I was invited to a dinner at a casual aquaintance's house. Her husband is from a foreign country and he prepared a native dish from his homeland as the main course. As I entered the house, I noticed a bad smell. It wasn't from exotic spices or anything- it was rotten food smell. As the plate was set in front of me it was obvious that the chicken was spoiled. I could just not bring myself to eat anything on the plate. I put a few bites in my mouth and spit them into my napkin and moved my food around the plate to make it look like I was eating.
Later that week I heard from a friend of the aquaintance that her husband was very offended that I didn't eat the food. How do you properly handle a situation such as this? Hopefully it never happens again but I would like to be prepared in the future, just in case. Thanks!
2007-07-09 12:12:20 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I am quite an avid cook and I love all different kinds of ethnic cuisinies. I cook with and enjoy many different spices, I am not picky (except about the quality of food I eat.) This was not just different spices, this was definitely, unmistakably rotten meat. My mom suggested that no one got sick because they have built up some sort of immunity to eating bad food. Plus, I don't actually know if anyone got sick because I was only there for about a half hour after we ate. And I didn't see my friend again until a couple weeks later.
2007-07-09 12:52:01 · update #1
Orange Juice, or Consomme, followed by Roast Beef, Boiled and Roast Potatoes, Cauliflower, Carrotts, Yorkshire Pudding followed by Apple pie or Ice cream, that is ethnic qiusine, rotten over spiced bad meat is just an insult.
2007-07-09 12:24:17 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
You have two options here.
Truth.
You explain, as kindly as you can, that the food was spoiled. It would be very nice to throw in something along the lines of, "I'm very sorry I couldn't tell you, but I didn't want to say anything rude." And if you honestly think you'd like to try his food, granted it not being rotten, mention it.
Or, you can bring it up casually next time you're around her husband that you apologize for not eating that day, you weren't feeling well, you were already full, you don't feel comfortable eating in front of people, etc.
Also; it might be cute, if you feel up to the challenge, maybe to make a small morsel of food that is from his culture, and bring it as a small token. Nothing big; just something small to show you appreciate the way he brought his culture into his food.
Or you could tell him with words. Whichever you prefer.
I hope I haven't gone on too much, but this happened to me once. I made the food (a small canolli ) and went with the truth option. It went well.
Good luck.
2007-07-09 13:28:13 · answer #2 · answered by pamiekins 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That kind of reminds me of a cookout at my in-laws' house. They had hamburgers that were made from expired meat (wasn't rotten, but it was getting there--I didn't know about this until later on or I woudn't have eaten them) and that night, I was vomiting from food poisoning. No one else in my husband's family got sick, but then again, they're used to substandard meat.
If I had been in your situation, though, and could smell that the meat was rotten, I wouldn't have eaten it, either. No sane person would. To remain polite, I would have said that I have a very weak stomach and cannot handle this food. If someone later on told me that the person serving the food was offended because I didn't eat it, I'd respond that I'm offended whenever someone tries to compromise my health!
2007-07-09 14:54:37 · answer #3 · answered by Avie 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
well chicken is hard to detect as being spoiled and cooked even harder so if it was cooked if you smelled it that is really bad. i would help you but i probably would have said that nasty. but then again did they have vegetable's you could have eaten that or try to say I'm sorry i have this issue with food i have never seen before or tasted i will just sit and enjoy the dinner conversation or you know i am trying to stay away from meat for a little while i read some where that it take 3 day to digest and i eat way to much meat.
2007-07-09 12:46:17 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I am invited to dinner, I like to tell the person that I am a very picky eater and I ask them what they will be serving. If I liked what they were serving and went to dinner and then discovered that I didn't really like what they served, I would say: "I'm sorry. No offense to you, but I don't like this food."
I am a direct and honest person. If anyone doesn't like it, it is their problem. I don't force myself to eat anything that I don't want to eat and I don't allow others to force me to eat something, using the excuse that it is rude if I don't eat what is served. If someone can't cook properly, they shouldn't get offended by someone not liking their cooking. He is wrong. If he is offended, too bad. Maybe he'll learn to be more careful about what he chooses to try to serve to people. If invited to someone's home where you already know how bad the food is, maybe you could suggest going out to dinner instead. (if you enjoy being around the people) Or. . . you could whip up a gourmet meal for them at your house. Then tell him: "look at this! This is the way we cook over here." Then give him a cookbook as a parting gift. lol
2007-07-09 12:35:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Well, the first thing that strikes me is that it appeared no one got sick from the food. That makes me wonder if perhaps you were mistaken about the chicken being spoiled. It probably was a case of culture clashes. A lot of very unusual dishes are less than appetizing to us. It was good of you to give it a shot, but maybe you could have made a greater attempt at eating what was on your plate, especially given the fact that they apparently made a big deal about making this traditional dish in your honor.
2007-07-09 12:26:33 · answer #6 · answered by catherine 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
he needs to get over it. coming from another culture I am sure that he found some of the food here to be quite different and unedible when he arrived here. Just let him know it isnt personal toward him, but personal to you and what you choose to eat.
I would just say something like " I have a sensative stomach and this wont agree with me." I cant handle spicy foods. I only eat bland foods...etc
2007-07-09 12:33:49 · answer #7 · answered by mpasnick 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Whoever is right here could desire to pass alongside with us. Miyuki could serve miso soup, tempura, sashimi and stay lobster. i could play "Kekko Kamen" a million,2,3&4. could he like eastern video clips based upon manga a pair of female avenger in crimson: head mask with floppy ears, gloves, cape, boots and not the rest? Miyuki and that i will transalate the eastern into english. i will additionally transalate into french, German or chinese language.
2016-11-08 20:43:47 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they served spoiled meat/food, THEY were the ones who insulted you! I wouldn't be too concerned about what they think.
2007-07-13 11:36:47 · answer #9 · answered by nowyouknow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That's a tough one . What can you do?
He was a bit rude to serve such a monstrosity.
2007-07-09 12:34:27 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋