How Can I Get My Family To Try New Foods At My Reception?

Question

i'm marrying a lebanese guy, and we're going to have our reception at a lebanese restaurant with lebanese food and a belly dancer! :)

anyway, my family is australian-american and they've never tried lebanese food. they're also pretty closed-minded about new foods.

what should i say to them to get them to try the new food? or is just putting it in front of them and expecting them to eat it good enough?

Answer 1

Dont put it in front of them and expect them to eat it. Why dont you take them to a lebanese resturant before the wedding and let them taste a variety of different things and let them choose their favorite foods and serve that along with other food.
Also is there a way you can get some foods they are familiar with at the wedding so their an be a mixture?

Answer 2

I am sure your caterer can fuse some other foods into the reception. It could be the appetizers before the dinner.
Lebanese food can be delicious, but if your family likes things a little bland, they might not want to try it, which is sad.

I would call the restaurant and explain your situation. They can be most accommodating. This first shared meal could set the mood for future family gatherings. Fusion and compromise would be my choice.

If your family is contributing to the cost of the reception, I would try to satisfy their wishes also. Good Luck

Answer 3

Ehh...you're never going to be able to please every single person's taste in food. I say if you are intending on doing a cocktail hour then incorporate the new(er) foods in that time and offer at least one "predictable" wedding course (chicken or red meat) and let it be their loss to trying to expand their pallette. I'm sure you'll have many others at the reception that will appreciate your taste for fine dining and taking a dining risk.

Answer 4

Maybe you could have some food that they are use to as well...buffet is usually the best way to go, so they will try what they feel comfortable with. Be considerate, it's your day true, but you want to celebrate it with them too right?? and no one wants unhappy guests...even though you won't please every one at least you know hat you have done your best to have a day to remember (in a good way that is).
Congrats on your up-coming wedding

Answer 5

ask the restaurant if they have any food your family is familiar with that they can put out as well.. if not maybe then you can ask about bringing in a couple of trays from somewhere else.. it will make them more amiable to trying new things without complaining if you offer them something familiar too.

Answer 6

let them know that the food will be lebanese and to try it if you tried it tell them that you tried it and liked it and if they refuse to eat then they go home hungry!!!!

Answer 7

why aren't you incorporating your heritage too? this is the marriage of 2 people from different parts of the world. perhaps some of his family would be honored to try food that is part of your family's tradition. don't push another culture on your family, instead offer both and let both families try what they wish.

Answer 8

maybe take them out (or bring in) some of the types of food your going to have. Let them get use to it.

Answer 9

Don't offer too many other options. They will need to try it. also, let them know that this is your day and that you are offering these foods and you expect them to try them out of respect for your new life.

Answer 10

Simply present a variety of foods in the most appealing way. If they're hungry, they'll try it. If not, their loss.