Ideas for dinner for foreign exchange student?!
Answers: She's from Japan and will only be here for a week. We eat many different types of ethnic foods, but I am wondering if I should plan on serving "typical American" food, (whatever that is). Or do you think it's okay to serve spagetti and enchiladas. Any suggestions for a full dinner would be great!
Yes, it's perfectly fine to serve spaghetti and enchiladas. I'm sure that is part of the fun - trying new foods!
I would also try to find out what she normally likes to eat, and keep some things around for her, just in case she doesn't care for those types of food.
I would just cook what you love to eat. She'll be expecting different, hopefully interesting and possibly strange food. If she's not up for it, she wouldn't be coming on an exchange.
I think that you should vary the amount of "American" food you serve. I don't know what they would typically eat in Japan on a weeknight, but there could be the possibility that she may not like all the dinner classics us Americans are used to.
Maybe serve spaghetti one of the nights, and ham/cheeseburgers and fries on another? When I think of typical "American" food, I think of barbeque food, like hamburgers, hot dogs, cole slaw, fries, and potato salad. Maybe an idea could be to have an indoor barbeque themed dinner...?
spaghetti and enchiladas? I wouldn't serve them both together at a meal. I would opt for one and go from there. If spaghetti, I would serve, garlic bread, a tossed salad and some kind of drink, for sweet have some ice cream. If enchiladas, have chips and salsa, pinto beans, Spanish rice and some pastries from your local market and some kind of drink. I like to drink agua frescas with a Mexican meal they have the mixed contents in your Mexican/Spanish isle.
I heard once that most Japanese don't like Mashed potatoes but love everything else..i heard this about the Little league boys from Japan..they said potatoes were gross..just serve what you normally eat..but make several things to choose from in case they are picky .And if you serve rice with everything they will be happy.
That is why she is coming to test out the American way.
the cream of somyunggi
You must be a very nice person to even worry about what you should cook for her, as I don't think a lot of people could give a toss and just serve what they have.
I don't think I would serve spaghetti and enchiladas together though, just one or the other would be enough.
I'm sure she would enjoy a nice baked dinner. most probably any fish meals would also be a good idea.
Should be a lot of fun to have an exchange student staying with you, so I hope she appreciates what you do...cheers