Woman Serves Rabbit Stew For Themed Party, Guests Flip Out After Realizing It Contains Actual Rabbit Meat

Cooking dinner for one sometimes feels like a quest already, doing that for a group is a challenge of a different proportion. It’s not easy to feed a bunch of hungry mouths because every one of them has different preferences. Some might even have dietary restrictions or allergies, which is another hoop for the host to jump through. Taking everything into consideration, such a group dinner requires nearly as much planning as robbing a bank.

A woman on Reddit spoke about her experience of hosting a themed dinner for around 20 people. What started as a wonderful night based on Lord of the Rings shortly turned into guests freaking out, kids crying, and the host’s efforts going down the drain. Under the username u/VividPomelo4981, the woman shared her confusion about people’s reactions to a dish she served. Apparently, certain guests were shocked to know what they were eating, despite the name of the meal stating exactly what it was. It led to a discussion online and people scrambling to understand, who's in the wrong here.

To better understand the tough spot the OP was in, it’s important to remember that hosting a large dinner might require catering to different diets. A 2022 survey found that 52% of people follow specific requirements when it comes to their eating habits, compared to 39% in 2021.

Vegetarianism and veganism are two of the most popular diets. Following the first one, people abstain from consumption of any type of meat, whether it’s poultry, seafood, or other animal flesh. Data shows that the number of vegetarians in the US has been growing, as it went from 5% in 2018 to 10% in 2022. The latter diet is based on plants, from devouring them raw to turning them into delicious meals. The vegan population also seems to be growing, going from 3% of people in the US in 2018, to 6% in 2023.

Be that as it may, carnivores still comprise the largest part of the pie. However, as the OP’s situation showed, they might not be in favor of all kinds of meat. When it comes to its types, pork is the most popular choice worldwide, followed by chicken and beef. The infamous rabbit meat takes the honorable 10th place on the list (making it one of the possible explanations for the negative reactions to the OP’s stew). Yet there are types way more unusual than rabbit; for instance, horse meat—an aliment popular in Italy.

The topic of meat consumption is closely tied to animal welfare. As a matter of fact, their well-being is the reason nearly 90% of vegans choose this diet. Research shows that people’s views about animal rights have changed over the years; more of them agree that the critters should have more rights. In addition to that, humans are opposing the use of animals for scientific research (in the US, 52% are against it).

Hunting is another controversial topic when it comes to animal welfare. The level of support from society varies depending on the reason behind it. When it comes to legal hunting for reasons such as meat, wildlife management, or protection, the vast majority (80%) of people in the US are not against it. However, trophy hunting is nearly unanimously condemned around the world—the number of people who oppose it globally ranges from 75% to 96%.

The OP’s Lord of the Rings dinner shows that guessing everyone’s preferences might be ‘Mission: Impossible’. Some people are fine with meat provided by local hunters, others would rather hunt it down themselves at a local Costco. Some guests don’t mind the type of meat that is served, others might be disgusted by the choice. Most importantly, some of them wonder what certain dishes comprise before trying them, others grumble about it after all is said and done.