What? no condiments !

Jagraf

Why would anyone get offended by admitting they had a difference sense of taste? It's as human as having different finger prints.

Why would I as the host expect people to be the same as me?

I don't get it, isn't it just personal preference?

Peter333

Physicsfiend wrote: »

It is an often told story in our family about the grandfather who, in a very posh restaurant, asked for the salt. The chef appeared with a huge block of salt and a sharp knife, asking "Who asked for the salt? I've seasoned this to perfection!"

However, if staying for the weekend at my in-laws, I always put proper milk and butter into the boot of the car - just in case ( they have some watery concoction and margarine! ) ...and then there's the cousin who serves camels milk - yuk!

;)Luckily they love me enough to let me get away with it - but it took a long time before I could actually let them know!

Wow, what an arrogant man that chef sounds. Assuming that everyone is going to like the food exactly how he has made it. As I said earlier in the thread, people have different tastes.

If that happened to me, that would be the last time I ever went to that restaurant, and I would have walked out and not paid for meal! He sounds like someone from Ramsay's Kitchen nightmares; one of those doughnuts who thinks that he is always right, and that everyone who doesn't like the taste of his food is 'wrong.'

LilElvis

Peter333 wrote: »

Wow, what an arrogant man that chef sounds. Assuming that everyone is going to like the food exactly how he has made it. As I said earlier in the thread, people have different tastes.

If that happened to me, that would be the last time I ever went to that restaurant, and I would have walked out and not paid for meal! He sounds like someone from Ramsay's Kitchen nightmares; one of those doughnuts who thinks that he is always right, and that everyone who doesn't like the taste of his food is 'wrong.'

Actually sounds more like Marco Pierre White who has "form" for shouting at customers who question his seasoning. Saying that his cooking was absolutely amazing when I went to his first restaurant, Harvey's, a couple of decades ago.

Pollycat

Peter333 wrote: »

Wow, what an arrogant man that chef sounds. Assuming that everyone is going to like the food exactly how he has made it. As I said earlier in the thread, people have different tastes.

If that happened to me, that would be the last time I ever went to that restaurant, and I would have walked out and not paid for meal! He sounds like someone from Ramsay's Kitchen nightmares; one of those doughnuts who thinks that he is always right, and that everyone who doesn't like the taste of his food is 'wrong.'

I don't know about anybody else but whenever I watch cookery shows, chefs always seem to use far too much salt.

purpleweasel

LilElvis wrote: »

Actually sounds more like Marco Pierre White who has "form" for shouting at customers who question his seasoning.

I've heard about him, would be reluctant to go to a restaurant (or house!) where a cook was so arrogant as to think that their taste is everybody's taste. I don't normally put salt on my food but reserve the right to add some if I want! Saying that, my Dad is an auto-condimentor & will add salt & pepper as a matter of habit no matter how much you have already put in.

I heard that some fast food places have saved millions by removing most/all of the salt in some of their food, knowing that auto-condimentors will add some anyway and most others won't miss it!

I was taught as a kid that it tastes better to put the salt in when you cook, is this just me?

By the way, i can recommend adding some fresh-ground black pepper to fruit salad. Sounds odd but does improve the flavour

DigForVictory

I'd be a bit upset at folk seasoning my cooking without tasting it first, but we do recognise not everyone likes the same tastes & flavours.

It's part of grandparents visiting - "find, wash, dry & fill the salt & pepper". When we go to them, they buy HP sauce for my husband specially (bless them). We've so far managed to keep eldest's vile jalapeno habit concealed - they believe he still has a palate, we know better. There's an ammo can with his Scoville collection secured.

In emergencies though we have in the car: HP, ketchup, vinegar, Branston pickle & a little box with little ziplocks containing salt, pepper, chilli powder, cumin, ginger, oxo, bisto & Italian seasoning. (One weekend with a recently-moved bachelor godfather made us realise we cook with herbs & spices routinely, whereas he eats in the canteen). So the car is nicknamed "the flying cruet".

M'father can't abide mustard - "contaminating good & failing to disguise bad meat". Mother & I will eat the wholegrain stuff (not with spirit vinegar, mind) on bread. The lads will sip vinegar neat & love 'posca' - vinegar in cold water - on long walks.

All we can do is keep the basics handy, along with our manners!

CathA

CathA wrote: »

I have tomato sauce on practically everything, no-one bats an eyelid if I ask for it. My ex husband has vinegar on everything, again no one worries.

We don't salt any food but we've had people here for dinner who've asked for salt or pepper so we just get it out, no problems.

OP just ask them if they have any. If they don't, then ask if they would mind if you bought your own next time, I'm sure they won't mind.

Just to mention, we all went to a local pub/restaurant for my eldest daughter's birthday on Monday. I asked the waitress for tomato sauce, I have no shame!!!

Rev

Just ask for some salt/pepper.

If I went to someone's house for dinner and they got huffy because I'd asked for salt my only thought would be that they seriously need to get over themselves.


We're not at the fat duck eating a dish Heston himself has spent years perfecting, you're not a top chef, you're having your friends around for dinner at your house.


My uncle is a chef. Whenever I eat as his house he asks if anyone wants any condiments.


It's called manners. You having an over inflated opinion of your own cooking skills shouldn't stop you displaying manners. Everyone has different tastes. One persons perfect meal is the next persons bin fodder.

Anatidaephobia

purpleweasel wrote: »

I was taught as a kid that it tastes better to put the salt in when you cook, is this just me?

I remember people saying that or implying it when I was a kid too but people said lots of things when I was a kid that turned out not to be correct.

GlasweJen

I hate salt but a medical condition means I need to consume it constantly as I can't retain salt at all so my blood pressure gets dangerously low.

I take various salts everywhere with me as I get bored of normal table salt, no one gets offended.