Need small red meat option at cocktail reception!

bigbeautifulfemme

We haven't really questioned our Masterpiece menu since we signed our contract with them a few months ago.  However, it has recently been brought to my attention that my step-father is very particular about what he eats.

The majority of our guests eat vegetables and fish regularly, with chicken on rare occasions.  Hence our six selections: two veggie, three fish, one chicken.  My step-father, on the other hand, eats cheeseburgers and fries, and steaks, potatoes, and biscuits.

We've considered substituting one of our veggie dishes for the MP's angus sliders, but only about a quarter of our guests would even consider eating red meat.  It's important to me that we properly receive my step-father, but his pickiness makes it extremely difficult given our limited selections.

Ideally, I'd like to find a restaurant that delivers or a low-limit catering company that has sliders on their menu to avoid having to remove one of our existing selections, or add $4/head for a dish that very few of our guests would actually eat. We've thought about ordering him a burger combo from a restaurant in the Miracle Mile Shops (reception is at the PH Westgate Towers), but I'd like him to feel as included as possible.

Does anyone have any suggestions?  I'm drawing a blank here.

smokeybailey

Have you called MC and asked how you can add on something like that without ordering for all guests?  They seem quite accommodating.

Also, I don't know how big your group is but I have never met a group that didn't have, at a minimum, a handful of red meat eaters.  Unless you choose your friends based on what they eat, I think you might find more than a couple that enjoy red meat on occasion.

bigbeautifulfemme

I did ask them if they would be able to add an appetizer for half of our guests and they said that they couldn't.

We anticipate our guest list will finish at about 30.  My family and friends will be 7-8 guests, and my fiancee's guests will be 22-24 guests.  "My guests" would likely eat red meat if it was available to them, but with the exception of my step-father, would be content without red meat as well.  My fiancee's close friends and family all used to be very firm vegetarians.  Over time, their diets have "evolved" to include fish, and a few now also eat chicken.  Red meat is not part of their diet at all. 

I don't like the idea of limiting my fiancee and her guests to five appetizers just to have a red meat option for one picky guest.  I'd also rather not spend $120 plus tax and gratuity to add a seventh appetizer for a couple of guests.  So I'm trying to find another option...

smokeybailey

If it was reveresed and you had all red meat eaters and one picky vegetarian who only eats one very specific vegetable, would you offer a non-meat item for that guest?

My vote is just to add the sliders. My mom won't eat chicken or fish either so I had the sliders as well. In the grand scheme of things $120 is not that much and it saves you the hassle of adding an additonal vendor or working out logistics for him.  It also allows him to save face and not have a burger show up for him as if he is a child.

HOWEVER, it sounds like you don't want to offer 5 + 1 red meat so don't.  And you don't want to spend the money to order the additonal option so don't do that either. It sounds like you have made up your mind to order him a separate meal.  Call room service and have them send up a burger or steak and call it a night.  If he's uncomfortable, just tell him that you put a lot of thought into the option and wanted him to be happy with it.

ebonyivory10

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_single-guest-very-selective-diet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:aa29c9ac-7f55-4409-b234-f7ce7a746c15Post:f849bec8-c4f3-470e-814d-1ced82494d8c">Need small red meat option at cocktail reception!</a>:
[QUOTE] Hence our six selections: two veggie, three fish, one chicken. 
Posted by bigbeautifulfemme[/QUOTE]

I think it's interesting that you consider step-father picky but everyone else who won't eat what eats is not considered picky.  If I were you, I'd get rid of the third fish option and sub in the sliders.

CamilleJon

I would skip out on the red meat completely. Especially since the majority of your guests are vegetarians. My sis is a vegetarian and she doesn't even like to see red meat, especially while she is eating, so that might make for a more pleasant meal for everyone.

You're stepfather can eat chicken or fish or even just stick to veggies for night. I def wouldn't do anything extra for him. It just seems silly.

lsvensson

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_single-guest-very-selective-diet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:aa29c9ac-7f55-4409-b234-f7ce7a746c15Post:f1ad2bea-56b0-478f-abe1-4fe0395218dc">Re: Need small red meat option at cocktail reception!</a>:
[QUOTE]In Response to Need small red meat option at cocktail reception! : I think it's interesting that you consider step-father picky but everyone else who won't eat what eats is not considered picky.  <strong>If I were you, I'd get rid of the third fish option and sub in the sliders.</strong>
Posted by ebonyivory10[/QUOTE]

<div>Agree with this.  </div>

Sara191431

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_single-guest-very-selective-diet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local Wedding BoardsForum:91Discussion:aa29c9ac-7f55-4409-b234-f7ce7a746c15Post:4c3e1c36-56a1-4911-8561-26f5eb38f288">Re: Need small red meat option at cocktail reception!</a>:
[QUOTE]If it was reveresed and you had all red meat eaters and one picky vegetarian who only eats one very specific vegetable, would you offer a non-meat item for that guest? Posted by smokeybailey[/QUOTE]

This

bigbeautifulfemme

I'm not trying to sweep my step-father's preferences under the rug, otherwise I would have just gone ahead with our original menu.  I understand that ordering an outside meal for him is not ideal.  I had my fingers crossed that someone might have experience with a smaller scale company so that I can more discretely include him in a way that is budget friendly.

verucasaltytoo

He eats cheeseburgers and fries, oh the horror!!!! lololol

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/local-wedding-boards_nevada-las-vegas_single-guest-very-selective-diet?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Local%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:91Discussion:aa29c9ac-7f55-4409-b234-f7ce7a746c15Post:4c3e1c36-56a1-4911-8561-26f5eb38f288">Re: Need small red meat option at cocktail reception!</a>:
[QUOTE]If it was reveresed and you had all red meat eaters and one picky vegetarian who only eats one very specific vegetable, would you offer a non-meat item for that guest? My vote is just to add the sliders.
Posted by smokeybailey[/QUOTE]

agree with this. it won't be so horrible to offer the sliders. 3 fish options seems like overkill anyway. 2 veggie, 2 fish, 1 chicken, and one steak/beef seems like a good balance.

MVJP10

Reading the knot I see non meat eaters are less accommodating than meat eaters. I would have NEVER dreamed of not offering a vegetarian option at our reception. let the poor man have a slider, if all you are serving are apps anyway he's already going to be limited on his food.