Going to a Friends/Relatives for Dinner

I always ask what is going to be served. I do it in a way that makes it sound like I want to bring something that will go with the meal like a dessert or something. I don't like seafood or coconut or certain things like that so I wouldn't want to hurt anyone's feelings by not eating so that's why I ask what will be served.

I sometimes ask it depends on how well I know them. Or I might ask what are serving for dinner I'd like to bring the dessert. That way I know what to expect and I know there will be atleast one thing I like.

I like most things and tend to like what my friends and relatives like. If I were on a diet or had dietary requirements or allergies, I would certainly make no bones about telling them beforehand. It only makes sense to let them know and saves embarrasment. After all, if I am invited, then I assume that it's my company they want, not just to fill my belly!

No I never ask what they are serving. I'd rather eat a little bit and have to eat more later at home then decline such a nice invitation. Though a lot of the time they'll tell me what they plan on having before I even answer them. So I can either say yes or no depending on the food too.

I dont think that I have asked. Most of my friends that ever would invite me know what I eat and dont eat. We kind of have the same taste.. I am a picky eater and I would not eat anything i hate just to be polite. People are different in taste, and luckily most of my friends have the same taste as I do =)

If it is a close friend or relative then I would ask in a casual manner "what's for dinner". If I don't like what is being served I would ask if they would mind if I skip the main meal and just have the starters and desert as I don't eat a lot. I don't like eating something that I don't like so I will always come up with some excuse not to eat it but I rarely decline the invitations.

I don't ever remember asking beforehand what is being served. Some time ago I was invited to lunch at a home of a well-to-do person only to find out that she was serving veal tongue. Just the thought of it gave me a queasy stomach and I guess the espression on my face showed my discomfort. The hostess asked me if I would rather have something else and being an exceptional guest I said no, that I would try the tongue which was served in a very tasty sauce of some kind. I have to admit that not only did I like it I went back twice more for refills. I enjoyed it very much. Needless to say I don't eat it everywhere, especially in restaurants that I don't know. Ât the moment I only eat it prepared by my roommate (who was working for the hostess above at the time) and the restaurant where I eat lunch every day. The reason I'm am picky is that cleaning the tongue is a long and arduous process to make sure it is free of bacteria and films that accumulate...it takes a lot of elbow grease to scrape the tongue. However, my preference is lamb tongue...it has a better flavor and more tender but it's a lot more work. If the invitation was from a friend or relative then I might ask what they are serving if they don't mention what it is when extending the invitation. But if I know they the hostess is a good cook I would probably not ask as I am one who is willing to try almost anything before I turn up my nose. +

We do not get to join family and friends often for dinner. When we do it is usually a feast, and there is always something we like. My sister in law knows that we will eat almost anything except pasta,(hubby will not eat it) although she says sometimes she has an almost irresistable urge to cook it anyway, just to get his goat. LOL

I don't recall that I have ever asked what a friend/relative is planning to serve. Sure, it would be nice to know what was being served...but I think that it might also be a little rude to decline after asking what they are serving for dinner. If they were serving something in the house that I didn't like...I would probably just tough it out and eat a biscuit! LOL I would eat it anyway. Unless they eat it, and don't like it...I will agree, I won't lie! :D

If I went somewhere and they were serving something I didn't like I'd politely eat at least a little bit so I wouldn't be rude. When I was growing up I went to a few different countries with my Dad who was a missionary and he made me eat whatever was served so as not to offend anyone. That is probably why I still have the same philosophy to this day. You can always bring something to add to the meal, and have it be something you know you'll like, then there will be at least that :)

I always ask whats for dinner when Im invited over. If its family and I dont like what their serving I will just eat alittle bit. And then they will make me something else. But hey thats family. If Im invited to a friend of mine and I dont like it yes I will decline.Because I think its rude not to eat some ones cooking.

I don't usually ask people what they are serving for dinner. I pretty much like anything. If I get there and I don't like it- I'll take a little and eat the other things too. Usually there will be salad or veggies and a side dish that I enjoy- If not I eat a little and then just say I'm not overly hungry- When I get home I grab something. Most of my friends and relatives all eat the same type of stuff that I do- so I have never run into this. Some people think I'm a picky eater and will tell me what they are making. I am the pickiest out of my family-

I agree with you and always ask what is being served. That saves a lot of embarishment. A person can tell if you like something simply by how you are eating it. I also would not want to offend the person. That is another reason why I ask what is being served. If I don't like what is being served than I decline the invitation.

Yes because also some things you might be alergic to and also some things might make you sick if they say a certain food I will make up excuses and say that we have plans for that night.

No, I never ask that before I go. It may be the smart thing to do though. If it ends up being something that I don't like then I will attempt to eat some if possible/if I can stomach it. Or I will just say that I'm allergic to something that's in that dish or that I had some issues with eating it once before. Like the last time I had it, I got sick, had diarrhea, etc.

We all tend to 'talk food' a lot so its normal to discuss the menu in quite a lot of detail, but we also rely on knowing that our friends have much the same tastes as us. To be honest, the things I don't eat are very unlikely to be served, though I try to avoid wheat if I can I wouldnt not eat it at a friends if that was what was on offer, I like having my tastes challenged though, a new dish is always a good adventure.

I have never had that problem so it has never occurred to me to ask. Maybe because we all cook fairly similar foods or we are regular punters in each other's houses. So no I don't really ask. I haven't been to a formal dinner in ages, maybe that is also the reason for not having this problem.

I always ask what they'll be cooking, more out of politeness and interest than making sure they cook something i like. The friends & family i go to for dinner know the sort of stuff i don't like (mainly curries and spicy stuff) and wouldn't cook it, they'd find out themselves what everyone they'd invited liked so the could cook something that everyone could eat. I for one would not cook a meal for people without first enquiring what foods they liked & didn't like.

Whenever i go to a friends house, I usually just eat what they are fixing. Even if i don't like it i eat it anyway, because different people fix things different ways. Sometimes food I don't like just needs to be fixed a different way for me to like it, and its just being curteous to my friends. I wouldn't want them to tell me what to fix if i invited them to dinner, i'd expect them to try it and tell me they're honest opinion.

I don't accept or decline an invitation just because of the food served there. I don't mind what is served. If it's really bad then i'l just say that i don't feel good or something like that.