What to do when faced with fairly inedible party food?
Do you eat it anyway? Pretend to like it? I am just not a good liar that way...
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20 Comments:
Nurse a drink, eat the crackers or bread, talk and mingle a lot and then go home and whip up an omelet!
play-with-food at 9:55PM on 05/13/07
This is one of my pet peeves. If you cannot make food for people you have invited over at least go and buy some. I have a neighbor who thinks that onion dip and coleslaw go with everything.
People who know me usually look at me looking at the food to determine if they did a fine job. Or not.
Ranch dressing-this does not go on everything and not everyone likes it, if you serve crudites do not just put ranch dressing out
Bruschetta is not an entree
Buy good olives for the love of God
potato chips in a bowl are not a side dish
spray cheese on ritz crackers is not an hors d'oeuvre
I can deal with the costco Hors d'oeuvres they are not bad but they are not dinner, just because you buy every kind they have does not obviate dinner.
Unless you are doing a cocktail hour with Hors d'oeuvres and that should be communicated before we get there starving.
If you need something please ask people to bring stuff.
I long for a time when mother's taught their children how to entertain.
I don't just mean daughters either.
My mother threw glorious, glamorous food and drink parties and I was by her side cooking and organizing and preparing.
Good parties start by good planning.
Throwing together a party is work.
JerzeeTomato at 1:54AM on 05/14/07
Smile, eat the very least and think about when you will get home and cook something good...
I was once confronted with an awful industrial guacamole: I smiled, even when they asked if it was good or not...
Smile, always smile...
Sara - Piperita at 8:11AM on 05/14/07
I was always taught that not only was it rude to ask what was for dinner, but it was also rude not to try at least a bit of what was offered, and then smile politely and enjoy the company.
While it is always nice to go to a well planned party, the reality is that not everyone has the talent, time or knowledge to plan a party...and that does not mean that they should not throw a party because of it. For the most part you go to a socialize....that being the key....social. If I knew in advance that the hostess didn't normally serve the type of food I enjoyed, I would eat in advance & then nibble at the party. Otherwise, I would eat what I could, then grab something afterwards.
mepolo at 10:55AM on 05/14/07
Get drunk and go for burgers afterwards.
NYBITECLUB at 11:28AM on 05/14/07
I always ask the hostess if I can bring something. So most of the time I know I will like at least ONE thing there. Even though to ME the food is a very important part of a party I host , really it's about the company and I am as social as they come
Sindy at 11:36AM on 05/14/07
The problem is that people know that I am food-obsessed and they look to me for approval of their food. Why throw a party to serve canned tomato sauce and deli meats? I understand that not everyone has the time or inclination to cook...then do potluck or at least buy decent food to serve. A little of something good is better than too much of mediocre food. I just have trouble even eating let-alone giving a positive review.
izzy's mama at 1:32PM on 05/14/07
Find one positive thing to say and then offer to help next time.
ThatGirl153 at 2:34PM on 05/14/07
We usually eat a little something before going to any party, just in case. I also try to bring a enough of something that everyone can try, and at least I know I'll eat and enjoy.
hereandthe at 2:53PM on 05/14/07
If you are invited somewhere and the quality of the food is more important than the company you will share, then you should go to a restaurant. I can't imagine declining an invitation or thinking less of my host solely because the food was not "up to my standards".
Cary at 3:15PM on 05/14/07
I never suggested that I would decline the invitation. I just feel awkward when I am expected to applaud their efforts. I just nibbled on a chip or two and nursed my drink as someone had mentioned. I am simply not the lying sort. I did bring something along but they failed to open it and it was so different from the fare offered it stood out like a sore thumb!
izzy's mama at 7:58PM on 05/14/07
"I just feel awkward when I am expected to applaud their efforts."
In my view, when someone is generous enough to welcome me into his/her home, I can only respond in kind by being gracious. Why would I imagine my host has any expectation of my, or any other guest's, approval?
baboo at 10:19PM on 05/14/07
Don't get me wrong I love my family and friends. I also believe that if they are going to "entertain" and invite people to "eat" you need to plan ahead for these things. Maybe it was the way I was raised. My italian-american (yes she is telling us for the 300th time) was very dedicated to feeding people and entertaining people. To me it is just dogma. If that sounds shallow and unfriendly, I guess I deserve that. But keep in mind no one ever leaves my home hungry when I have invited them to dinner, if anything they leave wanting to bring some home, which I encourage, or saying I cannot believe I ate all that. I like reciprocation. If I cook wonderful things for you, you should return the favor. Even the best cooks need a break.
My fantasy is to go to someone's house and be waited on. It happens now and then and I LOVE IT.
Ciao
JerzeeTomato at 10:57PM on 05/14/07
Sometimes you just have to feel awkward. Hardly any one is comfortable when they pay a condolence call, but that's what one does to be kind to the bereaved, and saying nice things about the food is what you do to be kind to the host/ess. I, too--and I earn my living talking and writing about food--feel like that sometimes, but I say nice things and eat lightly and remind myself it's good for my weight.
lemons at 9:54AM on 05/15/07
I would enjoy what beverages were being served, and eat what appeals to me - there has to be at least one or two items I could snack on. Potato chips or cheese doodles are fine - I don't buy them often myself, so it is a treat to indulge once in a while. A lot of time they have a plate of raw vegies out - that is also something I rarely have, and is actually healthy.
If food is left sitting out, I would stay away from items which I know require a certain temperature to not spoil, like items with egg or mayo (they probably used Miracle Whip anyway!), just to avoid possible gastric distress later.
Livingtoeat at 10:37AM on 05/15/07
Drink the night away and try to silence your grumbling stomach! Afterwards, purchase a great little cookbook of party eats and send it along with a glowing thank-you note for the fantastic frosty beverages. >;)
à la mode at 2:18PM on 05/15/07
Wow, some really anti-social remarks in this thread. If I know there won't be food I like/can eat (I have significant dietary restrictions), I just eat beforehand, have some drinks, and graciously thank my host for the invitation.
If I want to be waited on, I'll go to a restaurant.
FKC at 4:50PM on 05/15/07
I completely agree with FKC. Parties are about people, and while food can be an important component, it shouldn't be the _most_ important component, nor should it prevent you from enjoying yourself! If the food is truly unappetizing, have some drinks. Maybe you can suggest ordering a pizza, or subtly work your way into the kitchen.
Christina at 7:17PM on 05/15/07
Sorry but I have to agree with jerzee, My mom never threw "dinner parties" but noone who came to our house ever left disappointed or hungry. In my experience, I always try to find out and take my guests dietary requirements into consideration. With a large party that can be next to impossible, but a host or hostess can try to be aware of basic food plans and plan accordingly. If they cant do that, just try to get through the night smiling and regretfully refuse future invitations.
huney_bumper at 9:14AM on 05/16/07
suggesting to order a pizza after someone has prepared food (and that includes purchasing and presenting) for you is a great idea: feeds your hunger and probably guarantees you won't be invited back.
seriously, are we talking dinner party, or party party? if someone serves mundane food at a dinner party, maybe that's one thing, but you ought to be polite and lie. it's not like it's the only place where civil people do such a thing (or would you also tell someone yeah, they should lose weight, or no, you don't like their new haircut?). as for a regular party, as self-identified food-obsessives, we should realize that it's unlikely that anyone else cares as much about the food as we do. then we should get over ourselves.
ren at 11:12PM on 05/21/07