How do you tell someone their favorite recipe is just plain awful?

Question

I have a dear lady friend who loves to make a special potato soup every time we visit. She makes it because she knows we really love it. WE DON'T. It sucks out loud.

I mean, this soup tastes like flour and water and nothing else. We are polite and tell her it's wonderful and try to make her feel good. Then....she keeps making it.

How do we tell her the truth so she'll stop making this wretched concoction all the time without hurting her feelings????

Answer 1

1.You are such a good cook! I can't wait to try another one of your delightful recipes!
When you find one that you like.
2.This one is my favorite, won't you please fix this every time that we come over.

Answer 2

I'm afraid you're stuck. The most you can do is ask for salt and pepper. There is no polite way to say it sucks, especially since she makes it as a favor to you.

But if she makes things because you like it, that plays right into your hands. Find a new dish that you do like, tell her about how you had it and LOVED it, it was just great, etc. If she is as sensitive to your comfort that she makes you the same soup every time you come over, she might want to do that to make you happy too.

Maybe you could find a potato soup recipe that is GOOD and that you do like --- and bring it to her and say that you thought she might enjoy trying this variation; that you have had it and it's really good. I don't know if you can do that gracefully, though. You could also bring a loaf of good bread or a salad and offer it as your contribution to lunch. But don't say anything about the soup, other than you heard that this goes well with it!

I have a friend who makes potato salad every time I come over. I don't like it, but let's face it, it's just bland, it isn't poisonous, so I resign myself to a potato salad lunch for that day and then I forget about it.

It's sort of sweet, and funny --- that someone expresses their appreciation without realizing that it is NOT appreciated! It sounds like she's a good friend though, which is lucky.

Answer 3

Don't tell her you don't like it. Tell her that it disagrees with you and work into the conversation dishes that you really like.

Since you have been telling her how great it is, you will probably hurt her feelings no matter how you tell her. You could tell her that you love the soup, but would love to see what else she can serve up. Challenge her to top her best dish!

If she isn't a very good cook, however this could be difficult to resolve without hurting her feelings. You may simply have to say how much you appreciate how she works so hard to put on a good meal, but you simply don't like the dish.

Also if this is not the main course, fill up on the other stuff and leave no room for the soup. Maybe she will box it up for you and you can take it home and dump it.

Answer 4

You might tell a little white lie and explain that you are suddenly allergic of potatoes, or have a digestive problem that worsens with potatoes or soup, but if she is such a good friend, try making a potato soup recipe yourself and then when you find one you like, invite her for dinner and tell her you put a special twist on her favourite recipe and enjoy. You can also be truthful without being hurtful.

Answer 5

1 There is no other way of telling her your sentiments other than saying it straight forward.

2 If you are interested in cooking too. you can ask her to teach you the recipe and tell her the violations she's done in cooking. (just like food 911)

3 You can find a recipe similar to hers, but yummy enough for your taste and bring it to her house the next time you'll be around, so she'll appreciate it, too and maybe she'll ask for your recipe and throw away hers

4 Everytime you come at her house, pass on the soup and take delight in what you like eating... She'll realize that the soup is not worth serving anymore... hahaha

GB!

Answer 6

I think there are ways to tell her you don't want the soup without telling her it's awful. Tell her you had some potato soup recently that was rancid and it made you really, really sick and now the mear thought of potato soup makes you sick to your stomach.

Then next time don't tell someone you love something that you really think is awful. The first time you had it you should have told her that you just didn't care for it. I usually tell the person that I'm sure it's wonderful but I'm just really picky. That way I'm not saying their food is bad, I take the fault on myself instead.

Answer 7

Have you thought of saying your or your spouse all the sudden has an intolerance for milk (or another key ingredient in the soup) say the doctors aren't sure why this is happening but advised him/her to keep away from dairy.

Or you could tell the truth but it would have been better to do it when you first tried it. Its more upsetting to know someone lied to you for awhile instead of telling the truth.

Good luck.

Answer 8

Well, I hate to say it but you kicked your own butt by saying that you liked it in the first place. I would rather someone tell me the truth from first "yuck" than to lie to me and me think I am doing something nice by making something I like for someone that I thought liked what I made...:-)
Maybe make a suggestion that you would like to have her over instead...that way, you can lessen your exposure to the potato soup. And next time you have it, don't fawn over it. Maybe act bored with it and she will get the picture. Good luck!

Answer 9

Maybe you could say something like, "You know, I think you should add (insert ingredient here) and that would be really interesting!"
Just be creative and give her some good suggestions of additions or changes she could make to the soup. Maybe she will be inspired to get creative in the kitchen or something.

Answer 10

Tell her it could use a little more bird crap...kidding.

Ask her if there are other tricks she has to making potato soup. Maybe a different type of ingredient will change the whole fiasco.

Answer 11

You definitely shouldn't tell her that you don't like the soup. Just gratefully accept anything she serves you. Perhaps you could schedule your visits not at a mealtime so she doesn't feel obligated to make soup for you?