Spoiled food at a party

[Anonymous]

Would you let the host know?

We attended a function this weekend and there was one dish that was gone bad. I wanted to tell the host but DH stopped me from doing that. You, being the host, would prefer someone to tell you that the food was bad?

I'm not friends with the host, DH is a relative of her husband. It was a formal affair and the food was half catered half home made. Not sure if the spoiled dish was home made or catered.

[Anonymous]

I would probably just bite the bullet and tell, in a really polite way. I'd feel worse if 10 people got sick from my party than 1 person telling me my potato salad was bad so I could get it off the table.

[Anonymous]

Why on earth wouldn't you? Would you want other people to get ill?

A polite whisper in the hostess/host's ear -- "I think the clam dip has spoiled" -- as you bring it in and put it in the kitchen sink. Your DH is way overthinking this. Much more embarrassing if more people noticed.

[Anonymous]

How do you know it was spoiled?

That's the thing about food poisoning--you can't usually see if it's "bad", otherwise people wouldn't eat it.

[Anonymous]

Tell them! Would you rather be the host who tosses Aunt Mabel's spoiled seafood salad or forever be remembered as the host who had that one party where everyone got sick?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know it was spoiled?

That's the thing about food poisoning--you can't usually see if it's "bad", otherwise people wouldn't eat it.

OP here. Honestly, I didn't notice and just devoured a plate of it because I had a crying newborn on my lap and whenever I get a chance to eat I don't really care if it's freezing cold, super hot, whatever. DH noticed the bad smell as soon as he went for the first bite. Then I looked at it close and noticed it too.

Can't you tell by the smell and taste when food has gone bad????

[Anonymous]

Wow, so you ate a whole plate and didn't even think it was off, but your husband could tell straight away? That's kind of strange.

[Anonymous]

She's IronWoman!

[Anonymous]

Did you get sick???

[Anonymous]

Eh not always. What kind of food was it? Could be just a weird spice or ingredient. I insisted (at a restaurant) that a plate was bad because of the smell until my mom informed me it was how the cheese and spices smelled together. Thank god I didn't say anything to the waitress lol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you get sick???

Yup.

BTW, it's ethnic food, DH's ethnicity to be more precise so he knows how it's supposed to taste. I'm not a big fan of the cuisine but had to eat. I was starving!!!

[Anonymous]

I would say something like "I'm not very sophisticated about ethnic food. Is that the way that that dish is supposed to taste?" to the hostess. Then let her deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would say something like "I'm not very sophisticated about ethnic food. Is that the way that that dish is supposed to taste?" to the hostess. Then let her deal with it.

That just sounds obnoxious.

[Anonymous]

I agree! If someone said "is that the way it's supposed to taste?" i'd think they just didn't like the dish and depending on how busy I was, probably wouldn't even try it. It's better to be upfrront and say "i think this is spoiled" or something like that.

[Anonymous]

Or, you can phrase the request in a different way: "Would you mind checking if this is OK? the catering people may have overlooked this"