large booking at restaurant- how to split the bill?

duchy

So it's just poor planning then. As you presumably know which gallery or cinema you are going to it wouldn't hurt to research eating options available close by ahead of time and avoid the debate. Drama is usually avoidable with a little advance planning and consideration.

AubreyMac

onlyroz wrote: »

I remember the Vietnamese takeaway near our old flat had difficulty understanding the concept of vegetarianism. Their menu offered "vegetarian chicken" and even "vegetarian goat" - because obviously goats and chickens aren't real animals after all

LOL


I saw 'mock duck' on a menu once, have no idea what it's made from though.


I once tried quorn products and had an escalope. It tastes and looked exactly like chicken, it even shredded like a chicken breast. I imagine many chemicals goes into making things taste like the real thing so you may as well just eat the real thing.

onlyroz

AubreyMac wrote: »

I did go out with someone once who initiated going out for a thai meal and only had a small bowl of egg fried rice. Their part of the meal only came to £2.50 but really what is the point of organising a meal out only to have a small serving of egg fried rice?

I know somebody who ordered "Kung Po prawns without the prawns" - the waiter was utterly bewildered but after a small debate the restaurant managed to produce an acceptable dish for her. We all had a bit of a chuckle (her included) but we were all glad that everybody was able to enjoy the meal.

Frogletina

AubreyMac wrote: »

I saw 'mock duck' on a menu once, have no idea what it's made from though.

Mock duck is made from wheat gluten and I really like it. Especially this one.

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/granovita-mock-duck-60062253

frogletina

AubreyMac

duchy wrote: »

So it's just poor planning then. As you presumably know which gallery or cinema you are going to it wouldn't hurt to research eating options available close by ahead of time and avoid the debate. Drama is usually avoidable with a little advance planning and consideration.

Of course but sometimes a meal is not planned. Yesterday I ate out for dinner unplanned, I was out with a friend anyway and time flew by then we got hungry. Luckily neither of us have dietary restrictions.

AubreyMac

Frogletina wrote: »

Mock duck is made from wheat gluten and I really like it. Especially this one.

http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/shop/product/granovita-mock-duck-60062253

frogletina

That link led me to google images of mock duck. It looks like duck with skin and the pimples!


If it tastes like duck, surely it is very processed? I'm interested in trying this now.

duchy

AubreyMac wrote: »

Of course but sometimes a meal is not planned. Yesterday I ate out for dinner unplanned, I was out with a friend anyway and time flew by then we got hungry. Luckily neither of us have dietary restrictions.

Not sure why it is Of Course when it is something your group clearly doesn't do yet it would clearly make for a better experience if anyone was bothered enough to do 10 minutes research in case you all decided you did want to go for a meal after. I guess it's one of those groups where it's always someone else's job.

Frogletina

AubreyMac wrote: »

That link led me to google images of mock duck. It looks like duck with skin and the pimples!


If it tastes like duck, surely it is very processed? I'm interested in trying this now.

I've no idea if it tastes of duck. It is also known as seitan, and some people make their own - though I guess not with the pimples

http://veganchan.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/recipe-make-your-own-seitan-aka-mock.html

frogletina

AubreyMac

duchy wrote: »

Not sure why it is Of Course when it is something your group clearly doesn't do yet it would clearly make for a better experience if anyone was bothered enough to do 10 minutes research in case you all decided you did want to go for a meal after. I guess it's one of those groups where it's always someone else's job.

Of course because we do know where the gallery/cinema/venue is. A meal afterwards is not always on the cards, it is too costly to do this for every outing.


Sometimes (I think most times) it is nice to play by ear with regards to eating as even if you book a restaurant in advance, come the day you may fancy something different.

Andypandyboy

onlyroz wrote: »

Why a person chooses to eat out, and how much they choose to eat should be entirely irrelevant to their fellow diners.


I am glad that SDW's friend wasn't made to feel uncomfortable - but from some people's responses on here it seems likely that SDW's friend would have been made to feel thoroughly miserable if eating out with many people who have posted on this thread.


It saddens me to think that somebody would be made to feel unwelcome because they chose to eat different amounts from the rest of the group. It also makes me quite angry that there are people on this thread who think that those who want to eat less would be better off just staying at home.

I think you are looking for problems where there are none. In this instance SDW's friend did not really want to go but had done but had done so reluctantly, it was an ordeal. It is for many who suffer from ED's, they would rather not eat out. They are not unwelcome and I don't think that anyone on the thread has said that anyone with any other medical condition would be either. Life is about difference and making allowances for it, especially for things peope have no control over.

However, we also have personal responsibility, and that means not going to place x if you would really rather not and then behave such that it is obvious to others that you are not enjoying it, or not going to place x if you don't want to do what the majority want to do, or not going to place x if you will simply moan that there is nothing on the menu you fancy or can afford. We all make choices and often those choices affect others, reasonable people accept that and try to mitigate that effect.

I never accept invitations to eat Chinese because I simply don't like it, I could go and just pick at my food but I don't think that is fair to the others on the table. A colleague hates fish but she accepted an invitation to a restaurant that primarily served fish, she ate something else but it was obvious that she hated fish from the way she covered her mouth when the plates arrived at the table and looked with disgust at what was on the plate of the diner next to her. It made for a uncomfortable evening for those eating closest to her but she was oblivious to it.

Another colleague is strict Vegan and every time we eat out as a team she has her dishes specially ordered ( the organiser is run ragged sorting out options for her that are acceptable) and then she proceeds to moan about what she has been given, and worse, make comments if anyone dares have what she considers food which is "beyond the pale"; veal, lamb or duck. She only ever has one course as suddenly the options offered don't appeal, and so she sits with a face like thunder, glowering, as others tuck in.

I leave others to judge whether it is reasonable for those who have such strict limitations to accept invitations which appear unsuitable from the off, only to moan about it and reduce the enjoyment of others.