NicoleFriedman's Profile
When they get your takeout order wrong yet again...
You're right that I was describing a place that I get deliveries from. Also, they are pretty busy, which is why I have been generally forgiving. It's still annoying though, especially since even a simple meal is not that cheap; I usually end up spending 15-20 just for myself. And considering that my entire family gives them a lot of business, it adds up. For the record, I love to eat in before work for breakfast once a week when possible, and the service is fantastic.
When they get your takeout order wrong yet again...
What do you do when your favorite takeout place gets your order wrong? I'm not talking about major mistakes such as the wrong entree, but rather smaller ones that make your meal somewhat less enjoyable but not to the point where you can't eat it. For example, from my favorite diner II always ask for a specific home-made dressing when I order a salad, yet about 25% of the time, I get some horrible bottled dressing. I do not always order from this restaurant for this reason, but sometimes I get a craving and usually (according to my own statistics :) ), the odds are in my favor. Is this simply the risk you take when ordering takeout? Just to be clear, i do call them right away if they made a major mistake, but if it's just the salad dressing, I make sure to mention their mistake the next time I place an order.
Could your/ IS your significant other a picky eater?
As I do not like to take food for granted, I can understand where you are coming from. However, I simply do not see the point of forcing myself to eat something I despise (such as cheese) until I vomit. As long as someone tries to genuinely be as open minded as they can, they should be allowed some quirks... Afterall, that's what makes us all different and interesting.
rome vs istanbul?? from a foodie standpoint
This is an impossible question to ask as the cuisines are so vastly different. While I adored Rome's gelato, I had a far better food experience in Istanbul... but that is only because I HATE cheese and much prefer Middle Eastern anything to Italian. If you go to Istanbul, seek out the pides (Turkish pizza) and the elusive pistachio kebab (a friend had it but alas I could not find it.) Do go to a turkish hammam- it's worth the torture:}
Everything is relative. Olive Garden can be the best you've got. Does it matter?
How do you know that these people have not had the "real food"?
Everything is relative. Olive Garden can be the best you've got. Does it matter?
Not necessarily- in fact I'm sure that many Americans would resent these posts for insinuating that all midwesterners are ignorant of "good" ethnic food. Is it harder to find "authentic" Italian in Kentucky than in NYC? Of course- but I'm not going to assume that the majority of people in Kentucky are so ignorant that they do not realize OG is not authentic Italian.
Vegan expectations?
I hope that you wrote a letter to the paper that published the review of your restaurant.
Would you move?
I'm just curious as to why if there were plenty of empty seats available.
Would you move?
I understand that in the moment you felt intimidated, but as this was obviously in a public establishment, if you had said no- what is the worst that could have happened? You make it seem as if you only had two options- to do as you did or to move and then steam inwardly. However, you really had three options- you also could have said "No" while pointing to the obviously empty spaces elsewhere. It is entirely unnecessary that you let these people ruin your lunch. I learned this lesson the hard way- I used to be intimidated far too easily, which is why I do understand your actions. However, I realized as an adult that this was only because I cared way too much what other people thought of me. Once I realized that people (outside of those who truly care about you) are extremely fickle. In this instance, yes, the group who approached you may have been angry for the moment, but they most likely would have sat elsewhere and then have forgotten about it faster than you would imagine. For that reason, in the future, I hope that you stick to your guns and not overly react.
Does Comfort Trump All?
When I am truly craving a specific cuisine or dish, I have been known to travel over an hour on a subway or walk for several miles to obtain my craving. However, lately I've noticed that I would rather eat my 2nd or even 3rd or 4th food choice if I could eat in comfort. Case in point: I have wanted to eat brunch solo this past weekend. I was craving a particular diner but the last thing in the world I wanted was to have to sit at the counter or in a tiny booth- especially when I know that during the week I could get a comfy full booth and linger over coffee and my newspaper. I walked past the diner, saw the line and just kept walking until I found another place to eat where I would not feel pressure to leave in a hurry, and where I also wouldn't feel squashed by other diners. Do you do the same?
Rose Sellers in Restaurants, Especially at Valentines?
I agree that these guys are beyond annoying but unless they're being overly pushy and won't go away when you politely refuse, why be a jerk?
Rose Sellers in Restaurants, Especially at Valentines?
Not if your parents are "temporarily" staying with you, you don't! :}
Could your/ IS your significant other a picky eater?
I hate cheese and I dislike mayo. I'm not an attention whore. I just won't be eating your sub sandwich at work.
Accused of being too interested in food?
You made an excellent point; interest is one thing but obsession is something else. I have a very close friend who is literally obsessed with politics. I actually am quite politically active myself but I am very much able to have conversations with friends about other topics without always coming back to politics. Or, if we do talk about politics, I don't need to discuss it for hours at length. Whereas my friend, no matter what you may be talking about will manage to steer the conversation back to politics. He's my best friend and yet sometimes talking with him is pure torture:} Obsession about anything is not healthy and it's a huge turn off when socializing with others.
Dinner Party Etiquette: Bringing AND cooking your own food?
I agree completely. I get that there are deeper issues about the brother-in-law feeling unaccepted by the family but this situation is not the best place to sort out those issues. If he truly wants to feel more accepted perhaps he should try to help in the way that the OP actually needs help. Sometimes life is about more than food and this is definitely a time when that is the case.
Asking people to join you for dinner
If any of my friends actually assumed so then we can't be as good friends as I thought or they would have said something.
Asking people to join you for dinner
I'm actually very surprised. I've been asking people to dinner for years and no one has ever assumed I'm paying save for if it's their birthday. The same is true when I've been invited; I've never assumed (save for first dates).
Has your spouse/dining companion appropriated your go-to favorites when making menu selections?
This really makes no sense to me. Is there anything in your marriage contract that says that you must order two separate dishes each time you go out to eat and that your wife automatically gets first dibs on ordering? Order what you want to eat and you won't be disappointed. Or if you miss sharing, tell your wife that you should switch off on who orders the pad see ew to be fair.
Lidia being sued for enslavement
i have no idea if the allegations are true. However, if you recall the Elizabeth Smart case, simply because someone is not shackled to a wall does not mean that they are not technically a slave. If you are being paid below the minimum wage or denied basic rights like use of the bathroom, in the very least you qualify as working in sweatshop conditions and at the very worse, you are a slave. If someone who doesn't know English or our legal system is being mistreated, they may not necessarily have the means to leave.
Ignorance of Food and Other Peoples Cultures
This reminds me of a cruise I took with my ex from college and his family. They were all from Israel and Iraq, and mid level Kosher. (They didn't have 2 sets of dishes but I never saw them eat anything non-Kosher, at least that they weren't aware of- my ex was pretty upset when I informed him that wonton soup had pork in it:} ) One night of the cruise was lobster night. I really wanted lobster but my ex was quite insistent that I not eat anything obviously non-kosher in front of his parents. I recall being upset but looking back, I was being a jerk. #1 They took me on a cruise with their family which was beyond nice. #2 While I did want lobster, there were many other food options on board. I was being a whiny brat:}
Ignorance of Food and Other Peoples Cultures
I don't think that we have enough to go on based on Monica's post to make assumptions. If I were in a kosher person's home, I wouldn't think to eat anything non-kosher in their house out of respect. However, if you're dining together in a restaurant that's a different issue. Tolerance in that case goes both ways. Also, keep in mind that there are many levels of kosher. I had a co-worker who had to have his retirement party in a Glatt-kosher restaurant; he has never eaten in a non-kosher restaurant in his life. To deliberately go out of your way to eat lobster in front of someone like this I think would be beyond rude, especially if there are other options. On the other hand is my grandmother; she used to eat bacon on occasion (though only out of the house). She eats in non-kosher restaurants all of the time. If you ask her, she's always been kosher:} To eat something non-kosher in front of her is not the same as in the first case.
Ignorance of Food and Other Peoples Cultures
Oy vey. I was in college folks. Of course I agree that asking questions is paramount to learning anything. But I don't see why it's so hard to understand that I was taken off guard at the time. I started this thread asking for other people's experiences. Instead people seem to be taken aback that I had the audacity to be shocked when I've already explained my reaction.
Ignorance of Food and Other Peoples Cultures
I can see your point. However, you have to keep in mind that this incident took place in Long Island, NY which is chock-full of Jews:} If I had been in the midwest my friend and I would not have had the surprise reaction that we did. Obviously this doesn't mean that everyone on Long Island is familiar with the intricacies of Kashrut, but maybe you can better understand my reaction at the time.
Ignorance of Food and Other Peoples Cultures
You make a perfectly good point. Most things in life are not black and white. Curiosity has its time and place. As I've already said many times on this thread, my hope is just for people to be a bit more open minded. I'm not suggesting that we cure people of every ignorant thought or idea they have about food in other people's cultures. That's ridiculous.
Ignorance of Food and Other Peoples Cultures
You are absolutely taking my words out of context. If you read my original examples, I was referring to people who ARE inquisitive, and who draw opinions of people without having all of the facts (even if well intentioned). What you're talking was never really the point. Since you do do not seem to be the bit curious about other people's food choices, then so be it. My OP was about the idea that many people are naturally curious, which I do not believe is a bad thing at all. Even though I described myself as being a bit shocked at the time, I now find those 2 incidents as an undergrad pretty funny and enlightening for myself. It has helped me be a better teacher to my students when it comes to the topics of religion and culture (I'm a social studies teacher if it wasn't obvious:} ) When they say statements that would make some people's heads turn, or automatically scream "Ew!!!" when shown a picture of food that grosses them out (I try to show them a bit of each people's food culture when we learn about different civilizations), I know that they're coming from their own cultural perspectives. I've talked to them about cultural relativism and a lot of them get it. And by the way- most of them are curious; about other people's cultures, and especially food. You may say that these are only students and teenagers, but the reality is that these are our future, and it makes me happy that they're so curious and wanting to learn about other people. Obviously you are not curious. It works for you- fantastic. That's not who I am or who I was talking about.
Trader Joe's Yea/Nay Thread - 4th quarter 2011 [OLD]
I actually liked the flavor. However I was beyond annoyed that there was probably a tablespoon of tofu in the entire tray. Granted mist frozen entrees are short in the protein but this was just ridiculous.
Ignorance of Food and Other Peoples Cultures
You're taking the words "before you judge them" out of context. I am a human being and I admit my biases, or at least the ones I'm aware of. I've traveled to 25 countries and I strive to be as open minded as I possibly can to other people's traditions and cultures. That being said, not being a robot means that I am incapable of being 100% objective at all times. We all judge people or at least make assumptions or opinions, whether we choose to admit it or not. My OP was about the fact that I feel it's paramount to be as open minded and culturally relativistic as possible before we do that. (The exceptions to this are when a culture violates basic human rights, but that's a whole other issue.)
Ignorance of Food and Other Peoples Cultures
Of course you don't have to care, especially if you only are socially interactive with people from different backgrounds from yours on a superficial level.
Living in NYC I have a diverse work environment with students and colleagues from all over the world and religious spectrum. I can choose to ignore these differences to a point, but a little understanding and curiosity goes a long way. For example, Greeks celebrate Easter on a different date than other Christians. Knowing this and being able to say "Happy Easter" doesn't take much effort on my part but it makes a huge difference in our work relationship. One of these co-workers recently put together a wonderful retirement party for someone who is Glatt-Kosher. (An extreme form of Kosher) He was beyond appreciative.
From your statement "Why would I care if a Jewish person kept Kosher or not?" I suspect you don't interact much with many Jewish people. Ok. But what if you end up working with people from a different culture than yours (not necessarily Jewish)? Or you meet someone you want to be friends with, also from a different culture? You really wouldn't want to take the time to learn at least a little bit about their culture to better understand them?
