I may be flying solo on this one, but I feel that as a hostess, it is your responsibility to make sure your guests have a good time and leave with a warm impression, especially if it's their first time to your house.  Although I see Masha's point about it getting too cumbersome, it doesn't need to go to that level.  It sounds like you are already planning to make a phone call to inquire about dietary needs, I don't think there is anything wrong with letting your guests know at that time that you are planning to make a vegetarian dinner.  You'll find that most people will be okay with it and no one will get offended.  As long as you have a variety of foods to accommodate different dietary needs, you should be fine.  

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KGBMan:

kind of wrong place to ask this question - as russians we never ask our guests what they want or don't really care ;)

If we're doing a dinner party, it's what we make, as much as we make or don't show up.

Personaly, if I go to the russians for a dinner and they serve no meat - I think they are weirdos and need therapy, going to dinner party in american home - I expect anything and prepared to anything.

however, when I invite americans - I do ask them if they have any special weird needs and if they are OK with the choice of meat I will be making ;)

lol... it is because of a Russian that this particular weird American (me) is hyper meticulous about asking about special needs.  ;)  Seriously.  I was expecting a weekend houseguest a few years ago.  We were chatting a few days before the visit and I casually asked what he liked to eat for breakfast.  I hadn't really planned to ask; it was just a spur of the moment question.  Turns out that he was in the middle of a fasting period for religious reasons and wouldn't be able to eat any animal products of any kind.  This person is shy and polite and would never have mentioned it on his own.  If I hadn't asked, he would have either eaten what I served and felt guilty about breaking his fast, or he would have refused to eat what I served and we both would have felt terrible about it.  Lesson learned is to always ask.

Anutik:

I may be flying solo on this one, but I feel that as a hostess, it is your responsibility to make sure your guests have a good time and leave with a warm impression, especially if it's their first time to your house. 

That is exactly it.  I want my guests to be comfortable and enjoy the evening and, frankly, I want to be comfortable too.  It will uncomfortable for everyone if I have to make a peanut butter sandwich at the last minute because someone cannot eat the carefully prepared meal everyone else is enjoying.

Bagel Roll:

So what's on the menu, Leah?

For dinner #1, the one with close friends, I'm doing pasta with portabella mushrooms and red peppers in a cream sauce, a little pizza with ricotta cheese, pineapple and pine nuts instead of bread, stuffed black olives, a salad of some sort and maybe tiramisu for dessert.  I haven't decided what type of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres yet.

For dinner #2, I haven't planned the menu yet, but I think I'm going to do veggie sushi as an hors d'oeuvre and make vodka martinis. 

Leah,

Unless there is just one dish on the table plus some chips, there are always choices if one particular dish is against your religion, affiliation or sexual preference ;).

So any guest can find something to put in his/her mouth at russian parties ;).

You should adopt this practise and your life will be much easier. ;) 

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- Независимость - это когда в 20-й раз наступаешь на одни и те же грабли, а русские уже ни при чем....

KGBMan:

 

So any guest can find something to put in his/her mouth at russian parties ;).

 

But that is because there are usually about 15-30 different bowls/plates/platters of food on the table at russian parties... ;)

Leah:

Bagel Roll:

So what's on the menu, Leah?

For dinner #1, the one with close friends, I'm doing pasta with portabella mushrooms and red peppers in a cream sauce, a little pizza with ricotta cheese, pineapple and pine nuts instead of bread, stuffed black olives, a salad of some sort and maybe tiramisu for dessert.  I haven't decided what type of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres yet.

For dinner #2, I haven't planned the menu yet, but I think I'm going to do veggie sushi as an hors d'oeuvre and make vodka martinis. 

As much as I love meat, I wouldn't miss it with a menu like this. Very nice, Leah!

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Gou ni itte wa, gou ni shitagae.

Leah:

Bagel Roll:

So what's on the menu, Leah?

For dinner #1, the one with close friends, I'm doing pasta with portabella mushrooms and red peppers in a cream sauce, a little pizza with ricotta cheese, pineapple and pine nuts instead of bread, stuffed black olives, a salad of some sort and maybe tiramisu for dessert.  I haven't decided what type of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres yet.

For dinner #2, I haven't planned the menu yet, but I think I'm going to do veggie sushi as an hors d'oeuvre and make vodka martinis. 

I want to be your close friend Leah!

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Leah:

KGBMan:

 

So any guest can find something to put in his/her mouth at russian parties ;).

 

But that is because there are usually about 15-30 different bowls/plates/platters of food on the table at russian parties... ;)

Yes.... we do like to eat ;) 

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- Независимость - это когда в 20-й раз наступаешь на одни и те же грабли, а русские уже ни при чем....

KGB has a point, I am a bit more sensitive to what I serve when I entertain Americans...but not by much.

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Leah:

For dinner #1, the one with close friends, I'm doing pasta with portabella mushrooms and red peppers in a cream sauce, a little pizza with ricotta cheese, pineapple and pine nuts instead of bread, stuffed black olives, a salad of some sort and maybe tiramisu for dessert.  I haven't decided what type of cocktails and hors d'oeuvres yet.

 

:-) hmmm.. Leah, i think i'd have to skip Dinner #1: i don't like olives, or nuts in place of bread... and i'm not into pasta either...

 BTW, i've been to a veggie dinner before (without knowing it'd be veggie)... Italian family... served home made ravioli..

now check THIS out: without meat!! can you imagine? ravioli with no meat... needless to say the evening was ruined..... .. couldn't wait to get back to my refrigerator... so now, every time i think of them it's all about ravioli.. with NO meat! Dumb a-s-ses:-)

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Pom - you and I would have been good Senators at the height of the Roman empire.  Non-stop food, wine, orgies - lots of meat!  lol

Leah - us carivores haven't really eaten until we've eaten some meat.  Maybe you can have a tray of sliced ham or something, just to keep our instinct to kill and eat meat in check?

 

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"Hearts will never be practical until they can be made unbreakable."

pomidorchik:

:-) hmmm.. Leah, i think i'd have to skip Dinner #1: i don't like olives, or nuts in place of bread... and i'm not into pasta either...

 

I'm not serving nuts in place of bread.  Pine nuts are one of the toppings on a pizza type dish.  The pizza is what will be served in place of bread.

Shame you'd have to skip it though, because I'm pretty certain I could whip you at poker and I've been practicing that belly dance....

I spent the morning searching our few vintage clothing stores for a 1970's caftan/hostess gown to wear for dinner party #1.  Nothing.  The few that I found barely reached my ankles.  Didn't anyone taller than 5'4" entertain in the 70's?  I so wanted a good costume for the evening.  :(

When I was in high school, I used to find tons on 60's and 70's mini-dresses to wear, but I guess that was different because A) length wasn't as important and B) back then few people thought vintage clothes had value so there were tons available and they were dirt cheap.  Oh well....