I fail to see how “trying to impress you” equates “doing you a favor”…
Since when is asparagus soup “whacko”? Same with eggplant. I mean these aren’t even foreign foods, it’s not like she’s serving Martian Eyeballs or something. Geez. And expecting everyone to hate eggplant is just silly. Most people I know think eggplant is really yummy. I still don’t think the hostess did anything wrong, and it has nothing to do with vegetarianism at all.
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O p a l C a t
www.opalcat.com
Yosemitebabe, I believe you misread Drain Bead’s post. If you read it again, I think you’ll see that one of the sisters is, in fact, a vegetarian.
Rich
One thing that occurred to me after I read this thread was that it’s possible that it never occurred to the hostess that she was serving anything unusual. It’s not like you have to mail-order tofu from China or something–it’s in every grocery store.
I work in a small lab group (about 7-8) people and about half of them are either vegetarians or don’t eat red meat. These are people of all ages and backgrounds. It’s just not that unusual for there to be non-meat-eaters in any given group anymore. I’m not veggie (I’m an omnivore), but I think I’d hesitate to serve meat at a dinner where I didn’t know my guests’ habits ahead of time. At least everyone can theoretically eat tofu, even if it’s not their favorite thing.
No, I said it was impolite to contribute to “an uncomfortable silence” simply because he and the other guests were unfamiliar with the meal served.
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but you say it was perfectly fine for the hostess to serve whatever she wanted with no regard to her guests.
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Can you point out where I or anyone else said this? For the record, I believe that it is incumbent upon the host to serve a meal which he or she believes her guests will enjoy. There is no evidence that the hostess in this example did otherwise.
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what does bother me is that everyone seems to think that if you’re a vegitarian, you can serve whatever the hell you want at a dinner engagment, and expect your guest all gobble it down with no objections.
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I can’t speak for “everyone,” but I can say that I personally believe that I can serve “whatever the hell I want,” taking into account what I know about my guests (cf. my second paragraph above), and expect my guests to act with courtesy and manners. This does not necessarily include “gobbling it down,” and, in fact, depending on the noises which the guest might make while “gobbling,” might actually preclude it.
I’m sorry, you seem to have failed BBQ Pit Logic 101. You apparently don’t understand how disregarding prior knowledge of a guest’s dietary restrictions is different than accidentally crossing the line on a guest’s dietary preferences. I’m sure if you think about it some more the difference will become clear. I hope so, anyway.
Well, you got something right.
If asparagus and eggplant are considered “wacko” in your neck of the woods, you might check out some real estate websites. And if you actually need to “forewarn” any of your guests about any recipe that you might try, well, I’m afraid I’ll be busy for that dinner party you’re having. When was it again?
Rich
Damn, two quote bobbles in one post. Sorry for any confusion. . .
Rich
opalcat
I fail to see how “trying to impress you” equates "doing you a favor
I’m sure you’re a very nice person and just trying to add your logic into this, but why on Earth did you see my quote, reference what i was quoting, and try and catch me in err by only quoting half of the same quote we were both referring to.
Obviously, i wasn’t talking about the ‘trying to impress you’ part. i was replying to the ‘that you wouldn’t ordinarily cook yourself’.
Maybe I did misinterpret the first time, but you’re stressing technicalities, and getting them wrong.
But thank you for your interest.
Mmm hehe um yah jack am coke, yah yah, vodka- Keith Richards
and Rich, it may be different where you live, but the way I was raised, meat and potatoes are ordinary, this food IS out of the ordinary.
Mmm hehe um yah jack am coke, yah yah, vodka- Keith Richards
Metroshane tried to keep the BBQ Pit spirit alive by saying:
For this thread, shouldn’t you have eaten the puppy?
I tried, he bit me, I kicked him.
Mmm hehe um yah jack am coke, yah yah, vodka- Keith Richards
Do “wacko” and “out of the ordinary” have the same connotations for you? They don’t for me. I would consider an unusual eggplant dish and asparagus soup out of the ordinary, and I wouldn’t view that as a bad thing. I would consider roasted goat hooves and pine needle souffle “wacko.” Of course, I would do my best to keep my composure and act politely even if they were served (who knows, maybe Ewell Gibbons has a cookbook out there somewhere).
Rich
Nice to know you’ve fallen back on insults to make you point.
Opal–
Well, is it any sillier to assume that everyone likes eagplant and asparagus?
cher–
Yeah, and they could theoretically eat steak even if it’s not their favorite thing.
Rich–
Ok so if I told you that eating meat at every meal was part of my religion you would feel the need to serve it to me?
Your dietary restriction is a preference. Go look up both those words in the Dictionary, and tell my how your refusal to eat meat is a restriction? Then come back and clarify that comment in referance to your preferance.
But since I know that this is degenerating into a “you’re right” I’m “wrong” argument, I’ll concied the point. Metro, you were wrong…all vegetarian are right…do whatever they say, and eat whatever they serve you…(sigh)…I’m going home…this has been a shitty day…sorry about the sarcasm…I’ll try talking coherantly tomorrow.
Is it just me, or is anyone else getting really hungry after reading this thread?
Yeah, I crave eggplant! And asparagus soup!
And obviously I was talking about the whole incident, but thanks for playing.
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O p a l C a t
www.opalcat.com
When your IQ rises above room temperature, I’m sure you will understand why this is the most stupid thing ever posted. Having an OBJECTION to eating something is quite different from NOT LIKING something.
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O p a l C a t
www.opalcat.com
Most certainly not. I would instead feel the need to inform you that I don’t serve meat at any meal, and I’m afraid that we might need to find another activity during which we can enjoy each other’s company, since dinner at my house apparently won’t work.
No, it isn’t. To say that I “prefer not to eat meat” would imply that I would be willing to do it, though probably grudgingly. On the other hand, saying that I “will not eat meat” implies, well, that I will not eat meat, barring the host at the dinner party holding a gun to my head.
According to Mr. Webster, to “prefer” is “to choose or esteem above another,” while to “restrict” is to “confine within bounds.” (The definitions for the nouns were simply statements about the verbs, such as “the act of preferring,” so I thought the verbs would be easier to deal with.) What is your point exactly? Are you equating a restriction – even a self-imposed one – with a preference? Do you really not see the difference between, “I can’t eat meat” (regardless of the reason) and “I don’t generally like vegetable dishes with eggplant”?
Which comment? The one that you quoted? “Disregarding prior knowledge of a guest’s dietary restrictions is different than accidentally crossing the line on a guest’s dietary preferences,” that one? Okay, I’ll clarify: knowing ahead of time that a guest can’t or won’t eat a particular kind of food is different than not knowing ahead of time that a guest may not hold a potential menu choice in high esteem, but still be able to try it. Is that better?
Now you’ve got it!
Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but thanks.
This is a nice thought, but potentially dangerous. I mean, if you’re allergic to nuts and you eat a peanut butter sandwich because it’s put in front of you, well, you’ve only yourself to blame.
I should adopt this as my sig (it would, of course, be sarcastic).
Rich
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O p a l C a t
www.opalcat.com
And obviously I was talking about the whole incident, but thanks for playing.
gimme a break! If you were talking about the whole incident, why would you bother to place an edited portion of a quote in your reply.
Judges, may we have a ruling?
Mmm hehe um yah jack am coke, yah yah, vodka- Keith Richards
I’d say if the dinner guests are over about four years old, you should reasonably expect them to not pitch a fit about what they’re served.
Not that “staring silently” or whatever is pitching a fit, but honestly, how old are you? Coping with new experiences is a major life skill that anyone over twenty should be bent on cultivating.
Now, sarcasm aside, maybe this really is an age issue. I can’t think of anyone in my age bracket who’d consider eggplant or asparagus really “out there” foods. Teenagers though, who’d grown up with mom’s roast and potatoes every night for dinner, might find these foods “wacko,” but unless you live in a very rural area, it seems that even then you’d have had some exposure to mainstream cuisine.
Mianstream cuisine? I’ve never noticed them being served in a restraunt. or at least a mainstream restraunt.
Mmm hehe um yah jack am coke, yah yah, vodka- Keith Richards