# Things people do with food that annoy you **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 16, 2009, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659 "2009-03-16T20:16:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/81 "2009-03-18T02:46:40Z")
> [@jormundgondir](#): > > And oh! People who are excessively picky and don’t make any attempt to compromise with reality on the issue. We did Sunday brunch with my husband’s sister, who was very hungry and decided to order “an omelette, but make it very well cooked, like dry, please.” And then sent it back when it did not come out of the kitchen bone-dry, and eventually just left it on her plate untouched after it had been back in the pan twice. The way I see it, if you can’t stand a food when it is prepared in a common fashion, and have a history of your special request failing, then take the hint already and save it for home! Maybe try the pancakes instead? I know what you mean, but I’ll go one further. I love the people who say “I want that omelet dry as can be. Bring it out extra dry.” The waiter arrives, only to be sent back with the dish in question. “This is too dry. I said I wanted it dry, but this is waaaay too dry for me.” Idiots. If your order requires the ability to read minds, don’t f’ing order it. ---
**Author:** ![cactus\_waltz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/74df32/32.png) [@cactus\_waltz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cactus_waltz)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/82 "2009-03-18T09:10:13Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > As **Wile E** explained, American bacon is usually too crisp to eat with a fork. Even if it’s not particularly crisp, it still eaten with one’s fingers. Boyfriend grew up eating the same sort that you’re probably familiar with, which is thick and tender enough to eat with a fork. You’d think after a few episodes of watching bacon shrapnel fly around the breakfast table he’d realize he’s not in dear old Blighty anymore, but noooooooooo. . . I have learned something about bacon today. Nevertheless, I was indeed thinking of fried bacon. It’s very greasy. I’m European and can’t stand the thought of greasy fingers. I eat French fries and pizza with fork and knife and would do the same with bacon. You can load the little pieces of bacon unto your fork anyhow, you don’t have to stab it. Finger food for me is something that can be had with taco or bread, for example falafel, something which might leave flour or crumbles in your hand but not make your hands oily. ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/83 "2009-03-18T14:38:58Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I eat the parsley. > > However, it serves a far more important purpose. It means that some thought, however minimal, was given to the appearance of the food. It means that whoever wrote up the standard was not cutting every single cost to the bone. “Look, if we eliminate the parsley on our breakfast dishes, we can save half a dollar on every hundred entrees!” Having a slice of orange or tomato is an even better sign. Well, isn’t that special. If they’re going for appearance or “plate appeal”, they are failing miserably. One limp strand of parsley does not a good presentation make. You probably eat the pickle on the side as well, she said darkly. You have that garnish look about you… **AnnieXmas** –so sorry, but like **Mika,** wooden paddles take me straight back to childhood. The whole “eat something”/“I’m not hungry” stuff drives me mad. I swore I’d never do that to my kids and I haven’t. _Voila!_ My kids aren’t overweight and they have few hang-ups re food. YMMV. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/84 "2009-03-18T14:49:22Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > You probably eat the pickle on the side as well, she said darkly. You have that garnish look about you… Bah, pickles are not a garnish. You may not like them, but they are there to be eaten. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/85 "2009-03-18T14:55:02Z")
Deleted: Multiple ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/86 "2009-03-18T15:40:42Z")
This thread is making me hungry. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/87 "2009-03-18T16:27:36Z")
Ugh, wooden ice cream paddles. Didn’t realize there were so many haters out there. Thought it was just me. Just the thought of ice cream paddles makes me squirm. Other things: Excessive chewing sounds, and people who chew with their mouths open (or talk with them full). I used to have a friend who did this. I couldn’t look at her while we ate. Ugh. Another things that bothers me is excessive ketchup and mayo together (on a sandwich, for example). I just can’t shake the feeling that the person is eating a big juicy zit. I try not to be bothered by other people’s food choices, though. I’m one of those boring types who likes everything plain, so I’m hardly one to talk. ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/88 "2009-03-18T17:11:18Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > Well, isn’t that special. If they’re going for appearance or “plate appeal”, they are failing miserably. One limp strand of parsley does not a good presentation make. > > You probably eat the pickle on the side as well, she said darkly. You have that garnish look about you… Yep, I eat the pickle, if it’s edible. I like pickles. I like parsley, too, and it freshens the breath a bit. AND I eat the slice of orange or tomato, too. And I’ll salt and eat the lemon wedge in my iced tea. Does anyone else eat salted lemon? ---
**Author:** ![eleanorigby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/89 "2009-03-18T18:00:50Z")
No, but I like tomato slices sprinkled with sugar. It’s a Southern thing. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/90 "2009-03-18T18:06:20Z")
I only wish George Carlin had lived long enough for me to send him the phrase “Bacon Shrapnel”. LOL! He would have loved that one! chicken wings = chicken skin for dinner. I think eating the skin is abhorrent, so wings make me gag. Pretty much avoid bars for this reason. If you’d ever plucked a chicken you’d understand, otherwise, I’ll spare you the knowledge. Serving eggs with the whites still runny. Runny yolks, I can _just_ deal with, although when I say over/poached “medium” I mean the yolks should be jelled. The wooden paddle discussion is making my tongue try to crawl down my throat. Ergh! No ice cream is worth the risk of splinters in my tongue. . . People who complain about how much salt I use. I have LOW blood pressure, I need salt, and lots of fluids, or I get dizzy. Fortunately God was kind enough to make me crave salt, and really enjoy it on my food. Yes, I know how much that is, no, I don’t need to hear your lecture about it. No, I’m not going to explain it to you, because it’s none of your ever-lovin’ business. People who sniff their fingers after they eat. I don’t think they know they are doing it. Oil or butter on my hands or face. I go through a really ridiculous number of napkins. ETA: I eat the parsley after my meal to cleanse my breath and settle my stomach. I eat lemons peel and all with no salt or sugar. Mmmmmmm citrus! ! ! ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/91 "2009-03-18T18:24:29Z")
> [@Lynn\_Bodoni](#): > > I eat the parsley. > > However, it serves a far more important purpose. It means that some thought, however minimal, was given to the appearance of the food. My friend seems to think it will clear her breath after the meal. Does it have that benefit for you? And my contribution is folks who drown their food in hot sauce. It seems different from ketchup in that hot sauce obliterates the taste of the actual dish, doesn’t it? I’m not a fan so I truly don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Jester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jester/32/8223_2.png) [@Jester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jester)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/92 "2009-03-18T18:37:44Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I know what you mean, but I’ll go one further. I love the people who say “I want that omelet dry as can be. Bring it out extra dry.” The waiter arrives, only to be sent back with the dish in question. “This is too dry. I said I wanted it dry, but this is waaaay too dry for me.” > > Idiots. If your order requires the ability to read minds, don’t f’ing order it. Heh. I went out to lunch with a few friends once, and one of them made explicitly, absolutely, _painstakingly_ clear to the waitress when he ordered that he wanted his hamburger rare. “Like, not how some restaurants will say they’re cooking it rare, but really it’s medium, I mean, like, _rare_ rare, please.” The waitress obliged, and we went about our business while we waited for lunch to be prepared. The food arrived, and we all started in, when suddenly my friend says “Hey, guys? Guys, does this burger look a little…red to you?” We looked and, yes, it was a rare hamburger, as ordered. “But,” he continued, “I mean, this is like…is this gonna kill me or something?” He was legitimately concerned, and seemed to have no recollection of how he’d ordered it. Which was funny, until he _called the waitress over_ to complain (and actually used the “I mean, is this gonna kill me?” line on her), and then kept complaining to the point where they brought the _manager_ over to deal with it. None of the complaining was angry or aggressive, just concerned (and oblivious). It was like, halfway through waiting for our lunches, he had been replaced by a Pod Person who was terrified of raw meat. In the end, the manager actually ended up apologizing for making the burger _exactly as ordered_, and we got a free dessert out of it. And left a huge tip, and have never let this friend live it down. ---
**Author:** ![MrSquishy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@MrSquishy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrSquishy)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/93 "2009-03-18T18:45:22Z")
My wife doesn’t even touch popsicle sticks. She wraps the popsicle wrapper around the stick so she can hold it in her hand. I, on the other hand, chew on the popsicle stick when the popsicle’s gone, until it’s all soggy and splintery. She can’t even watch. ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/94 "2009-03-18T18:47:47Z")
> [@Jester](#): > > \…and have never let this friend live it down. I should hope not. That’s pure douchebaggery, that is. ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/95 "2009-03-18T19:09:42Z")
> [@MrSquishy](#): > > I, on the other hand, chew on the popsicle stick when the popsicle’s gone, until it’s all soggy and splintery. She can’t even watch. Ok, THAT gave me chills… ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/96 "2009-03-18T19:19:33Z")
> [@Jester](#): > > And left a huge tip, and have never let this friend live it down. Man, I love a happy ending. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/97 "2009-03-18T19:23:50Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > No, but I like tomato slices sprinkled with sugar. It’s a Southern thing. I’ve never heard of anyone eating sugary tomatoes outside of ketchup or pasta sauces and I’ve lived all but two years of my life in the South. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/98 "2009-03-18T19:29:15Z")
> [@eleanorigby](#): > > No, but I like tomato slices sprinkled with sugar. It’s a Southern thing. Not in north Florida it’s not. We eat our tomato slices as God intended - with plenty of salt, as a side dish to fried fish. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/99 "2009-03-18T20:07:39Z")
> [@corkboard](#): > > I should hope not. That’s pure douchebaggery, that is. It seemed more like he either lost his mind partway through the meal (became the Pod person), or wasn’t clear in his own mind what “rare” meant. He seems way too confused to be doing it to be an ass. But it’s true he should listen to his friends and not pursue it further. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659/100 "2009-03-18T20:20:48Z")
I missed it because I had gone to the bathroom, but my wife won’t eat with my friend again because we went to a deli with him and his wife, and he finished off his soup by using his STRAW to slurp the remains from the bowl. Had I witnessed it, I think I would have been more amused than annoyed. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-people-do-with-food-that-annoy-you/489659.md?page=6)