Dinner parties with contentious food

We went to dinner with neighbours years ago, and were served what I thought was a beef casserole. It was actually large pieces of thick ox liver. I was polite and just cut off and ate tiny pieces. Thinking back, it would have been nice of them to ask if we liked liver when they invited us.
Still don’t eat liver.

I’m assuming that the OP was reminiscing from years ago.
We often have people over for Supper, but will say “we are having Chilli/Spag Bol if you want to come over” sometimes they will say “oh we haven’t had so and so for a long time” so I’ll do that instead.
Gone are the days of the 3 or 4 course formal dinner parties, for us anyway, I’d rather take people out for a meal than slog in the kitchen all day, or get a takeaway.

Well said, MercuryQueen

A nice bit of chicken breast is about my limit.
Sage and onion if I want to be edgy.

I am uncomfortable with eating hare at all to be honest and that most probably makes me sound like a massive hypocrite as I eat meat

My dad used to jug hares quite often so I don't consider it 'edgy'. DH was served it when he came for a meal once. A bit like a Bush tucker trial. He passed!!

He would also go back for any pheasants he might have hit on the road. He plucked, hung, dressed and cooked them.

I couldn't eat that menu if you paid me.
It would be a polite refusal from me.

I haven’t been to a dinner party for as long as I can remember
Never walked in those sort of circles
Dinner parties sounds very ‘poe sh’ I m a working class gal
So I wouldn’t be going unless they offered a nice vegetarian option

i was once given a few leaves that looked like dandelions, and had to beg/ask if there might be any cheese perhaps, while everyone else tucked into great helpings of lasagne.
i do not eat meat.
when i realised what was going to be served, i should have made my excuses and left.
i was brought as the plus one of the birthday girl. had never met any of the others; was most unpleasant. never again.

OP, your experiences sound like something out of fanny craddock.

Goodness I've been served things I didn't like but never intentionally and I've always done my best to eat as much as I could. My Mil often served pheasant, she would hang it until it was quite gamey but as soon as she realised I didn't like it, she made sure there was an alternative. The rest of the family loved it like that.

Well, I gagged at your descriptions. I'd have gotten up and left in both situations, frankly. I was invited for dinner, not therapy fodder.

My understanding, when it comes to inviting guests for dinner, is to prepare a meal that is pleasing to all. Ambushing your guests with whatever edgy cuisine you happened to dream up to provoke a reaction seems more like performance art than a dinner.

Perhaps performance is the point. Did anyone check for hidden cameras?

I agree Dinner parties are outdated. Mostly people keep it simple as it is about the friends/family you are sharing it with. I do remember in the 1970's/80's there was a lot of competition about who could outdo someone at the next dinner. Thank goodness those days are gone and we can be more relaxed about what we serve.

I’ve not heard of a dinner party taking place in years not in my neck of the woods anyway. ?

I didn't think people gave dinner parties like that any more; the menu sounds very old-fashioned.
That said,hostesses are usually looking to cook something different and/or unusual, not deliberately presenting food they know will not be enjoyed.
With the liver an alternative was offered so I do not understand the problem.
I ate rabbit, which I can't bear, in a french house where I was a guest, despite having to listen to how the rabbit, 'you call him Peter Rabbit, no?' was caught in the netting to keep the birds away from the lettuces, and met his end. They thought it was a great treat for me.

Happily I've never encountered such weird or unaccommodating people in my life. If offered anything questionable I would simply say no thanks.

Seems very inconsiderate. Personally I would refuse further invitations from people like that.
I have always tried to serve food that everyone would like with a decent alternative just in case.

This post possibly describes the rudest behaviour I've ever heard of.

I'm now at the age where I have enough confidence that I'd have said "I'm sorry, but this menu has made me very nauseous and I have to leave."

And I'd go no contact with the "hosts" from then on in.