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Dear Helena,
I'm throwing a barbecue and want to know how much I'm supposed to bend over backwards to accommodate vegetarians. Thanks.
—The Meathead
Dear Meathead,
Don't stress out about what your veggie guests will eat. Just tell them the same thing you're probably telling all your guests: "Bring something to grill." As I said here, it's up to the vegetarians to bring their own tofu dogs or homemade sprouted-chickpea–lentil patties. And there's no need to cordon off a special area on the grill. As Willie Cooper, author of On the Grill: Adventures in Fire and Smoke, points out, when you're grilling, you already need two zones, one for direct heat and one for indirect. Don't complicate matters by adding any more. Most vegetarians—myself included—don't expect a barbecue host to bend over backward to ensure that no cross-contamination occurs, any more than they expect you to section off a special area upwind of the barbecue so they don't have to smell burning flesh.
Some vegetarians won't want to eat a Gardenburger that has jostled shoulders with a dead animal, but they won't go hungry. The good news is that you can ensure this without doing anything differently from what you normally would do. Presumably you plan on serving more than hunks of meat—that is, you'll be providing sides. Most of the usual suspects, like potato salad, are vegetarian anyway. But try to do better than a gallon tub of premade coleslaw and a hacked-up watermelon. Take it up a notch with one of these CHOW recipes. Don't think of this extra effort as kowtowing to your vegetarian guests. Your meat-eating guests will appreciate your wild rice and edamame salad* and your blue-cheese coleslaw too.
This is strictly optional, but for extra credit with your veggie guests, grill an ingredient or two in advance and use them to make a side. The item won't have touched any meat, and the vegetarians can still enjoy the smoky umami flavor of grilled food, which will make them feel included. Chef Cooper suggests making a salad with grilled stone fruits, arugula, and goat cheese. Or try this CHOW recipe for Grilled Greek Salad.
Finally, don't agonize about your gluten-free guests either. If you try to accommodate them, you'll have to keep a zone free not only of buns but also of any marinade with soy sauce (unless that soy sauce is gluten-free). In fact, when you're hosting a barbecue, don't even ask about anyone's dietary restrictions. If you try to make sure everyone's needs are met, like this worried Chowhound, your grill will have so many zones that you'll need to do pencil sketches in advance. Grilling is supposed to be fun and casual, not an exercise in geometry.
Dear Helena,
I recently threw a barbecue and invited guests to "bring something to throw on the grill." At the end of the party, there was a bunch of stuff left in my fridge that had never been grilled, including fancy sausages and five whole ears of fresh corn. I felt really bad and guilty that the guests hadn't gotten a chance to grill their food, and now it was in my fridge. Should I have asked around to see whose food it was and returned it to them? Or is it OK that I just kept it and ate it?
—Unintentional Mooch
Dear Unintentional Mooch,
Here's a rule of thumb for party leftovers: If you can eat it all in the next three days, you can keep it. It's your reward for hosting. On the other hand, if you find yourself with Thanksgiving-worthy quantities of food, you should divvy it up. Hosting a barbecue is not an excuse to stock your fridge with groceries.
*This is a correction. As Chowhounds quickly pointed out, the German potato salad originally suggested contains bacon, and serving it to your veggie guests would definitely be a faux pas!
Even as a devout meat eater, I'm still very proud of my hummus-stuffed portabello mushroom burgers. Serve those and your vegan friends will worship you as a god.
People with made-up food sensitivities, on the other hand, will be served a big bowl of scorn.
"Bring something to grill?" What the...? Oh. Meathead means he's throwing a _cookout_. Not a "barbecue." Gotcha.
By all means, don't accommodate gluten-free guests at all. Let them eat your soy sauce marinaded burger patties and watch them get violently ill afterwards. It's great after dinner entertainment!
if all else fails, a trip to the library to look through old issues of vegetarian times can help. last year - or the year before - they devoted an issue to vegetarians thriving at a barbecue. there was an incredible recipe for barbecued portobello sliders with smoked gouda.
i'm not a vegetarian, but i love veggies, and have been known to grill huge piles/platters of veggies before anyone...+READ
if all else fails, a trip to the library to look through old issues of vegetarian times can help. last year - or the year before - they devoted an issue to vegetarians thriving at a barbecue. there was an incredible recipe for barbecued portobello sliders with smoked gouda.
i'm not a vegetarian, but i love veggies, and have been known to grill huge piles/platters of veggies before anyone arrives because it gives the vegs time to absorb the dressing flavors. i'm with everyone who says that if a vegetarian is a close enough friend to be invited to the party, it's important to take a little care to include their preferences.-COLLAPSE
I disagree,if I invite a guest,knowing they are vegetarian it would not be too much trouble to make them something to eat! That would be rude of me as a hostess,to invite you to a barbecue then not have any food you can eat! How crazy is that??
Another vegetarian option that all your guests would like as well is grilled veggies--corn on the cob, zucchini, mushrooms. Just make sure that you have enough for everyone. If you have to make sure the vegetarian gets theirs first, you've killed the whole point of serving something that won't single him/her out.
As an addendum, I also cook for lactose intolerant/Crohn's disease friends, who may or may not be vegetarians (usually not). I add this into the mix of how I plan food. As long as no one insists a particular utensil or plate or grilling surface has never ever in its life touched a forbidden food (I don't keep a spreadsheet!) we're good to go.
I've never had a problem accomodating vegetarians at my home. I'm not one myself, and I don't eat the fake soy foodoid substances some of them will eat, but I will bend over backwards if someone is a friend and hence worthy of invite, to provide something good they can eat, and of which leftovers I will still eat. Same is also true of my kosher friends. If I am going to cook for people, it...+READ
I've never had a problem accomodating vegetarians at my home. I'm not one myself, and I don't eat the fake soy foodoid substances some of them will eat, but I will bend over backwards if someone is a friend and hence worthy of invite, to provide something good they can eat, and of which leftovers I will still eat. Same is also true of my kosher friends. If I am going to cook for people, it behooves me to remember it is fun to cook for people, and there will be meat and vegetarian options (that still fit into my Real Foods principles) that both parties can eat. I consider it a great and enjoyable challenge to cook for my vegetarian friends. Hey, that's why I invite people over!-COLLAPSE
Why bother inviting vegetarians to your home if you can't treat them like a wanted guest? Buying a veggie alternative pattie isn't that hard to do (or that expensive). It's not hard to ask them if they want their food cooked before meat is added to the grill, at the same time as the meat, or on an alternative cooking surface. And there is really no reason why most side dishes can't be meat free.
While some vegetarians can be complete bores about needed a special spot on the grill to cook their cracked barley patty's while simultaneously reminding you of all the injustices that cow you had planned to enjoy suffered before finding its way on to your grates, most of the time vegetarians just don't eat meat and I don't think it is really asking for a lot of accommodate them. The article...+READ
While some vegetarians can be complete bores about needed a special spot on the grill to cook their cracked barley patty's while simultaneously reminding you of all the injustices that cow you had planned to enjoy suffered before finding its way on to your grates, most of the time vegetarians just don't eat meat and I don't think it is really asking for a lot of accommodate them. The article seems to suggest that this is a job so tedious as to be completely ignored. To me this is just rude and unnecessarily so. Even if you don't want to dish out the cash for some special health-food store veggie patty, there are plenty of seasonable vegetables that can be easily thrown on a grill, dressed with the same BBQ sauces as your once-living fair and served to all of your guests without issue.
Also, the suggestion that you serve a BBQ BYOM (bring your own meat) seems preposterous. It would be the same as hosting a dinner party and asking all your guests to bring their own dinners, its just ridiculous.-COLLAPSE
Well, im nomad, my sister is gluten sensitive and I restrict my protein intake due to a medical condition. Neither of us expects special treatment. My point is about voluntary lifestyle choices, not those forced upon us by health issues.
I think anyone who plans a party and asks this question with the preconceived notion that they are going to be put out and forced to "bend over backwards" for a vegetarian friend is likely not to truly want anything to do with accommodating anyone to begin with, and is likely only looking for the "meat or GTFO, amirite?" responses anyway.
Akitist: people do have meat sensitivities and...+READ
I think anyone who plans a party and asks this question with the preconceived notion that they are going to be put out and forced to "bend over backwards" for a vegetarian friend is likely not to truly want anything to do with accommodating anyone to begin with, and is likely only looking for the "meat or GTFO, amirite?" responses anyway.
Akitist: people do have meat sensitivities and allergies, and some people also follow vegetarian or vegan diets in order to control a medical condition. They are not necessarily phobic.-COLLAPSE
I'd probably throw a few veggie burgers on the grill before cooking anything else. Problem solved.
Helena , don't worry about being called rude... F them if they can take a joke..
Vegans should be burned on the same BBQ where good meat cooked.
And yes bring your own meat is just wrong.
If I invite you you should only bring your appetite , t
If you cant effort to host a BBQ , don't do it..but offer the coal for other people's meat is just lame .
Paradise Sweater is conflating people with actual dietary needs with those who have made some kind of choice. Celiac or lactose intolerance are not lifestyles; they are medical conditions. Vegans are in a different category. A meat-o-phobe belongs at a barbecue like a Communist belongs at a Young Republican meeting.
Helena, for having an article about table manners, you're being rude. Really rude. You're treating it like it's soooo hard to just throw a vegetable or meatless patty on one little corner of a grill. Is that really the polite thing to do? James Norton comes off as extremely rude too, and usually about alternative food lifestyles like this. I'm thinking the entire Chow office is full of a bunch of...+READ
Helena, for having an article about table manners, you're being rude. Really rude. You're treating it like it's soooo hard to just throw a vegetable or meatless patty on one little corner of a grill. Is that really the polite thing to do? James Norton comes off as extremely rude too, and usually about alternative food lifestyles like this. I'm thinking the entire Chow office is full of a bunch of rude people that feel superior for not needing a gluten-free/vegetarian/lactose-free diet.-COLLAPSE
Why not just grill up some veg with a nice glaze? I have barbeques all the time and plenty of my friends are veg heads. Summer squash, zukes, peppers, broccoli, asparagus, just about anything if you know your way around the kitchen; what are you all scared of? It seems to me that barbeques are often an excuse for people who love to gorge themselves on all meat and no veg to just do more of the...+READ
Why not just grill up some veg with a nice glaze? I have barbeques all the time and plenty of my friends are veg heads. Summer squash, zukes, peppers, broccoli, asparagus, just about anything if you know your way around the kitchen; what are you all scared of? It seems to me that barbeques are often an excuse for people who love to gorge themselves on all meat and no veg to just do more of the same.-COLLAPSE
People who think accommodating vegetarians is "bending over backwards" must not be omnivores themselves. All omnivores eat foods that are meatless, as well as those that contain meat. So every single one of us knows how to make a vegetarian side dish, whether we just think of it as the accompaniment to meat or not. But honestly, how hard is it to slap a portabella mushroom on the grill along with...+READ
People who think accommodating vegetarians is "bending over backwards" must not be omnivores themselves. All omnivores eat foods that are meatless, as well as those that contain meat. So every single one of us knows how to make a vegetarian side dish, whether we just think of it as the accompaniment to meat or not. But honestly, how hard is it to slap a portabella mushroom on the grill along with the steaks?-COLLAPSE
BYO BBQs are the norm in our circles, but they shouldn't be. For one thing, it's much more efficient to simply buy the appropriate quantity of meat. Same goes for beer.
The BYO method requires everyone to bring their own full package of meat and booze. You're left trying to grill burgers, dogs and chicken over the same coals. The end result is a hodge-podge of brats, dogs, the inevitable...+READ
BYO BBQs are the norm in our circles, but they shouldn't be. For one thing, it's much more efficient to simply buy the appropriate quantity of meat. Same goes for beer.
The BYO method requires everyone to bring their own full package of meat and booze. You're left trying to grill burgers, dogs and chicken over the same coals. The end result is a hodge-podge of brats, dogs, the inevitable random piece of charred chicken, Dos Equis and Fat Tire.
Add to that the stress of having to stop at the store (two stores in MN, thanks to our lovely blue laws), and the whole thing gets whacked.
If everyone would simply host a BBQ, they would be more enjoyable and, over the course of the summer season, much cheaper.-COLLAPSE
For those of you that seem stunned that anyone would host a BBQ and "ask friends to bring meat to grill," this sort of get-together is very common throughout "BBQ country." I couldn't even begin to count how many times I've received such an invitation. They usually go something like: "Bring whatever meat you want to grill, and a covered dish to share. We'll provide hot dogs, hamburgers, fixin's,...+READ
For those of you that seem stunned that anyone would host a BBQ and "ask friends to bring meat to grill," this sort of get-together is very common throughout "BBQ country." I couldn't even begin to count how many times I've received such an invitation. They usually go something like: "Bring whatever meat you want to grill, and a covered dish to share. We'll provide hot dogs, hamburgers, fixin's, and chips for the kids. We'll also provide a cooler full of beer, and lemonade and sodas and mixers, but if you'd like something else to drink, bring that, too. See you Sunday!"
These are not usually the sorts of parties where you "invite your friends." They are, rather, the type of parties where some sort of group wants to have a party with no real host, and somebody offers their house. You see it, for example, when your softball team or bowling league has an "end of season get-together." Or your son's swim team finished first. Or your neighborhood has a block party. Or the folks in the squadron, or the office, or back in shipping at the plant decide to kick off the summer in festive style.
It's a great way to host a party and not have to spend too much money. Thereby encouraging someone else to host another one.-COLLAPSE
The only place for a vegeterian at a BBQ is on the grill.
I always bring a side dish that is veg-friendly bc oftentimes I think vegans and vegetarians get the rough end of the pineapple.
My first thought was that "warm potato salad" was unwise for a summer BBQ as food generally being left out for a while (on a buffet) benefits from refrigeration beforehand.
Then I read the comments re "bacon" etc... Well, there's no need to be rude and resort to...+READ
I always bring a side dish that is veg-friendly bc oftentimes I think vegans and vegetarians get the rough end of the pineapple.
My first thought was that "warm potato salad" was unwise for a summer BBQ as food generally being left out for a while (on a buffet) benefits from refrigeration beforehand.
Then I read the comments re "bacon" etc... Well, there's no need to be rude and resort to name calling, Phurstluv. Attempt to be classy.-COLLAPSE
Yes, Helena, you are a dumb ass. German potato salad usually has bacon in it too, and uses the rendered fat for the dressing. But that's okay, that would mean more potato salad for those of us who appreciate it!
If you are hosting a barbecue, and you have invited vegetarian guests, they should KNOW what's going to be happening. If your vegetarian friends are going to recoil at the possibility of even the smell of seared animal flesh, just don't invite them to this particular party. Vegetarians friends worth having will bring their own faux-whatever, and graze on the non-meat sides you provide (salads,...+READ
If you are hosting a barbecue, and you have invited vegetarian guests, they should KNOW what's going to be happening. If your vegetarian friends are going to recoil at the possibility of even the smell of seared animal flesh, just don't invite them to this particular party. Vegetarians friends worth having will bring their own faux-whatever, and graze on the non-meat sides you provide (salads, etc.) if you are good host.-COLLAPSE
I'm a veg lifer and have always wrapped my "burger" in foil. It's never been a problem.
I think this was the rudest article I ever read. I'd rather not be invited than not considered. Being a host is all about consideration! Keep a section on the bbq for non-meat. Have the portobello fixings. And in 1 minute I googled and found gluten-free bbq sauce and buns. I had a GF friend go to a bbq & she felt like an outcast. If you don't want to bother, just invite meat eaters it's as simple...+READ
I think this was the rudest article I ever read. I'd rather not be invited than not considered. Being a host is all about consideration! Keep a section on the bbq for non-meat. Have the portobello fixings. And in 1 minute I googled and found gluten-free bbq sauce and buns. I had a GF friend go to a bbq & she felt like an outcast. If you don't want to bother, just invite meat eaters it's as simple as that.-COLLAPSE
"In fact, when you're hosting a bbq, don't even ask about anyone's dietary restrictions." REALLY? Why are you even inviting people over? These are presumably your friends, and you don't want to make sure that there is something there they can eat? What if they have food allergies that could easily be accommodated by leaving something off (or to the side)? I acknowledge that "BBQ" could mean...+READ
"In fact, when you're hosting a bbq, don't even ask about anyone's dietary restrictions." REALLY? Why are you even inviting people over? These are presumably your friends, and you don't want to make sure that there is something there they can eat? What if they have food allergies that could easily be accommodated by leaving something off (or to the side)? I acknowledge that "BBQ" could mean anything from a super casual just-bring-what-you-want-to-throw-on-the-grill, to a huge party. Nevertheless, if I am hosting, I would want to be sure that I knew about restrictions ahead of time so that no one shows up and finds they can't eat anything. For the guest who has a super restrictive diet, it would be polite to say "I'll bring my own veggie burger/gluten free dish/whatever," but ultimately I think the host would want to avoid having guests leave hungry.-COLLAPSE
Very topical column Helena! My friend and I are experimenting with raw vegan this summer and reading lots of tips and articles on how to follow this diet and still have a social life. Oh my gosh, I think raw vegan while way more extreme is easier. One word: guacamole! I do think the raw vegans should bring their own guac (with plenty extra to share) and cucumber slices to go with.
Back in the...+READ
Very topical column Helena! My friend and I are experimenting with raw vegan this summer and reading lots of tips and articles on how to follow this diet and still have a social life. Oh my gosh, I think raw vegan while way more extreme is easier. One word: guacamole! I do think the raw vegans should bring their own guac (with plenty extra to share) and cucumber slices to go with.
Back in the day a huge bowl of salad was usually offered, but pre-dressed. Nowadays dressings are offered separately. The easiest way to be kind to guests with special dietary needs is to make a huge salad of greens and then separate bowls of croutons, bacon bits and such.
For the vegetarians, vegans and raw vegans among us, if you really want to knock your friends socks off (and maybe gain a convert you never know) why not bring one of those sexy raw chocolate mousses along, just don't tell 'em the secret ingredient is creamy ripe avocado, or even better, freshly made ice cream the vegan way!-COLLAPSE
Just say I will grill some portabelo mushrooms, zucchini, onions and peppers for the veggie guests. If you would like to bring a side dish or salad to share GREAT! Cant wait to see you!
How hard was that?
I'm fine with bringing my own veggie burgers and whatnot - I'm the lone veg in the group and I don't think the hosts should have to buy a pack of veggie burgers just for me, especially since I'll only eat one.
That said, I don't think it's too much to ask that they keep a meat-free corner for the veggies, etc. Or cook the veggies first, if they absolutely need all the grill space for meat.
...+READ
I'm fine with bringing my own veggie burgers and whatnot - I'm the lone veg in the group and I don't think the hosts should have to buy a pack of veggie burgers just for me, especially since I'll only eat one.
That said, I don't think it's too much to ask that they keep a meat-free corner for the veggies, etc. Or cook the veggies first, if they absolutely need all the grill space for meat.
Please don't exclude vegetarians from the grilling and only serve veg-friendly side dishes. Sure, it's easier, but it makes people feel like an afterthought. (Of course, you're off the hook if you don't know a guest is vegetarian. Then it's their problem.)-COLLAPSE
I agree with keslayce - it is strange to host a BBQ and expect your guests to bring their own meat.
um, Helena? "warm German potato salad"-- generally is swimming in the porkolicious bacon grease that makes its hot dressing possible-- so it isn't a good picnic recommendation for your fellow vegetarians, although almost any other potato salad other than "warm German potato salad," would be ovo-lacto veg-friendly.
i personally think it's nice to put a little foil on the grill under the tofu...+READ
um, Helena? "warm German potato salad"-- generally is swimming in the porkolicious bacon grease that makes its hot dressing possible-- so it isn't a good picnic recommendation for your fellow vegetarians, although almost any other potato salad other than "warm German potato salad," would be ovo-lacto veg-friendly.
i personally think it's nice to put a little foil on the grill under the tofu dogs or garden burgers at a grilling picnic, or use a veggie grilling basket for these items-- it isn't a major imposition on the hosts, it's just basic courtesy. there are also usually so many veg*n sides at a grill party that veg guests can dine just fine without bringing any faux-meat grillables anyway.-COLLAPSE
@keslacye, our circle of friends frequently make the "bring something to throw on the grill" call when we feel like getting together without putting a burden on any one person to be a host/ess. Yes, it's informal and de-emphasizes that you're a "guest" - which is the point. It isn't so much an event as an invitation to have a big family dinner together.
And thanks for the vegan/vegetarian...+READ
@keslacye, our circle of friends frequently make the "bring something to throw on the grill" call when we feel like getting together without putting a burden on any one person to be a host/ess. Yes, it's informal and de-emphasizes that you're a "guest" - which is the point. It isn't so much an event as an invitation to have a big family dinner together.
And thanks for the vegan/vegetarian clarification, tastesgood - for some reason I'd have expected eggs to be higher on the "heck no we don't eat THAT" list.-COLLAPSE
As a gluten-free guest, I bring my own dinner essentially and don't expect any special considerations or grill concessions. I often bring a dish, e.g., veggies for grilling that everyone can enjoy.
I'm the sole vegetarian in my group of friends. We usually follow the BYO method at barbecues, which is a bit easier for everyone. Whether you're providing all the food for your guests or just part, veg- and meat-eaters will appreciate the variety that vegetables bring, and they're so easy to grill. Some ideas:
-Sliced veggies, brushed with olive oil, salt and pepper - eggplant, peppers and...+READ
I'm the sole vegetarian in my group of friends. We usually follow the BYO method at barbecues, which is a bit easier for everyone. Whether you're providing all the food for your guests or just part, veg- and meat-eaters will appreciate the variety that vegetables bring, and they're so easy to grill. Some ideas:
-Sliced veggies, brushed with olive oil, salt and pepper - eggplant, peppers and zucchini all work well.
-Grill onions by slicing into rounds, then push toothpicks through the rings to keep the layers together
-Corn on the cob (pre-cooked)
-Tomino cheese (similar to a small round of brie: creamy inside with soft crust) - cook until soft, then cut it open and spread on grilled bread or burgers or eat as a side
For people who are worried about meat or gluten contamination, you can make a simple foil pouch and cook the veggies inside with oil/butter, seasonings and whole or minced garlic. This is also an easy way to grill small things without using skewers, like cherry tomatoes, mushrooms and diced potatoes. If you're cooking over a campfire, you can throw the pouches right into the coals to cook.-COLLAPSE
Personally, I think it is strange to equate "BBQ" with "ask your friends to bring their own meat." Unless you're still in college, then if you have a party - actually HOST the party. Guests should not be asked to bring their own main dishes. I would rather eat the same hot dogs and burgers as everyone else than I would bring my own special Wagyu porterhouses and have to crowd around the grill...+READ
Personally, I think it is strange to equate "BBQ" with "ask your friends to bring their own meat." Unless you're still in college, then if you have a party - actually HOST the party. Guests should not be asked to bring their own main dishes. I would rather eat the same hot dogs and burgers as everyone else than I would bring my own special Wagyu porterhouses and have to crowd around the grill with everyone else, making sure their 'investment' is properly cooked. A BBQ is a communal event, godsakes!-COLLAPSE
Similar should go for dieters too. On the 4th I brought my own 98% fat free meat hot dog and a vegan burger. I had to remind the "grillmaster" to put them on around the same time as the 'real' burgers and hot dogs. Despite saying several times that the veggie burger doesn't mean I'm a vegetarian now, they kept trying to make sure my burger got special meatless treatment. Everyone went out of...+READ
Similar should go for dieters too. On the 4th I brought my own 98% fat free meat hot dog and a vegan burger. I had to remind the "grillmaster" to put them on around the same time as the 'real' burgers and hot dogs. Despite saying several times that the veggie burger doesn't mean I'm a vegetarian now, they kept trying to make sure my burger got special meatless treatment. Everyone went out of their way to suggest sides I could have and besides FORCING me to eat a small cookie, they went out of their way to accommodate my eating habits. I think as long as you make a different food need/want known, people are usually really good about accommodating...even over-accommodating. Well, aside from that cookie.-COLLAPSE
Vegans will avoid eggs, but not necessarily vegetarians. However, there are some nice recipes for vinegar based coleslaws and potato salads that will stand up well to being outside as well.
I grill baby bok choy. Drizzled with olive oil, right on direct heat. First thing to go at all my parties.
Dumb question: Don't most vegetarians avoid eggs and therefore mayonnaise? (Thinking about the potato salad mentioned above.)