really. Try to scrape it off if you can, if not, then eat the side dishes and fill up on some salad. Just wait for the cake.

And i've seen many people leave their plates basically untouched at catered events, and i agree that it is sort of a shame and a waste of money, but if you really don't like it then don't eat it. But do eat something, whether it's bread or salad or side dishes or even dessert. People won't be up in arms if you don't eat your main course, it happens often. Some people might not even notice or question it.

Honestly, I would probably pass my entre over to one of the willing guys at the table and just eat whatever veggies they offer.  I would bring a slimfast in the car (I have a cooler bag with ice for these types of occassions) and I would drink the slimfast while driving from the wedding to the reception so that I would not feel hungry at the reception.  I'd eat the veggies just to be eating while everyone else is.

Consider this... it's one meal. =) I have completely skipped a meal my family has prepared before because it just didn't fit into my diet... I get my own stuff on the side and just spend the meal time in socializing.  Find a dance partner and burn some calories! ha ha ha

Good luck!

I ended up getting the vegetarian option - pasta primavera.  It was a GIGANTIC plate of pasta with about three pieces of squash in it.  And I was starving because it wasn't served until 9:15 so I ate the whole thing - probably about 5 servings of pasta.  Luckily I NEEDED all those calories because I ran 13.5 miles earlier in the day.

And then I came home and pigged out at 1:30 in the morning.  My body was craving carbs so bad : ) 

Maybe you can scrape the crush off the fish?!

When I go to weddings, I sort of wander into the kitchen area and tell the chef's of my allergy conditions and they abide by what I say and give me plain food - maybe you can stop a waiter or something and tell them about your problems and they can see what they can do to help you! After all they would not want you to have a reaction that could ruin the wedding reception right?