Steak or chicken?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (373701)
Rockingham, Australia
March 9, 2026 7:54am CST
When Vince was working, we would sometimes get invited to a function which involved a sit-down meal. Often, after being served an entrée/starters, the main course would involve ‘alternating plates’.
So every second person would be given, say, a chicken dish, and the other guests might be offered steak. If you were lucky, you might be able to swap with a neighbour if you’d prefer their dinner to yours. I can’t remember how vegetarians coped.
Alternating plates in this way would save a certain amount of hassle for the wait staff. Rather than have people dithering about what they wanted, or changing their minds being ordering and getting their meal, you could just serve it up and move on. I’m wondering if you’ve come across alternating plates at any catered-for functions.
The photo shows Vince’s steak. It might look a small meal but the steak was very thick.
9 people like this
10 responses
@FourWalls (83721)
• United States
48m
That’s interesting. The company I worked for when I retired had a Christmas party where they ordered in advance. Because of my food allergies I had to request chicken instead of the beef or seafood. And the chicken was delicious!
I suppose there are drawbacks to ordering in advance, and there’d be a problem in the “alternating plate” method if someone did have an allergy to beef (or poultry or seafood or whatever one of the options was).
And that’s not Vince’s steak, that’s “what’s left of Vince’s steak”! 
@DaddyEvil (169601)
• United States
1h
I've never been to a dinner like that. It sounds confusing, to say the least. Just serve the same thing to everybody and be done with it.
@Marilynda1225 (89080)
• United States
2h
Any function I've been too if there was a choice I would pick the steak. I eat chicken all the time at home so steak is my "go to"
@snowy22315 (204076)
• United States
4h
I would be hoping I w ould get steak, but would likely end up with chicken.
@Tampa_girl7 (54356)
• United States
4h
I have never seen this done. I eat more chicken, but prefer beef.
@xFiacre (14336)
• Ireland
3h
@judyev Some folk are better not being given a choice. Just eat it and be grateful. It beats me why some parents give their toddlers a choice. They give themselves so much work, heighten the kids’ expectations and cause endless squabbles. Nor can I understand being asked to chose from a menu in advance of the meal, especially if the meal is weeks or even months away. How does anyone know what they’ll feel like that far in advance? I understand the logistics of such a practice, knowing how much of everything to buy in etc, but I don’t like it.
