Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 09:24     Subject: Re:Pasta for dinner
OP, we need to know more about this vodka sauce. Was it homemade or jarred? Did it have any vegetables in it? Was any chopping or involved in prep?
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 09:14     Subject: Pasta for dinner
The pasta was fine. DIY deli sandwiches would have been fine. Grilled cheese and (canned) tomato soup, fine. Charcuterie spread, frozen pizza, quick quesadilla... all FINE for an impromptu after-playdate casual lunch.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 09:08     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are both Italian. His parents “are off the boat”. My grandparents were too and my parents were born in this country.

We have always had pasta for lunch or dinner.

I was with my kids (girl age 6 and boy 4) and a friend and her kids at a park. I invited them back to our house for lunch.

I made pasta-penne with butter for the kids and vodka sauce for myself and my friend.

She looked at it and said “is this lunch? A bowl of pasta?”

I said yes this is what we usually have. She looked at me oddly and didn’t say anything else and ate.

But what a weird response.


She is not rude. She was just surprised.


No, she was rude.


OP was rude for serving that slop. The guest was merely surprised.

And since the guest was not a rude person, she actually ate the slop. I would have made excuses and left.


A normal person would decline to eat what they don't want and also not make negative comments. It's quite the flex to eat it not to be "rude," but then be rude anyway. Strange WASP rules. You must "eat what you are served" but it's ok to be passive aggressive.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:58     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:Where is the eyetalian OP? Busy poisoning her children with starch?


Probably at the park looking for fake friends who will come over for lunch and lie and say "this is amazing!"
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:54     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are both Italian. His parents “are off the boat”. My grandparents were too and my parents were born in this country.

We have always had pasta for lunch or dinner.

I was with my kids (girl age 6 and boy 4) and a friend and her kids at a park. I invited them back to our house for lunch.

I made pasta-penne with butter for the kids and vodka sauce for myself and my friend.

She looked at it and said “is this lunch? A bowl of pasta?”

I said yes this is what we usually have. She looked at me oddly and didn’t say anything else and ate.

But what a weird response.


She is not rude. She was just surprised.


No, she was rude.


OP was rude for serving that slop. The guest was merely surprised.

And since the guest was not a rude person, she actually ate the slop. I would have made excuses and left.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:51     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Where is the eyetalian OP? Busy poisoning her children with starch?
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:50     Subject: Re:Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:Yeah, the guest didn't have to say anything, but if she were to say something, this is about the only things someone could say. It's not like someone could say..."Oh wow! A bowl of pasta!". Even a "thank you" would be tough to muster sincerely.


She said what she said. Some are just more straightforward.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:48     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Every time I go to a restaurant and see buttered noodles on the kids menu , I’m going to think of this thread now. I’m not sure if my kids were ever served vegetables with it.


Generally at restaurants kids are served what you order for them. I am willing to bet that the restaurant had vegetables on the menu, but you did not choose them.


Right, because a side dish of vegetables is not necessary with a bowl of pasta. Pasta with butter is a dish that children tend to eat. You can go to a restaurant and order pasta with butter or vodka sauce and be served that for lunch, because that is a meal. They'll throw in some free bread probably, but won't serve you vegetables and protein automatically.


You really don't have to bend over backwards defending this meal. It's low effort empty calories, it's nothing special even if OP is Italian. Will they starve, no, was it good? No.


If you're invited back to someone's house improptu following a meetup in the park, expect low effort. I really don't know what some of you are looking for. Treat it as a snack and go home and get your protein and veggie fill.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:46     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are both Italian. His parents “are off the boat”. My grandparents were too and my parents were born in this country.

We have always had pasta for lunch or dinner.

I was with my kids (girl age 6 and boy 4) and a friend and her kids at a park. I invited them back to our house for lunch.

I made pasta-penne with butter for the kids and vodka sauce for myself and my friend.

She looked at it and said “is this lunch? A bowl of pasta?”

I said yes this is what we usually have. She looked at me oddly and didn’t say anything else and ate.

But what a weird response.


She is not rude. She was just surprised.


No, she was rude.


Maybe she's on the spectrum and struggles to filter her words.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:31     Subject: Re:Pasta for dinner
Yeah, the guest didn't have to say anything, but if she were to say something, this is about the only things someone could say. It's not like someone could say..."Oh wow! A bowl of pasta!". Even a "thank you" would be tough to muster sincerely.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:21     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Every time I go to a restaurant and see buttered noodles on the kids menu , I’m going to think of this thread now. I’m not sure if my kids were ever served vegetables with it.


Generally at restaurants kids are served what you order for them. I am willing to bet that the restaurant had vegetables on the menu, but you did not choose them.


Right, because a side dish of vegetables is not necessary with a bowl of pasta. Pasta with butter is a dish that children tend to eat. You can go to a restaurant and order pasta with butter or vodka sauce and be served that for lunch, because that is a meal. They'll throw in some free bread probably, but won't serve you vegetables and protein automatically.


You really don't have to bend over backwards defending this meal. It's low effort empty calories, it's nothing special even if OP is Italian. Will they starve, no, was it good? No.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:19     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are both Italian. His parents “are off the boat”. My grandparents were too and my parents were born in this country.

We have always had pasta for lunch or dinner.

I was with my kids (girl age 6 and boy 4) and a friend and her kids at a park. I invited them back to our house for lunch.

I made pasta-penne with butter for the kids and vodka sauce for myself and my friend.

She looked at it and said “is this lunch? A bowl of pasta?”

I said yes this is what we usually have. She looked at me oddly and didn’t say anything else and ate.

But what a weird response.


She is not rude. She was just surprised.


No, she was rude.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:18     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:Husband and I are both Italian. His parents “are off the boat”. My grandparents were too and my parents were born in this country.

We have always had pasta for lunch or dinner.

I was with my kids (girl age 6 and boy 4) and a friend and her kids at a park. I invited them back to our house for lunch.

I made pasta-penne with butter for the kids and vodka sauce for myself and my friend.

She looked at it and said “is this lunch? A bowl of pasta?”

I said yes this is what we usually have. She looked at me oddly and didn’t say anything else and ate.

But what a weird response.


She is not rude. She was just surprised.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:15     Subject: Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Every time I go to a restaurant and see buttered noodles on the kids menu , I’m going to think of this thread now. I’m not sure if my kids were ever served vegetables with it.


Generally at restaurants kids are served what you order for them. I am willing to bet that the restaurant had vegetables on the menu, but you did not choose them.


Yes it will normally be the main with a choice of fries, rice, vegetables and applesauce or something. There are healthy options but they may not be the ones the kids are picking.
Anonymous
Post 03/26/2026 08:12     Subject: Re:Pasta for dinner
Anonymous wrote:I’m not Italian and pretty much all my kids ever want to eat is pasta.


Thanks for your contribution Jan