Pasta for dinner

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's weird that you specifically invited the mom and kid over for lunch if you were basically just going to serve a bowl of noodles with no fiber. In my culture that'd be like specifically inviting people over to eat a bowl of rice with butter in it, or a bowl of rice with nori.
Like, why bother? Why not just say you had a great time, goodbye?

Alternatively, you could have invited them to have a snack and drink.

Sometimes the company is more important than the food.

No, when you are invited to lunch or dinner to someone’s home it is always about company. If you accept the invitation, you eat what you are served (allergies aside), yes, even if it is not your favorite and you say thank you. This is how you adult.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I am Indian and we often serve rice or roti/paratha with a potato/root vegetable dish. I’ve had many questions about this.

But do you just serve your guests a potato or bowl of rice for lunch? One or the other, definitely not both, and just butter for sauce.

This is such a good example. Giving your guest a potato is super weird. Serving up a loaded baked potato (butter, cheese, bacon, sour cream, chives, maybe some broccoli) would actually be a meal. Buttered noodles = not a meal. Pasta with some kind of sauce = meal.

Jesus Christ lady, holy heart attack on a spud! Give me the buttered noodles any day over the monstrosity you serve your guests: butter AND cheese AND bacon AND chives AND broccoli.

You will eat your potato and you will like it. Otherwise never come back again!

I actually love a baked potato, but just with butter and a bit of salt. Hold the rest.

The moral of this story is you eat what you are served. Nobody asked how you liked it.

I think it's fine to decline the pasta, without saying "ugh, that's it?"

Except no ugh was uttered. You added it in for dramatic flair.

It's implied. No adult could possibly be so confused that when they are offered lunch and then handed a bowl of pasta that they honestly have to ask if this is the lunch.

I'm sure you can find anything in a comment if you look hard enough. Maybe it was said brightly. Changes the tone completely. You made this for us?!

You're reaching so hard I'm concerned you'll hurt your back.

If it was that big of a deal OP would have been back by now. People seem more put out about this possible slight than OP. The guest was called a "POS" by some who are way too worked up over it. Why not just give the benefit of doubt?

We can give the guest the benefit of the doubt because we weren't there. It might have been an innocent comment. However there are multiple people is this thread with poor socialization who would have been offended to be invited to a friendly lunch that did not meet their standards.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:I am Indian and we often serve rice or roti/paratha with a potato/root vegetable dish. I’ve had many questions about this.

But do you just serve your guests a potato or bowl of rice for lunch? One or the other, definitely not both, and just butter for sauce.

This is such a good example. Giving your guest a potato is super weird. Serving up a loaded baked potato (butter, cheese, bacon, sour cream, chives, maybe some broccoli) would actually be a meal. Buttered noodles = not a meal. Pasta with some kind of sauce = meal.

Jesus Christ lady, holy heart attack on a spud! Give me the buttered noodles any day over the monstrosity you serve your guests: butter AND cheese AND bacon AND chives AND broccoli.

You will eat your potato and you will like it. Otherwise never come back again!

I actually love a baked potato, but just with butter and a bit of salt. Hold the rest.

The moral of this story is you eat what you are served. Nobody asked how you liked it.

I think it's fine to decline the pasta, without saying "ugh, that's it?"

Except no ugh was uttered. You added it in for dramatic flair.

It's implied. No adult could possibly be so confused that when they are offered lunch and then handed a bowl of pasta that they honestly have to ask if this is the lunch.

I'm sure you can find anything in a comment if you look hard enough. Maybe it was said brightly. Changes the tone completely. You made this for us?!

You're reaching so hard I'm concerned you'll hurt your back.

If it was that big of a deal OP would have been back by now. People seem more put out about this possible slight than OP. The guest was called a "POS" by some who are way too worked up over it. Why not just give the benefit of doubt?

We can give the guest the benefit of the doubt because we weren't there. It might have been an innocent comment. However there are multiple people is this thread with poor socialization who would have been offended to be invited to a friendly lunch that did not meet their standards.

Who said they would be offended?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.

I'd have asked if the kids would like ravioli or to join us in ordering in dim sum. From the place I use it arrives in 25-30 minutes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m going to have a loaded baked potato for lunch tomorrow in honor of this thread. It will have cheese AND butter AND sour cream AND bacon AND chives. Nom nom nom nom nom nom. Oh yeah and I will definitely put salt in it!!!

💩 💩 💩

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.

You don't need anything fancy. DIY sandwich is fine. You sound like a nice, easy-going person so I doubt you would want to hang out with people judging your kind offers anyway. My kids are past the play date age, but some of the most fun memories from that time are the impromptu play dates that turned into all day hang outs, and no one complained about lack of protein. You don't need to be so strict and fragile every day. Enjoy life as it comes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.

I am someone who thinks that the friend was far more rude than the OP, and also that while I think the friend was rude to express surprise at the lunch, I would also have felt and hidden feelings of surprise.

If I wanted to serve pasta, I might serve something like this:

pasta with a choice of butter or vodka sauce (not assuming that the kids would want just butter)

parmesan to sprinkle, unless I was out. (If I was out of parmesan, I would offer whatever grated or crumbly cheese I had, because my kids really like cheese on their pasta and are not picky.)

One of: cucumber slices, peppers, baby carrots, microwaved frozen peas

One of: apple slices, grapes, berries, cutie oranges, whatever other fruit I had that was ripe

If I wanted to be fancy, I might offer a really simple side salad of baby spinach and vinaigrette, if I happened to have it. But if I didn't, I wouldn't worry. In my experience most moms are happy to have something that was planned with the kids in mind, or to wait til they got home.

[Anonymous]

I am the PP, and I think sandwiches would be equally fine, probably with the same sides (e.g. cucumbers and cutie oranges)

Or grilled cheese, or quick quesadillas, or chick fil a dupe nuggets or veggies and hummus, or frozen pizza.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.

I am someone who thinks that the friend was far more rude than the OP, and also that while I think the friend was rude to express surprise at the lunch, I would also have felt and hidden feelings of surprise.

If I wanted to serve pasta, I might serve something like this:

pasta with a choice of butter or vodka sauce (not assuming that the kids would want just butter)

parmesan to sprinkle, unless I was out. (If I was out of parmesan, I would offer whatever grated or crumbly cheese I had, because my kids really like cheese on their pasta and are not picky.)

One of: cucumber slices, peppers, baby carrots, microwaved frozen peas

One of: apple slices, grapes, berries, cutie oranges, whatever other fruit I had that was ripe

If I wanted to be fancy, I might offer a really simple side salad of baby spinach and vinaigrette, if I happened to have it. But if I didn't, I wouldn't worry. In my experience most moms are happy to have something that was planned with the kids in mind, or to wait til they got home.

I don’t think anyone was rude in this case. At this point we’re just talking about whether the meal was a good one or not and what we would have done differently. I think most people agree they wouldn’t just serve a bowl of pasta and call it a day.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's weird that you specifically invited the mom and kid over for lunch if you were basically just going to serve a bowl of noodles with no fiber. In my culture that'd be like specifically inviting people over to eat a bowl of rice with butter in it, or a bowl of rice with nori.
Like, why bother? Why not just say you had a great time, goodbye?

Alternatively, you could have invited them to have a snack and drink.

Sometimes the company is more important than the food.

No, when you are invited to lunch or dinner to someone’s home it is always about company. If you accept the invitation, you eat what you are served (allergies aside), yes, even if it is not your favorite and you say thank you. This is how you adult.

Try telling screaming toddlers it’s just about the company. If a kid doesn’t like the food then you would have to pack it in and leave and go home to eat. My kids are well past this age but I can remember how something like this would go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For real though. Those of y’all who have a problem with what OP served, what would you have offered at an impromptu, post-playdate lunch? If it were me I’d probably have pulled out sandwich fixings (and sure, I always have fruit around so I’d probably offer that too). Maybe a bag of chips. I certainly wouldn’t be whipping up an elaborate meal, and I’d rather have homemade pasta alla vodka than a boring sandwich!

Do people really just not ever host if they haven’t pre planned a full course meal with optimal balance of lean protein, whole grains, fruits and fresh veg? That’s sad to me. I love that my friends are easy and casual and would happily come over for a DIY sandwich if a playdate ran into lunchtime and we wanted to keep the fun going.

I would not have invited unless I knew we had some food. Or if they came over, I'd check in with the other mom. Hey, we have spaghetti noodles and red sauce / vodka sauce. I also have sandwich ingredients. What do you guys like? Same with fruit/veg - would anyone like some (salad , apple slices , carrots , etc. ).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's weird that you specifically invited the mom and kid over for lunch if you were basically just going to serve a bowl of noodles with no fiber. In my culture that'd be like specifically inviting people over to eat a bowl of rice with butter in it, or a bowl of rice with nori.
Like, why bother? Why not just say you had a great time, goodbye?

Alternatively, you could have invited them to have a snack and drink.

Sometimes the company is more important than the food.

No, when you are invited to lunch or dinner to someone’s home it is always about company. If you accept the invitation, you eat what you are served (allergies aside), yes, even if it is not your favorite and you say thank you. This is how you adult.

Most of us are not condoning OP's acquaintance's comment. But we are telling OP - reality check, yeah it was weird to just serve a bowl of pasta with nothing in it or with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think it's weird that you specifically invited the mom and kid over for lunch if you were basically just going to serve a bowl of noodles with no fiber. In my culture that'd be like specifically inviting people over to eat a bowl of rice with butter in it, or a bowl of rice with nori.
Like, why bother? Why not just say you had a great time, goodbye?

Alternatively, you could have invited them to have a snack and drink.

Sometimes the company is more important than the food.

No, when you are invited to lunch or dinner to someone’s home it is always about company. If you accept the invitation, you eat what you are served (allergies aside), yes, even if it is not your favorite and you say thank you. This is how you adult.

Most of us are not condoning OP's acquaintance's comment. But we are telling OP - reality check, yeah it was weird to just serve a bowl of pasta with nothing in it or with it.

That is not what OP did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, next time you should consider serving spiced and lightly fried tuna. With some Code Red Mountain Dew, since water doesn't really quench the thirst.

Or chicken salad!

Or 1 sprig of asparagus

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am Indian and we often serve rice or roti/paratha with a potato/root vegetable dish. I’ve had many questions about this.

But do you just serve your guests a potato or bowl of rice for lunch? One or the other, definitely not both, and just butter for sauce.

This is such a good example. Giving your guest a potato is super weird. Serving up a loaded baked potato (butter, cheese, bacon, sour cream, chives, maybe some broccoli) would actually be a meal. Buttered noodles = not a meal. Pasta with some kind of sauce = meal.

Jesus Christ lady, holy heart attack on a spud! Give me the buttered noodles any day over the monstrosity you serve your guests: butter AND cheese AND bacon AND chives AND broccoli.

You will eat your potato and you will like it. Otherwise never come back again!

I actually love a baked potato, but just with butter and a bit of salt. Hold the rest.

The moral of this story is you eat what you are served. Nobody asked how you liked it.

I think it's fine to decline the pasta, without saying "ugh, that's it?"

Except no ugh was uttered. You added it in for dramatic flair.

It's implied. No adult could possibly be so confused that when they are offered lunch and then handed a bowl of pasta that they honestly have to ask if this is the lunch.

I'm sure you can find anything in a comment if you look hard enough. Maybe it was said brightly. Changes the tone completely. You made this for us?!

Based on the OP story we know exactly what the tone was. Words look innocent enough, tone is everything.

I still remember this ahole I worked with when we had some conversation and college stuff was brought up. I said something about student government and she replied “YOU were in student government?” And she kept at it with that tone. To get her to stop I said it wasn’t a big deal at my school. She was implying I wasn’t bright enough to be on it. I regret my reply to this day.