Dinner for Boyfriend's Parents?

Question

I plan on having my boyfriends parents over for dinner in a couple days.

I'm from San Diego, and they're from South Dakota. I thought it would be fun to make my favorite local dish - Fish Tacos, Rice, and Beans.

I know they're not used to spicier food, let alone Mexican food. I wanted to give them a little taste of San Diego, do you think that's ok?

Thanks! :)

Answer 1

I think that's a great idea. It sounds like you're good at making this dish, so it should be pretty easy for you. But you're also having a little concern over whether they would like the spices. Let them spice their own to taste. And if you're concerned that they won't like the fish, brown up and season some hamburger and let them have their old boring tacos.

To round it off, prepare a simple green salad, and if they don't like one of the other dishes, they can fill up on salad.

Not all mid-westerners are strictly meat-and-potatoes folk. Offering something a little different from the norm will give you an idea of their range of interests and experience.

Answer 2

I am assuming this is a first meeting. Why not call yourself telling them you are looking forward to meeting them? The subject of dinner will come up and you can mention that you would like to prepare some local dishes for them to try.

Perhaps plan a small sampling of local dishes. Make enough of each dish to give everyone a small taste. Serve fruit and salad with your meal. The fruit will help get rid of the spicy taste if they don't like it.

You have not said whether or not this is their first visit to San Diego. If it is you might want to make a more "safe" dish as they will probably be nervous.

Good Luck with dinner!!

Answer 3

Make the fish for tacos and prepare the shells, but let them stuff their own. That way, if they're uncomfortable with the idea of fish tacos (I went to school in Eastern Washington, quite a lot of the Midwest is uncomfortable with Mexican food) they can eat the seasoned fish as a dish without the taco shells. Just keep the spices in the mild range.

Answer 4

Tacos are a really easy way to allow people to make their own food to their own tastes if done correctly! I would grill up some steak or chicken, and some fish as well as just plain refried beans and let them stuff their own tacos.
Also put the limes, cliantro, tomotoes, olives on the side as well incase of allergies.
Also a salsa bar in the center of the table is a great, it allows them to pick their heat level, and different flavors.
I would make a mild avocado salsa or gaucamole, a hot salsa and a mild tomatoe salsa.
:) You don't want to make something too simple that would make them feel like they are from another country instead of south dakota. :) And if your boyfriend is great and open minded I'm sure he will be too!

Answer 5

There is absolutely no reason to feel uncomfortable if his parents pay. Would you feel "weird" about going to dinner at their home? Or about going to a party given by a friend of your boyfriend's whom you haven't met yet? This is no different.

Answer 6

That's a good idea to call them, tell them you are looking forward to seeing them, and ask about allergies, food and spice preferences. Tell them you wanted to try to give them a taste of local dishes after you ask about the other things.
Girl, they are from South Dakota, they will be impressed with anything fresh, if they can't handle mexican, try any california cuisine. My first visit to california was in the first week of June, and I was 11. Black cherries, strawberries, avocados, citrus fruit, plums, I ate and ate fresh fruit. In Illinois, in June, strawberries were the only locally grown fruit that was ripe. After a hard Illinois winter, I thought I had died and gone to heaven. My relatives had a ranch, they grew citrus fruit then. I climbed a grapefruit tree and got the biggest one I could reach, my parents ate it in the car on the way home.
If time allows, take them to a farmer's market, and let them go crazy.

Answer 7

Your boyfriend is probably the best gauge for his parents' likes and dislikes. As for me, I'd go for something simple for that first meeting. (I'm guessing this is a first meeting since you aren't really sure of what they like.) Maybe something like a chicken & pasta dish. Or, serve the spicy rice and beans w/a mildly seasoned piece of chicken breast. Maybe pair it with bottle of light, crisp wine. Reisling is nice. For dessert, impress his mom with a chocolate fondue and coffee. Fondues are very easy...cut the fruit and pound cake ahead of time and it only takes a few minutes to make the choc dipping sauce (ghiradelli baking choc & a little cream). You can find fondue pots for about $10.

That's just me. Either way, have a great time with his family. It's more important that you be yourself. Good luck and have fun!

Answer 8

I would choose something more along the lines of comfort food, Baked Ziti is easy and delsicious, you could make that with a green salad and some garlic bread or breadsticks. That way, the food is yummy, but the focus is off the food, so you can focus on getting to know his parents, and them getting to know you.

Once you have learned theri tastes, then would be an appropriate time to try more creative dishes!

Have fun!

Answer 9

I think that's a good idea. But you may want to have something else to offer them that is not so spicy. This way they can try a little taste of San Diego and not feel bad if they don't care for it.

Answer 10

Yes, just make sure they like white fish and select a light white fish like tilapia. And go easy on the spices - let them add more if they wish.

I think they will like the thoughtfulness of your dinner plans!