Would You Plate a Meal for Guests?

[Jules]

Do you serve a meal for guests family style or plated? I’ve sometimes thought it would be easier to serve the meal plated like in a restaurant. The table is small.

The other day I didn’t have enough room in the bowl for the risotto so plated it and set the schnitzel partially across it. All the sides were in bowls. The look of horror on one person’s face shocked me and then she said she never lets her food touch. She didn’t move it and ate it all.

It definitely made me decide to never try plating a meal for any other company.

 

[Imogene]

I never have. Many times I have found myself short on room at the table, I leave most everything on the counter and let people decide what they want.

Plus I am not waiting on anyone unless they are incapacitated in some way.

 

[IrishEyes]

I always do serve yourself, whether at table or on the counter if not enough room (buffet style). I never know who is on a diet and who has dietary restrictions.

 

[hollydolly]

Do you serve a meal for guests family style or plated? I’ve sometimes thought it would be easier to serve the meal plated like in a restaurant. The table is small.

The other day I didn’t have enough room in the bowl for the risotto so plated it and set the schnitzel partially across it. All the sides were in bowls. The look of horror on one person’s face shocked me and then she said she never lets her food touch. She didn’t move it and ate it all.

It definitely made me decide to never try plating a meal for any other company.

Unless it's summer and food is being served outside.. then I have always plated meals....

 

[gruntlabor]

Me: "Care for a piece of pie?"
He: "I don't know, what kind is it?"

And if he wants it, it will be plated, and garnished my way.

People are too picky today, my opinion. If I'm lucky enough to be offered food, I'm delighted and grateful to sample someone else's cooking for a change. I've never said no in all my short life.

 

[Trish]

It depends what it is, how many people and how much room there is. I have never known anyone to complain.

A colleague at work had OCD and she always kept her food separated, to the extent that she would use several small side plates and put a portion of different food on each one, rather than together on one plate. To be honest, if she hadn't done that, we probably wouldn't have noticed. If your guest has such a strong aversion against food touching on the plate, she probably should have mentioned it to you.

 

[PeppermintPatty]

It depends on the food and the company.
Some food is served off our kitchen island in a help yourself manner. Some food I dish out myself. When we had our recent company I often dished out my father in laws food cause he is old and needed the extra help. Others I let them help themselves.

 

[astralcat]

At large gatherings, I set out the food on my kitchen island, then guests fill their plates and we all sit at a table to eat. The only people that got their food plated were very young children.

 

[Aunt Bea]

Not usually, it’s a judgment call.

Anyone that gets in my door for a meal is pretty easy going and adaptable.

 

[Jules]

Mine is a galley kitchen with very little space to set out food. The couple of times I tried setting it out in the kitchen was just a zoo. I don’t have or ever want an island. My mess is basically kept out of sight.

The person with the issue is a relative. I’d never noticed this about her.

Afterwards I was wondering about OCD folks when their meal arrives in a restaurant. Some fancy places used to pile everything in a mound. Imo, that’s stupid.

 

[Aunt Bea]

I agree, I’ve always found this sort of thing disgusting and inedible.

 

[DebraMae]

I have always let everyone help themselves. A line would form in the kitchen as everyone worked their way around and I would end up going last.

 

[Teacher Terry]

No never because I am a fussy eater myself and don’t eat many things and some things I don’t like touching depending on what it is. Plus people with food allergies have to be really careful.

 

[MACKTEXAS]

We never had more than 6 people total, which is how many our table would seat, and we put the food on the table, to be passed around. Some people might not like everything that was served, or prefer a larger portion of some foods and a smaller portion of other foods.

 

[jujube]

I don't serve anything fancy enough to need plating. It's a free-for-all at my house. You want it, you dig in.

 

[Marie5656]

On rare occasions, I usually do "family Style". Help yourself, drinks in the fridge.