No way I’d serve beef stew to people getting in late at night. Way too heavy. I’d do a baked pasta dish (meat free), bread cheese fruit and cookies.
I’m someone who needs lots of protein, so serving me carbs, such as pasta, wouldn’t be welcome. After a long flight of crackers and other junk, I’m starving. Beef stew would be comforting. The side effects of chili would not be, but I’d take that over carbs or something light. Just another viewpoint for you to consider.
Whatever you decide I think something hot is important. Most of us eat cold food all day when we travel and hot food is also nurturing.
Most folks will be dehydrated after a long day of travel. Soup sounds like a good option because it is both hearty and hydrating! I would never touch pizza or cookies or any heavy carb stuff after a long plane flight, but that is just me.
It looks like you are never going to get a consensus with this crowd!
Some what protein, some don’t. Some want hearty, some don’t.
I think I’d do something like chicken tortilla (or tortellini) soup. You get the protein, it’s not too heavy, you can cook it ahead. With tortilla soup, you can serve with chips and guacamole; with tortellini soup, maybe some crusty bread.
I know when I was in my 20s, I didn’t have to worry about things like indigestion. It certainly didn’t stop my friends from eating White Castle at 2am walking home from the bars (not me, bleh!). I don’t think my daughter would eat a heavy meal late after a long plane ride but my son would, if he was hungry.
I think people in their 20s are way different from all the middle aged people here - and many would love stew 
I didn’t know the 20s set ate beef stew. Don’t think mine have. To me, something like Boeuf Burguignon is company or special occasion.
Beef stew, chili, chicken soup,-something nice and warm in the crock pot would be lovely, some nice bread on the side. Funny to read so many people hating on stew! I make delicious stew-I put a little port or red wine in it…my kid loves it. Someone suggested cold cuts and bread too-that would also be nice and easy and they could help themselves. Might be nice to just have that on hand in case the stew is as controversial as it seems!
As long as there are a few options, I think your guests are very lucky! Some folks have mentioned creamy and cheese–be aware that some folks have lactose intolerance and dairy allergies, so those are not as universally tolerated as one may hope.
You haven’t mentioned the time the folks are arriving and whether it’s the same time zone or different time zone. I try to adjust to whatever time zone I’m going to be in as soon as possible. If I arrive at night, I try to eat a light dinner and go to sleep as soon as it is reasonable to do so. If I arrive in early morning, I try to eat a lighter meal and then have a fairly low key day, including a stroll outdoors so I can adjust to the time zone. We frequently cross up to 5 time zones flying from HI to east coast & back.
Boeuf Burguignon Is a lot more work than a basic beef stew. My three teen boys love beef stew. With mashed potatoes of course
Here is my Minestrone for Dummies recipe. I think it’s light enough but also filling enough. Get a nice baguette and some cheese.
Minestrone Soup for Dummies
2 cans reduced fat veggie or chicken broth
2 cans regular stewed tomatoes
1 can stewed tomatoes with Italian seasonings
1 can garbanzo beans drained and rinsed
1 can red kidney beans drained and rinsed
1 can white kidney beans drained and rinsed
3 stalks celery cut in ½ inch slices
4 carrots cut in 1 inch slices or 1# bag baby carrots
1 medium onion quartered
1 zucchini or yellow summer squash cut lengthwise into quarters
and then cut into chunks
1 handful of whole wheat pasta ( ditalini is best as it’s small)
In a crockpot put the ingredients in this order, carrots, celery, onion, all the beans, all the stewed tomatoes, and all the soup. Cook on low temperature in your crockpot all day.
When you get home, add a couple of handfuls of whole wheat pasta (I use rotini) and the summer squash.
Continue to cook on low for an additional hour.
Arriving at night from Europe, Africa or Asia - water and melatonin or velarian root.
Arriving during the morning or day from Europe, Africa or Asia - very light meals, some caffeine, and keep them up as long as possible, hopefully to 6pm or later.
The arrival will be 8-9 pm. Last time they were here, I made a hearty vegetable soup. I thought they were all vegetarians. They liked it but they looked still hungry. Like @BunsenBurner I would avoid carb. Snack airplanes hand out is mostly carb. For hydration, I am leaning towards stew, soup or salad. Beef stew, chicken soup or soup with sausage. I will also prepare salad. A friend of ours once made soup with sausage when we arrived after a long flight. It felt good to eat that. I usually don’t eat sausage but that evening, it was perfect.
@thumper1 I could replace beans with sausage in your minestrone soup. It may just work.
@lookingforward Boeuf Burguignon is over my pay grade Also reminds me of Marie Antoinette, eat biscuit instead of bread.
I make a pulled chicken in my crock pot too…same as you would pulled pork but I use chicken. It’s very tasty and some small rolls would go well…with a salad.
You could keep it simple. Do a salad bar with lots of toppings. Early in the day, grill some chicken and salmon, and slice. Put it all out and voila a nice meal with toppings of their choice.
Beef stew made with Guiness is one of my favorite winter meals. No peas! Peas are for springtime when they’re in season.
Much easier than Bourginon too.
Most 20 somethings I know do not eat red meat much. I know several who don’t because of climate change issues. Most that I know are vegetarians. This is not data of course but percentage wise there are way more non-red meat eaters or vegetarian who are 20 something than in other demographics. I would definitely steer clear of that unless you affirmatively know they eat it.
Serve what you think sounds good, any attempt to make a nice meal for people traveling is certainly a very nice gesture and I’m sure will be appreciated.
Sorry but this thread is stressing me out and I’m not the OP!
Yes, just ask. My sons eat meat, and have no food allergies so easier. Stew, chili , would be fine for them. I made Guiness stew for the first time in October, @greenwitch . It was delicious. Made beef carbonnade, Belgian beef stew, many years ago , also delicious. But usually I just make your basic beef stew, about once a year. Also love goulash. Have made chili, pork barbecue, tacos, spaghetti, etc. when kids are arriving , but I know what they like. Have done different types of things at lunchtime when son and girlfriend arrived - salad nicoise or quiche with salad for instance. Know your audience and again, just ask!
I’m laughing at @deb922 and the thread stressing her out!
So much going on in our days/lives right now - we clearly all just want to control this menu!!! Haha.
You just never know what gets the group going here on CC!
I think I’ll get the ingredients for stew this week! We haven’t had it in a while! Sounds yummy to me.