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When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
I'm not a pro-sharing zealot. I just encourage y'all to try ordering "family style" a couple of times. You might be surprised at how much you like it...
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
Yeah -- I'm not a fan of the "my food/your food" dichotomy. We just order a bunch of entrees, put them in the middle of the table and ask for extra plates.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
I spend about three months each year in Southeast Asia, and often lead teams of Americans on tours of Cambodia and Thailand. As team leader, I get to set the rules -- we always order family style. Each team member gets to order whatever they like off the menu, but they have to be willing to share with everyone else. Trip participants leave having tried dozens -- if not hundreds -- of new dishes. No one likes everything, but everyone finds something they like. This works well in America, too, as long as everyone else is game. I had lunch the other day at an Italian restaurant and instead of being stuck with one plate of food, I had small portions of seven or eight amazing meals. Family style is definitely the way to go.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
Serious Cocktails: Gin-to-Vermouth Ratios in Martinis
I must admit I kind of hate vermouth. Probably it's because I've never had great stuff; perhaps I'd change my mind if I changed my vermouth. At any rate, a martini for me really is about the quality of the gin (or, gasp, vodka).
A swirl of vermouth around the glass, a goodly poor of gin or vodka shaken with ice and three gorgonzola-stuffed green olives, and I'm a very happy man.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
I'm not a pro-sharing zealot. I just encourage y'all to try ordering "family style" a couple of times. You might be surprised at how much you like it...
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
Yeah -- I'm not a fan of the "my food/your food" dichotomy. We just order a bunch of entrees, put them in the middle of the table and ask for extra plates.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
I spend about three months each year in Southeast Asia, and often lead teams of Americans on tours of Cambodia and Thailand. As team leader, I get to set the rules -- we always order family style. Each team member gets to order whatever they like off the menu, but they have to be willing to share with everyone else. Trip participants leave having tried dozens -- if not hundreds -- of new dishes. No one likes everything, but everyone finds something they like. This works well in America, too, as long as everyone else is game. I had lunch the other day at an Italian restaurant and instead of being stuck with one plate of food, I had small portions of seven or eight amazing meals. Family style is definitely the way to go.
Grocery Ninja: Crisp, Golden, Buttery Roti Prata—the Asian Croissant
I've had this dish many, many times in Thailand, and I crave it when I'm in the States. I have to think that, with a little marketing, a "roti man" could make a good living on the streets of any American metropolis. I'd certainly prefer a good egg roti to a pretzel with mustard any day.
Serious Cocktails: Where to Start?
The classic margarita -- 1/3 good tequila, 1/3 orange liqueur, 1/3 fresh squeezed lime juice, shaken with ice -- is a great start. A fancy salt (habañero, kaffir lime, lemon zest) gives it a nice touch without adding lots of syrup or froufrou crap.
It's still a real cocktail, but it's accessible.
Former 'Next Top Model' Elyse Sewell Eats Dog Stew in Seoul
Anyone want to have an intelligent, adult conversation about food and culture and the relative rationality of our culinary taboos?
Former 'Next Top Model' Elyse Sewell Eats Dog Stew in Seoul
"sorry, but not too many people domesticate cows or pigs."
So... our culture's decision to domesticate certain animals renders all other cultures' decision to eat those animals barbaric? Riiiight.
And if I could find a culture that domesticates or reveres cattle (say, a Hindu culture), that would mean that our culture's consumption of beef is barbaric and moronic?
Again, I can understand the idea that eating ALL animals is immoral. I can't fathom the argument that makes your personal preferences morally binding on the rest of us.
Anyway.
Former 'Next Top Model' Elyse Sewell Eats Dog Stew in Seoul
Passy,
Of course I'm not the one to set the standards for this blog, but are you?
YOU are the one who called those who want to eat dog or read about foods you might find disgusting "total morons." Again, if you'd expressed your personal disgust, I wouldn't have come out of my relative anonymity to challenge you.
You didn't. You called the rest of us morons, exposing yourself as an intolerant, ethnocentric, food-bigot.
I'm more than willing to tone down the rhetoric -- I don't have any bone to pick with you personally. I am a world traveler and avid foodie, and my family is multi-ethnic, multi-cultural. It's bad enough when other kids tell my kids that their ethnic cuisine is disgusting or immoral -- it's incomprehensible when someone makes those claims on a blog intended for adults who are interested in experiencing and learning about food.
Please think about the implications of your rant. Such sentiments expressed in such a way make this place a hostile environment for people who may not share your nationality, your culture or your "dog"ma.
In short, it's one thing to say you think someone's food is unappetizing to you; it's another thing to call people idiots for their cultural preferences.
Former 'Next Top Model' Elyse Sewell Eats Dog Stew in Seoul
Passy,
Oh, PLEASE.
Take your comment and replace "dog" with "cow" and you'll see how juvenile you sound. While I can appreciate as intellectually honest a vegetarian perspective, I can't begin to understand anyone who honestly believes that there's anything intrinsically different between eating a dog and a pig.
It's not like they're discussing eating babies. Apparently, you've most of the world to the category of "utter morons," i.e., those who eat things you find yucky. I could stomach a comment from you saying, "Wow. I don't think I could do that -- I have strong associations with dogs as pets." But this blog is called "Serious Eats," not "Conventional, Anglocentric Eats."
I'm sure there's a place on the internet for people who share your opinion, I just don't think it's here. Count me as one of the readers of this blog who find this discussion interesting. Hell, I'd welcome some recipes for cat if it tastes good, isn't unhealthy and is locally available.
For what it's worth, I've had Korean Dog Soup. It didn't give me a woody, but it tasted fine...
Ice Cream, Unsweetened
Jeni's in Columbus, Ohio is an amazing source for interesting ice creams of all kinds. She was recently featured in the Dean & Deluca holiday catalog, and she'll ship her stuff all over the country. Now all of us can get Jeni's on a regular basis.
She's become quite famous for her Salty Caramel, and you can't beat her Lapsang Souchong with Aramagnac Prunes. Her Queen City Cayenne is super-spicy, and her Thai Chili (peanut butter, cayenne, coconut milk) is a revelation.
If you haven't profiled Jeni yet, you really should!
Oh, and the Goat's Cheese with Cognac Fig Sauce is mind blowing...
Turkey Talk 2007 With Christopher Kimball of Cook's Illustrated
I just love this guy, his show and his magazine. Truly a notch above any other cooking forums. Or 'fora.' Whatever. Christopher gives every one from seasoned chefs to rank beginners something to work with. Amazing.
How Do You Eat Your Bagel?
When my wife and I lived in Detroit, we found a couple of great places -- on of them was imaginatively named "Detroit Bagel," and it served the real thing, the real way. Lines out the door, steam on the window -- the bagels were so hot, one could barely touch the bottom of the bag.
I always ordered one salt, one plain. No need to slice, toast or schmear. The bagels were perfect by themselves.
Unfortunately, we now live in Columbus, Ohio, which has some great restaurants but is seriously lacking in the bagel department.
Sigh.
What's Your Favorite Local Cheese?
Oakvale Cheese just outside of Columbus, Ohio makes some wonderful Goudas. I'm not a huge fan of pepper-cheeses in general, but their Habañero Gouda is pretty amazing.
They sell both young and aged cheeses.
How Do You Eat Your Bagel?
I come from Brooklyn, where one of my fondest childhood memories is the daily walk I took with my father and uncle to the neighborhood bagel bakery (in Boro Park).
I now live in California, after living 20 years in Massachusetts. I have never been able to find a Brooklyn-style bagel, and I wonder if they still exist.
My childhood bagels were hard and chewy, there was no way to make a sandwich from them. I ate them radially, schmearing the exposed end with cream cheese and eating my way around.
At the company cafeteria today, everyone was talking about bagels, and all but one person laughed at me for eating bagels the way I did. The one person who concurred with me, was a Bulgarian. He was a true Bagel maven.
Serious Cocktails: Gin-to-Vermouth Ratios in Martinis
A big fad that's typical of Martini yuppies is to swish the vermouth around in the glass, pour it down the drain, then fill it up with cold gin or nowadays, vodka. Like Schnook says, good cold vermouth makes all the difference. You wouldn't be pouring it down the drain if you didn't buy that cheap bottle of vermouth.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
I'm a sharer. With family and some friends I will share any of mine and try any of theirs, often finishing the left over bits or cleaning up other peoples plates. Sometimes I steal food from others without asking, but knowing that those people won't mind. Sharing goes beyond food, and extends to utensils in my family, I know its not for everyone, but it works out great for us.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
If I'm eating with friends or my boyfriend (which is almost always who I'm eating with when I'm out), then I'll offer a taste of whatever I'm eating, ESPECIALLY if I like it. Share the wealth! I have like-minded friends, so they usually offer back - if they don't, I don't even usually notice. I may ask for a small taste if it's something I really want to try, but I'm not militantly pro- or anti-sharing.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
sharing does not bother me at all...just DON"T eat from my personal dish in front of me...or try to feed me off your fork/chopsticks..I will leave !!!
Serious Cocktails: Gin-to-Vermouth Ratios in Martinis
Good fresh vermouth makes all the difference to making a great and delicious aperitif, martini and martinez, even and especially at 1:1 ratio.
A straight 2oz to 3oz pour of spirit is a sufficiently discordant if not dangerous way to start a meal and/or end an evening.
olives and cheese-stuffed olives are a treasure, best enjoyed on the side. how sad to limit to what fits on a toothpick!
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
One of my favorite "shared" meals was at NOPA in SF. All three of us agreed upon three dishes...we would eat and then say switch and we would move the plate to the next person...probably not for everyone but so good for us!!! I love eating with good friends.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
It seems unnatural for me not to share, but then I grew up in a family where sharing food was the norm. It was very weird one time when I went out with a group of friends to a place I knew had mediocre big portions (I was outvoted on where to go) and asked if anyone wanted to split a dish with me and they all looked at me like I was insane. I shut-up and at the end no one finished their meal.
There are some unspoken rules to polite sharing though. If you ask, make sure you have something to give back. My mom is the queen of breaking this rule, she'll always be like I'm not that hungry I'll just have a bite of yours and of course half the time she's paying so it's not like anyone can say no. It was especially obnoxious when we were in Italy where you're trying to taste as much of everything in the short amount of time you have. I think this stems from when my sister and I were kids and would never finish our meals, but we're not kids anymore.
Another is don't force anyone to order what you want just to share. My littlest sister is famous for doing this and she gets away with it because stepmom wants her to eat. I was amazed at how she dictated what my stepmom and dad would eat and when she turned to me I was just like uh uh I know what I'm getting.
Ask ask ask is the third. There are certain occasions where you don't have to (my sister and I never do when we go out to eat together, but we've been doing that a long time) but always err on the side of asking. It's just good to be polite.
Different occasions call for different types of sharing. Now that I've moved I've got to find new dining companions who like to share.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
@janaatwg , you or someone close to her should really take your friend aside and tell her that her behavior is alienating her friends. Maybe she is not fully aware.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
First of all I think one should never 'steal' off another's plate. Silverware incl chopsticks were originally weapons to defend one's food, so permission should be asked before reaching over, unless permission was firmly previously established.
I have a problem with 'plate envy' so I may choose to order the same thing as another, because why order something else, only to then desire the other's plate more than my own. So right on @ksimmy. I usually interview my table mates before I make a choice, unless I had one of those lucky days where I have a craving that the restaurant can fulfill.
I am happy to have you share, and may put the brakes on if you are eating most of mine, and none of yours (which I don't desire either).
I can't stand all that germ phobic behavior of 'you can have that corner, I didn't touch it'. If you are that phobic you are unsuitable for sharing I think.
I love family style because my preference is usually a little taste of everything. Getting Chinese take-out with my mate is a challenge 'cause he just orders and eats his one or two things and doesn't want any of mine. (He is a reluctant sharer-but has been trainable.) So that's makes for less variety. I solve this issue by ordering 3 dishes for me, me, and me and eating the leftovers for lunch over a few days. Problem solved.
Sharing is nice but what is even nicer is respecting people's eating preferences incl wether they share or not (and not incl. someone forbidding for you to order the same as them).
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
Bottom line, there are many factors if you should share or not. They are...
1. The people you are dining with
2. What kind of restaurant you are at
3. how hungry you are
4. how good the dish is that you ordered.
And that rule about ordering the same dish? Order what you want, get what you are craving! Don't deny yourself anything! Especially when you are paying for it!
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
Sharing is the standard for me and my husband. We almost never order the same dish. Usually upon their arrival we each taste both of the dishes. If one of us strongly prefers the other's dish, we switch. If we both really like both dishes, we each eat about half and then switch plates. If we both like the same dish and both really dislike the other (which is infrequent), my husband insists that I eat the better dish. We didn't concoct this rigid-sounding regime - it has simply evolved over many years of wedded bliss. A perfect system (ok, less perfect for him)!
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
I prefer sharing, though I may be a bit neurotic about making sure there is enough for everyone to try everything. After the Mythbusters episode about "double dipping" I'm much less concerned about someone else's fork.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
I like family style meals and usually like sharing. The only exception to this is when I go to a tapas restaurant...I always feel like there is not enough food and everything is so tasty but there is just so little of it!! I get too stressed out-I just want to ask the server to bring me the rest of whatever I ordered that little taste is NOT enough.
Serious Cocktails: Gin-to-Vermouth Ratios in Martinis
OK. Let's get a few things straight.
1. A "dry" martini isn't called "dry" because it doesn't have any vermouth. Rather, the moniker comes from the recipe--Dry gin (as opposed to Old Tom) and dry vermouth.
2. People who say they don't like vermouth have never tasted fresh, cold vermouth.
3. Good, FRESH, cold vermouth (Dolin, or a few others) is fleshy, pretty, and bright, and fills in all of the gaps in the gin. The flavor is light, though, so you need more to get to balance. I use a 1:1 ratio for a dry Martini, but that is because I like the fleshiness more than others. Also, a drink composed of an ounce of $30 gin and an ounce of $13 vermouth is cheaper than one composed of 2 ounces of $30 gin.
4. Dash of orange bitters, both to maintain the drink's legacy as a capital-c Cocktail and provide a bright edge.
5. Stir (to avoid cloudiness and thin mouthfeel) in a good thin mixing glass or a shaker tin, with a lot of ice (fill the mixing vessel!) and strain (julep strainer if you can find one).
6. A lemon twist, expressed, rimmed, and discarded, appears to be the current garnishing orthodoxy. If you must have olives, make sure they are COLD. Nothing like mucking with a drink's temperature like putting three huge warm bombs into the precious, glacial elixir.
7. Enjoy!
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
In some ways I agree with @beersnob and@redfish, but I can share when asked politely. No stabbing. If I have been to the establishment before and want to order something that I really love then I may not want to give it all away so please order a serving for yourself.
I have a friend that will drive you to distraction as well as myself. We plan a gals night out and she arrives a bit late and announces that she can't really hang out with us and she'll just have a bite of ours. That is beyond the pale of sharing and it is hard because every other part of her is so great. She gets included less and less and that is sad. The rule is to, at the very least, order something that you can share if you are asking for some of someone elses food.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
Sharing is permissible any time people agree to share.
Serious Cocktails: Gin-to-Vermouth Ratios in Martinis
Yeah as a Gin (sweet) lover I only like the smallest splash of Vermmie.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
I have one friend for whom most of our eating outs (or occasional takeouts) go thusly: order. eat, eat, eat, eat, switch. eat, eat, eat, eat, switch ... we wind up the meal with both of our plates somewhere near the center of the table as we pick over them ... However, she's about the only person I'll do that with. In my family if we go out we usually ask for a bite, and it's always given ... or we proactively offer a bit of our own as a hint that we want some of theirs.
Serious Cocktails: Gin-to-Vermouth Ratios in Martinis
I go 2:1 for my martinis. I prefer Junipero Gin, Lillet Blanc for vermouth (though I've just discovered Dolin), a dash of Regan's Orange bitters, and a lemon twist. There's nothing better.
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
Sharing food is alright, it promotes being at ease with the person. If you dont like to share, thats alright I really dont want to fight off a person who acts like a dog anyway.
Serious Cocktails: Gin-to-Vermouth Ratios in Martinis
ice cold Bombay Sapphire and I raise my glass towards Italy. that's about enought Vermouth for me.
Serious Cocktails: Gin-to-Vermouth Ratios in Martinis
Brings to mind one of my favorite lines from the TV series MASH:
"I'd like a dry martini, Mr. Quoc, a very dry martini. A very dry, arrid, barren, desiccated, veritable dustbowel of a martini. I want a martini that could be declared a disaster area. Mix me just such a martini." -- Hawkeye
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
My boyfriend and I go out to eat often with our two best friends, and we always try to order four different meals, so as to all taste everything. This seems totally normal to me, but at the same time, I would never do it with someone else (even sharing with our families is off limits).
When Is It Socially Acceptable to Share Food?
Sharing food is beyond tacky. It's something you do as a child, with your family, behind closed doors. The thought of a group of people's dirty cutlery going into my food is enough to make me barf. If you want to try what I'm eating, you should have ordered it. Or better yet, order a different entree next time.
If I'm with a group of people that I know will expect me to share my food, I ask the waitress to split my entree in half and go from there. Otherwise, it's no dice.
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I must admit I kind of hate vermouth. Probably it's because I've never had great stuff; perhaps I'd change my mind if I changed my vermouth. At any rate, a martini for me really is about the quality of the gin (or, gasp, vodka).
A swirl of vermouth around the glass, a goodly poor of gin or vodka shaken with ice and three gorgonzola-stuffed green olives, and I'm a very happy man.