Friday, November 9, 2018

Food From Strangers

Have you ever been over to a friends house or a strangers house and they push their food into your face ? It's weird that you have never been to that place before and the people that live there want you to sample their food.

I can understand if they were gourmet chefs that owned their own restaurant but let's face it, that is probably the most unlikely scenario imaginable. 

My parents tried to teach me the politeness you should have when you are in someone else's place. Respect them and their home, be courteous, and mind your manners.  What happens though when you are presented when a horror like scenario?  The owner of the house brings out their two day old tuna and ham tater tot casserole that they want you to eat so that they can get rid of it.

There is a level of politeness you should have but when is it ok to draw the line and say no thank you as politely as possible?  I don't think anyone should push their food on you the first time you are in their place let alone old leftovers that they themselves don't want to eat.  Old people are the worst for this.

Thank goodness for grandmothers and grandfathers, I have rarely met a mean granny from another family and they are always smiling and love to please their company.  But there is a twisted side to these people, they love to fatten us up, and don't get me wrong some of them are amazing cooks, but there is an exception and a few of them are truly horrible in the kitchen and I pity the victim that ends up in her domain.

I'm a picky eater to begin with, I like certain things cooked certain ways, I'm not a veggie fan, and hate fat of any kind, when I eat any type of meat it has to be cooked thoroughly with no pink parts indicating rawness. I'm also at the wonderful age where I have no problems refusing to eat something and feeling bad afterwards.  But I do have a feeling that I am not welcome in certain peoples homes because of my bluntness. Some people get insulted when you don't eat their food.

I was at my friends parents house and his parents were dutch or something, and his mother had cooked up a nice big batch of blood pudding. (Don't know what that is? Google it.)  At first I respectfully declined her offer for me to have a bowl. But she was not going to take no for an answer, and she kept on me with the why not, and just try, routine. I stuck to my guns and held firm with a continuous no thank you and no thank you ma'am. But she was relentless in her efforts and kept pushing me to eat it. I swear I could hear her husband in the next room giggling like a little school girl.  Finally I got upset and said it smelled like an old boot with a chopped off foot still inside of it, she didn't seem to understand what I was saying so I gave her another similar insult referring it to how a crotch of a vulture must smell.  She got the point then.

Needless to say, I didn't stay long after that and I avoid that house as if it were infected with the black plague,  I am relieved that I am not welcome over there as well. If I have to pick up my friend I wait in the car.

Don't offer food to a stranger unless it's planned that you are having them over for dinner, and keep your meals simple, something that everyone knows what it is when it is mentioned.  Like spaghetti or something similar.

Scott Goerz