Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

They might show it in the States. Watch for a BBC show called Freaky Eaters, where people confront their food phobias. One man lived on cheese pizza and crisps for over a decade. It's entertaining television, and if you watch it together might make him more adventurous.

My wife was very picky when we met. She grew up on a game farm, and as a child only ate pheasant and dry bread. I introduced her to her first mushroom, her first crab cake, her first bite of lobster. She loves them all now. It takes time and encouragement, but pressure will just make someone stubborn. My nephew is famously picky, and when the family was over for dinner I made smoked haddock and salmon risotto with seared scallops on top. He made someone else take the scallops off. Never even thought of trying one ('It's the mildest thing on the planet' I said to no avail).

I feel sorry for those who won't try new things, but then again, it is a continuum. I try and be game, but when presented with a horsemeat carpaccio in Japan, I had to decline. Nor will I eat anything still living. We all have our limits.

Good point @kerosena : worth repeating

"If you feel that your BF is shut off to trying new things in life, that's not going to change.

The food issue may just be a symptom of inflexibility. Only you can answer that one!"

Hi neighbour!

Funny you ask this. I was thinking about it not long ago.
I just started dating someone: I believe that he's picky but I haven't found out the extent yet. He appears to be a "ketchup and KD" kinda guy...so maybe I just need to present some kind of exposure or something.

Maybe this is an opportunity for you to "teach" good food you know?

I really like him...so this won't be an issue for me.
I just left a four-year "foodie" relationship...and I've found that it was too much of a "war in the kitchen" after a while. I enjoyed that he would cook for me ALL THE TIME. but I never got to cook myself!!!!!
Just somethin' else to ponder.

Next time, it will be.
**sigh**
Now, please excuse me while I take my millionth chicken breast out of the freezer and prepare my millionth pot of white rice.

Picky eaters are a deal breaker for me in relationships. It would be tough to see myself dating a vegetarian (given my love of steak, chicken wings, sausages). I actually like a lot of vegetarian dishes so if they didn't care if I ate meat we could try to make it work. But it would be impossible to date a picky vegetarian, the kind who actually doesn't like vegetables and really only eats leaf lettuce with dressing, pasta, and potatoes.

Picky eating even strains friendships too. Those people have to know what's at a restaurant before eating. Never want to go someplace new unless it's a new TGI Friday's or Olive Garden.

"Why didn't you tell me you guys were going out to dinner?"
"But you don't want to try Indian food."
"You could pick a place everyone likes so we can all go out."
"But we wanted Indian food at that new place."

Even at the beach, "Hey let's go to that restaurant by the bay!"
"Do they have seafood? I can't go if it smells like fish. Will there be chicken there? I can eat chicken as long as it's not on the bone. Oh wait, there's onions and mushrooms. Is this cheese? I only like American."

"Then she told me she didn't like honey. 7 years and I'm now finding out that she doesn't like honey."

WTH! Who doesn't like honey?
Is all this chain of food hate some passive-aggressive form of punishment on the cook?

dump his ass.

I love this list, and, with the exception of # 23, I am heartily in agreement. When I am eating out, which is not all that often these days, I want the experience to be as good as it possibly can be. And, aside from the food, the etiquette (or lack thereof) of my server is what most affects that experience.

I'd love to see a similar list for the chef, considering some of the things we know go on in the kitchen. It matters as much as what goes on in public.

My desire to order apps and drinks has less to do with a restaurant's bottom line as it has to do with the comfort of those of us who are waiting. I'm not "assuming" anything. If a DINNER reservation was made it stands to reason that at least one entree per diner will be ordered. This does not include salads, a la carte sides and additional cocktails. I state again with certainty that if I were ever refused seating because one member of my party was delayed, I'd go somewhere else. I'm extremely punctual to the point of OCD. If I'm on time with most of my party, I damn well better be seated or I'm happy to spend my money somewhere else. It's wise to make the customer happy under ideal circumstances but in this down economy it makes even more sense.

Sometimes the word "assume" is the most suitable to use in a particular sentence. The cutesy Felix Unger reference has become passe.

How would you know if drinks/ apps are going to be ordered? Should arestaurant have to deny a full party a table so an incomplete party canshare an app?

Because if a DINNER reservation was made, it's a safe assumption that DINNER will be ordered by each patron - even the one who's straggling.

Frankly, if I were to be denied a table because one member of a party or four or more was not present, I'd spend my money someplace else. It's downright rude to inconvenience diners like that. It's disrespectful - and very short sighted as I'm sure others feel as I do.

the list is...interesting, but I also gotta call BS...most of these rules are just personal preference...for instance, I WANT a waiter to give me a name; i EXPECT the waiter to guide me when I order...i expect a casual, easy-going tone...I want to know that the waiters are human beings that care about the food, the job, and importantly, me. they're not just robots.

7. No flirting and no cuteness? Sorry, that totally depends on the restaurants and the guests. Maybe not in Midtown East, but certainly it's OK with a fun young table in the EV.

11. Telling the guests there are only two lobsters left, if there are, is entirely appropriate. They may really be looking forward to lobster and order them immediately. If there were 0 lobsters, you'd tell the guests along with the specials so you look like an ass if the last 2 sell and the guests go to order it and you say "sorry, we just ran out!"

14. "How is everything?" is just as bad as "Good choice!" Everything is assumed to be great unless you are told otherwise. When the guests get their food, a proper response is "Is there anything I can get for you?" and the guest then has the opportunity to tell you they want more sauce, or their steak is the wrong temperature, or any other issue.

10 & 43. Certainly give your opinion of which dishes are your favorite or are "great" IF asked. It is not irrelevant. Some dishes are better than others. The servers have tasted all of them. The guests may have different tastes and preferences than the server, but the server knows which dishes 10 other guests raved about that night. The guest will appreciate a good suggestion a lot more than being stuck with a mediocre dish.

A lot of the listed rules are spot-on. But nothing is set in stone. Again, the restaurant and the guests determine everything. I haven't been a server for 5 years now, but in the 7 years I was, I was consistently one of the best of each staff I worked on. The best skill a server can learn is interpreting the guest's needs. You don't want to make assumptions or prejudge anyone. But if if you know your menu and can read your guests, you can improve their experience 9 out of 10 times. Some guests don't want to be bothered and just want you to take their orders. Others want your guidance and are looking for you to enhance their experience. I call those" good customers".