Well, his grandma has offered to add herself into the mix instead of using mostly store/resutrant additions. The problem is her food is very ethnic (Polish) and would be strange to my family. Even I find some of it weird after 4 years....some things like goose liver appitizers is just gross. Her cooking isn't the best in the first place and I would much rather just get some roasted chickens from the deli to go with my grandpas brisket and my dad's chili for entrees.
How can I let her down without offending her? I tried to have her do desert but she just replied "I don't bake dear" then started listing more strange/gross ethnic foods she wanted to consider for the menu.
2007-11-20 13:09:16 · 36 answers · asked by pspoptart 6 in Family & Relationships ➔ Weddings
We are doing our own catering for budget reasons
2007-11-20 13:10:15 · update #1
The brisket is put in the smoker the day before and doesn't need to be touched until it's time to put on the carving board.
My dad's chili is being made like a week before and frozen.
2007-11-20 13:32:09 · update #2
Find something yummy that is polish and ask her to make that. I say a large tray of pirogies should keep her busy. (they are like raviolis, except they are potato filled) and they are usually served with fried onions.
Or maybe Keilbasa sausage w/ sauerkraut.
For desert (it's not really baking - more like frying) she can make krushiki (spelling is completely wrong) , I have also heard them called angel wings. They are crispy fried cookies in the shape of bow ties that are sprinkled with powdered sugar. They are kind of like the italian canoli shells only much lighter.
If you find something you like, then you can have his family tradition there and have something that would be palatable to everyone else. Plus she'll feel special that she contributed to the food.
2007-11-20 13:25:31 · answer #1 · answered by JM 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Grandma is trying to give you something symbolic of her and your fiance's family. I think it would be hurtful and rude to tell her you think her food "sucks" no matter how you try to soften the blow. As many other posters have mentioned, it may be that some people expect the Polish foods rather than chili or brisket.
Strange to you doesn't always mean strange and/or gross to everyone else.
2007-11-20 15:18:48 · answer #2 · answered by Flock of Seagulls Haircut 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OKay so we're to understand that your father and your grandfather are adding to the menu something of their choice not from restaurants or already prepared, but she's not allowed to bring something?
That's just a wee bit unfair. She may not like the way your family cooks anymore than you like her food and your family just might surprise you and enjoy it - especially if they don't know what it is right off the bat.
If no one eats it, then it can be explained later that the food is unusual. She's old, she's not dumb. She can take a hint and it will be the last time she offers to cook for your family.
Food is a large part of many cultures. If they offer to break bread with you or provide a meal for you, then they are saying "I care for you as my own family". To turn down the hospitality that entails is a step backwards, especially at a wedding.
2007-11-20 13:21:53 · answer #3 · answered by Wicked 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
I am a well prepare dinner. I like global delicacies, and residing in Mexico I have discovered a few imply dishes. I lived in all places Europe so I sort of integrated that too into my kitchen. Fave dishes Lasanga Pasticciata Melanzane in Carozza Fettuccine Fra Diavolo Spaghetti Bolognese Mole Dulce Pipian verde Albondigas a las finas hierbas Chilaquiles al Chile de Arbol Chicharron La Estadia Sarma Djuvecc Gibanica
2016-09-05 10:40:19 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok, girl, you give so many good answers that i am going to tackle this one for ya, and here it is, let grandma make whatever her specialty is, and give it a place in the buffet line, and, take a picture of grandma next to her plate or plates of food, and tell her that her particular ethnic flavor is the hit of the wedding. honey, you wont regret this.
really. my grandma made this weird salad for thanksgiving, and, well, she died some years ago, but, i would give anything for grandma and her special salad to grace the table once again. give grandma her polish due. someday, not too far away, you will cherish the very thing that made her what she was. trust me, i swear and promise you will not regret this and you will honor grandma, and, make her day, and make her feel important and loved and, the day will come, where you will be so happy you did. i still have traces of my german grandma in my home, some recipies she hand wrote, and some heirlooms she gave me, and, the older i get, the more precious they are. let grandma do her thing. you are one of the weddingest gals here, for this, i am older than you and talking from bittersweet experience.
2007-11-20 16:08:21 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
By all means, let her contribute what she wants! For one thing, you might think the ethnic treats are gross, but other people might like them. Some people have more adventurous palates and they LOVE to try ethnic foods. These foods are a part of his life, his background. His grandma will be gone someday, but the memory of her love and her wanting to contribute to family dinners should be cherished.
Go ahead and get the roasted chickens, but let her bring what she wants. If you say no to her, you're not rejecting the food, you're rejecting her and her love.
She won't be around forever. Let her be a part of the family, for heaven's sake!
And I don't know who is coming to your dinner, but goose liver is a highly prized and savored delicacy (ever heard of foie gras?) among the those who know fine food. And if your guests don't know fine food, they might just get a kick out of trying some. (Don't get me wrong. My husband is a down-home guy from Texas and he does a killer brisket and chili. But he has a lot of fun trying new foods and will eat just about anything from around the world today.)
No one has to eat her food if it is that bad. And if people should leave her food untouched, she'll know that next time, she should pick up a pie instead.
2007-11-20 13:18:49 · answer #6 · answered by hope03 5 · 9⤊ 0⤋
Have you talked to your fiance about this? Keep in mind that his family might want or even expect Polish food to be served.
There's a lot of Polish food that's really good--potato & cheese pierogi, kielbasi, golabki (aka stuffed cabbage), halusky, and bigos. Have your fiance ask his grandmother to make one or two specific dishes that you and he can agree upon. If you need an excuse to weed out the particularly exotic stuff, just say that there's several vegetarians who'll be coming and need something to eat. :-)
She's trying to do something true and heart-felt, and she won't be around forever. While I understand how you'd gag at the mere thought of having czarnina served at your reception, the last thing you want is to have his entire extended family think of you as "that b%tch who broke poor, generous Busia's heart" looooong after Busia's gone!
2007-11-20 13:46:56 · answer #7 · answered by Liliya829 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Hello,,what's wrong with goose liver? Perhaps the fact is you have too much money and no respect for the elders in your family. Don't blame the Polish menu for your ungrateful attitude. Your family should be glad for the chance to sample old world cooking , ungrateful as you are, she is offering her experience to you, go to the deli and let some coughing sneezing sicko make your food.
2007-11-20 13:24:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Be honest, I wouldn't tell her that you do not like her cooking but instead explain that these foods would not be enjoyed by everyone and you would like to plan a menu that everyone can enjoy. Why not have her make 1 polish dish and then plan other choices like the roast chicken etc. If she would like to cook some of those choices then let her, but be specific on how they are to be made.
Remember this is your wedding, let her know you love and appreciate her for helping but be firm that this needs to be an enjoyable day for your family too!
2007-11-20 13:15:41 · answer #9 · answered by Reba 6 · 2⤊ 2⤋
You don't! You graciously and gratefully accept her offer. If they are items you won't eat yourself, you'll see how welcoming your guests will be of her wonderful ethnic food items! People will be fighting over the gooseliver pate appetizers, girl! Wow, if she makes some perogies and cabbage rolls, your guests will start kissing your feet!
You'll be amazed how little you will eat at the reception - I sure was, I remember having some salad, and probably something else, but it was all a blur and I was still too excited to eat.
2007-11-21 02:36:18 · answer #10 · answered by Lydia 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋