Was I being too critical????

nrvbrd Posted: Jan 29, 2004 10:44 AM

Was I being too critical????

I am the first to admit I am the most critical person and I am so trying to change that.

Well Dh and I went to a friend's house for dinner. It was actually his best friend and the friend's girlfriend.

They prepared dinner for us and we had a nice evening. Well they put out the salad to start along with the salad plates. They only had one type of dressing- french which I really do not like. So I did not eat salad. They asked me why I was not eating and I politely told them that I do not like french. They aplogized and said that was all they had- so I said no problem.

Of course I was thinking to myself why would you only have one type of dressing instead of a variety to give people options. My friend said I was mean and critical and I should be grateful to be invited- which I am. I guess I am the type of person that likes to go above and beyond for my guests- always covering bases.

Thoughts????

Sassyz75 Posted: Jan 29, 2004 10:46 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

When I serve salad to people I actually dress it- so people don't have a choice... but I use olive oil, vinegar and spices...

But I hate french too- yuck-

Maybe those people are just clueless?

KerrC Posted: Jan 29, 2004 10:48 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

I am not sure...I wouldn't have been to upset about it. I mean if that is what they have to offer then it shouldn't have been a big deal.

Everyone is different in the way they entertain.

Latina511 Posted: Jan 29, 2004 10:50 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

Posted by Sassyz75

When I serve salad to people I actually dress it- so people don't have a choice... but I use olive oil, vinegar and spices...

But I hate french too- yuck-

Maybe those people are just clueless?

I do the same.

K- I know what you mean. Usually I will put out what I have and some oil and a few types of vinegar for them to use. Those that don't like what I have will usually use the O&V.

ChristineC68 Posted: Jan 29, 2004 10:51 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

That's always a risk when you go to someone's house. There's always the possibility you will be served something you don't like.

I don't think you were rude not to eat the salad.

It could have been an oversight, not something I would read too deeply into. I don't have a huge selection of dressing in my house if someone were to come over for dinner and I couldn't really begin to guess what everyone likes.

Mary Posted: Jan 29, 2004 10:51 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

I don't understand why your friend said something to you. If you do not like something, why would he expect you to eat it?

P.S. Last time I went to my in-laws, they had an array of salad dressings but they were all expired by about 6 months.

nrvbrd Posted: Jan 29, 2004 10:52 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

Posted by Latina511

Posted by Sassyz75

When I serve salad to people I actually dress it- so people don't have a choice... but I use olive oil, vinegar and spices...

But I hate french too- yuck-

Maybe those people are just clueless?

I do the same.

K- I know what you mean. Usually I will put out what I have and some oil and a few types of vinegar for them to use. Those that don't like what I have will usually use the O&V.

To me Oil and vinegar is a staple because alot of people eat that. I would have had that along with whatever else I had.

TwoBugs Posted: Jan 29, 2004 10:54 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

I hate french too, but I'm overly sensitive to other peoples' feelings, so I would have eaten the salad.

Then on the car ride home, I would have bi***ed to FH about how nasty the salad was.

nrvbrd Posted: Jan 29, 2004 10:55 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

Posted by Mary

I don't understand why your friend said something to you. If you do not like something, why would he expect you to eat it?

this was a different friend I was talking to after the fact.

alina Posted: Jan 29, 2004 11:14 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

I usually don't dress up salads b/c I don't like most salad dressings. But we do have some vinegars/olive oils for people do you. The only salad dressing I have is blue cheese. And I don't think I would go out and buy an extra bottle just for the guests.

On the flip side, when I do make salads, I put a lot of 'stuff' in them, so most of the time you don't really need a dressing anyway.

Mary Posted: Jan 29, 2004 11:21 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

Posted by nrvbrd

Posted by Mary

I don't understand why your friend said something to you. If you do not like something, why would he expect you to eat it?

this was a different friend I was talking to after the fact.

Oops, my bad. I still don't think it is a big deal that you didn't eat the salad. I would never expect my guests to eat something they did not like.

nrvbrd Posted: Jan 29, 2004 11:21 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

Posted by alina

I usually don't dress up salads b/c I don't like most salad dressings. But we do have some vinegars/olive oils for people do you. The only salad dressing I have is blue cheese. And I don't think I would go out and buy an extra bottle just for the guests.

On the flip side, when I do make salads, I put a lot of 'stuff' in them, so most of the time you don't really need a dressing anyway.

See, now I would buy a couple of small bottles if I knew I were having guests- I know I am over the top, but I like to go above and beyond for my guests.

MarcellaBella Posted: Jan 29, 2004 11:24 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

I always have a variety.. You have to respect the fact that your guests may not have the same tastes as you..

Also, if you don't want to offer a variety, then don't make a big stink about it when you turn away the food nicely.. It's almost as though they knew what they did was stupid and are upsetting at you rather at themselves./

HearzBellz Posted: Jan 29, 2004 11:25 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

French dressing is a very distinct taste & texture.... I would ahve served at the very least an oil & vinegar.

PLUS, you did not act all....'Why is there only french?' She asked you & you gave her an honest answer, I do not know how this could be construed as mean or critical.

alina Posted: Jan 29, 2004 11:46 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

Posted by nrvbrd

Posted by alina

I usually don't dress up salads b/c I don't like most salad dressings. But we do have some vinegars/olive oils for people do you. The only salad dressing I have is blue cheese. And I don't think I would go out and buy an extra bottle just for the guests.

On the flip side, when I do make salads, I put a lot of 'stuff' in them, so most of the time you don't really need a dressing anyway.

See, now I would buy a couple of small bottles if I knew I were having guests- I know I am over the top, but I like to go above and beyond for my guests.

I wouldn't buy the bottles b/c I wouldn't know what to do with them afterwords (we don't host dinner frequently). Salad dressings expire quickly and its not like you're going to use it all up in one shot.

Becky Posted: Jan 29, 2004 11:49 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

I don't think you were being too critical. Its not like you said anything to your hosts. A lot of people don't like French, so I am suprised that was your only choice. I usually like to have Ranch, Ceasar and Italian on hand, since most people choose one of those anyway.

NovemberSue Posted: Jan 29, 2004 11:50 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

I don't think you were mean. They should have at least offered you oil and vinegar.
If I went to someone's house and they put out ranch dressing or blue cheese, I wouldn't have eat it. When they asked you why you weren't eating, I think you were very polite.

Jenn P Posted: Jan 29, 2004 11:55 AM

Re: Was I being too critical????

While I, too, would be sure to have a greater selection, everyone is different and like Christine said, maybe it was just an oversight. It doesn't sound like they were offended or made a big deal over it so I would just forget about it.

yabbobay Posted: Jan 29, 2004 12:09 PM

Re: Was I being too critical????

Posted by ChristineC68

That's always a risk when you go to someone's house. There's always the possibility you will be served something you don't like.

I don't think you were rude not to eat the salad.

It could have been an oversight, not something I would read too deeply into. I don't have a huge selection of dressing in my house if someone were to come over for dinner and I couldn't really begin to guess what everyone likes.

I agree...I don't think you were rude for not eating the salad...but I don't think the friends were rude for not having a variety of dressings...