By Sarah Shoshana David

Is every other person you know on a low-carbohydrate diet? Chances are that the next dinner party you throw will have at least two carb-restricting guests. Don't reduce them to eating cottage cheese and a sliced tomato scrounged from your fridge at the last minute! Here are 10 low-carb meal ideas that will make everyone happy:

1. California: chicken, tofu or tempeh stir-fried with broccoli and plenty of garlic, topped with toasted walnuts and melted cheese
2. Italian: Shrimp Scampi with a big Caesar salad on the side
3. Japanese feast: tuna, salmon and hamachi sashimi (from your local sushi shop) with a spinach-and-sesame seed salad
5. Mediterranean: colorful platters of impeccably steamed baby vegetables with a handmade aioli sauce surrounding a beautifully roasted free-range chicken
6. Chinese: whole steamed fish stuffed with ginger, scallions, and garlic, served with stir-fried fresh asparagus and water chestnuts
7. English: mixed grill of broiled lamb chops, filet mignon, mushroom caps, tomato halves and kidneys, served with lemon-butter green beans
8. American: wine-marinated London Broil grilled on the barbecue, with choice of two salads: tomato-and-onion or Waldorf salad
9. Soul Food: ham hocks and collard greens, with a side of fried green tomatoes (made without the usual cornmeal breading)
10. Indian: curry of cauliflower, tofu, onions, mustard seeds and whole-milk yogurt with a side dish of palak paneer (spinach and cheese).
11. French: whole poached salmon with mayonnaise verte, artichokes sautéed in white wine, and tiny, steamed baby carrots and zucchini