How do I tell the foodie hosting me I'm a very picky eater?
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Anonymous
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Title says it all. I have to RSVP by tomorrow evening to avoid being rude and know you're supposed to mention any dietary restrictions when you RSVP. She is the hardest hardcore foodie. She routinely cooks things I've never even heard of. Like, I've heard of cornish game hens and venison, but she takes it 8 steps farther and has been known to fly food in from other COUNTRIES (I don't even know if that's legal!). I've already gotten out of a few dinner invitations by having her and her husband to my house twice, and meeting them at restaurants.
Here are my restrictions: 1. I physically CAN'T eat anything spicy. What you consider barely any spice, makes my mouth swell up and burns my tongue. A tiny bit of garlic or oregano or salt? Fine. Anything meant to make a dish "hot" = not fine. 2. I don't drink wine. Or soda. Or coffee or tea. I just want plain, cold water. Without lemon. Ice cubes are fine. 3. I don't really like any food that looks like "mush." Dark-colored sauce or gravy with stuff in it? Please no. I like to be able to look at my food and think "Oh. That's clearly a _____." Here are regular dinners I've had as a guest at other people's homes that have been great: 1. Baked chicken (with rice and string beans) 2. Roast beef (baked potatoes, broccoli) 3. Manicotti/lasagna 4. Meatloaf (new potatoes, steamed cauliflower/broccoli) 5. Marinated salmon (rice pilaf, peas) 6. Scallops and shrimp in pasta (as long as it's sauce-free I'm happy) |
Anonymous
| I think you need to either go willing to be a good sport or decline. Foodie or not, extreme pickiness isn't something a host should have to deal with. |
Anonymous
| Honestly, it sounds like you're not a good candidate for her dinner party. I think it's one thing to mention "I can't eat shellfish" or "I'm allergic to tomatoes", its another to give the list you have. Maybe politely decline & ask if you can get coffee to catch up soon? How good of a friend is she? |
Anonymous
| You have to get over your food aversions or not go. Choose A; your world will open up for you. |
Anonymous
| You either need to grow up and expand your palate as most educated adults learn to do, or you need to decline the invitation. |
Anonymous
| Troll fail. |
Anonymous
| Ooof, I'm thinking that you are going to have to suck it up a bit! You just can't dictate the menu to the extent you've described. I think you should convey that you can't eat spicy food, but the rest you are going to have to live with. |
Anonymous
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How do you tell the foodie hosting you that you're a very picky eater? You don't.
You can tell her that chile peppers make your face swell up -- that's a health issue. You can tell her you don't drink alcohol. You can't tell her, "I don't like weird food or mush." If she serves you weird food/mush, push it around on your plate and pretend to eat it. |
Anonymous
| Eat before you go; take small portions and move your food around a lot while you're there. |
Anonymous
| Decline. These are not dietary restrictions. These are *your* weird preferences. She's not going to change her whole menu to suit you and, unless you are her best friend, she's not going to make you a different dinner of bland chicken. Just decline. |
Anonymous
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Agree that you should decline.
The friend isn't cooking a personal meal for you, but for a variety of guests. If you have specific aversions, you either toughen up and make a good effort, or if that isn't possible, decline and say you have a conflict (which is the truth). Tell friend you'd like to take them up on coffee soon, though. |
Anonymous
Sounds like your only genuine issue is spicy food. Everything else is a choice. Tell her about the spicy and be a good sport |
Anonymous
| You sound very immature. |
Anonymous
| I'll go as your stunt double |
Anonymous
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I think you should go. Say you cant have anything spicy and when offered a drink say you would just like water.
On the off chance you are served something "mushy" which I doubt in the summer, I think you should suck it up for one day. |