Do your friends' culinary tastes frustrate you??

[gobluem82]

I was assigned to bring side dishes to our neighborhood Fathers' Day picnic this weekend. Looking through all of my cookbooks and magazines for ideas, I found tons of things that I would love, but that my neighbors would probably not eat. They are more the potato salad type, and things like bulghur or curry powder don't go over well. But I always find it frustrating, since big neighborhood gatherings are a great place to try out recipes like this. Do you run into the same problem, and if so, what do you do?

P.S. I think I'm going to make the Spring Tortellini Salad (sans shrimp) and a Corn, Cumin and Red Pepper salad and take my chances.

[kima]

I say go for it. Neither of those dishes are terribly exotic. Many people are quite willing to try something new. The only thing I won't foist on most people is tofu. The negative response to eat by "conservative" eaters is such that they won't give it a chance.
I like to know I am helping people think beyond their own little world. It is worth taking a chance!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[suziking]

gobluem82 -

I was curious - do people just not eat it or do they complain? I hate bringing something to a picnic and have no one touch it! My dh will at least take a big spoonful!

[brendat4]

When I was working in an office we always brought in food for people's birthdays. Now while I never got terribly exotic, I did always make something from scratch instead of stopping by the donut shop on the way in or bringing in some other store-bought item (which most did). I always told them they were my guinea pigs and most were adventuresome enough to try it. Lots of times I wouldn't tell them exactly what was in something until AFTER they tried it--most went along. I found some of my favorite dishes to make that way. I think as long as you don't mind bringing home what doesn't get eaten (and don't get your feelings hurt), I say go for it! I am always looking for an opportunity to try new recipes so this is a perfect one for you.

It's funny because my neighbors (who don't cook either) just had a new baby and I brought over dinner for them the other day. They went on and on about how nice that was and I told them I enjoy cooking so this was just a perfect excuse for me to do so! I think part of your experimentation is in the way you approach it too! Have fun!

Brenda

[alli]

I agree, it is how you approach it. Sometimes it helps to put a little card by the dish indicating what it is, that easies the question of "what is that" and a lot of people will try a small portion of it.

[gobluem82]

Suziking,
No, no one ever complains (to my face anyway!!), and to be honest, I don't always notice who takes a big helping or who doesn't. When I see them always bring the tried-and-true dishes, though, I get a little nervous. They all know I really like to cook, so hopefully they take it in stride.

[Don]

Hi Bluem82,
I can identify with you entirely. When my office goes out for lunch, it's always a diner, a pub, or "upscale" food that strikes me as overpriced and seriously underspiced and uninspiring. Two of us in the group of 22 once suggested a Chinese, Indian, Korean, or Mexican restaurant, and we were soundly told by our fellow co-workers that they would not eat that "stuff," even though they couldn't tell us what it would be. In fact, last Summer I did a lot of traveling with a co-worker and warned her that she had better be an adventurous eater or we would be eating separately. She tried everything, and much to her surprise, loved all of the food--from Dominican to Korean. Now she is getting the same grief from her fiance that she used to give me. (Her absolute favorite was Korean barbecue, and he wohn't hear of it!) I think it's a mental thing. If people will try something different, they often find that they like it. Still, it's not unusual to find people who won't even taste something new. Good luck.

[This message has been edited by Don (edited 06-17-2001).]

[SQ]

I try to bring something pleasing to the eye and don't really worry if the ingredients are slightly off-standard. My newest food to make for parties is the CL Antipasto Bowl from 12/00 or 11/00. It is so colorful, w/red peppers, black olives, green asparagus...

If it's leftover, that's okay too. Then my family and I can polish off the leftovers! And maybe we will have introduced some people to new flavors!

[suziking]

Bluem82 -

I say cook something that might expand their taste a little bit. My mom was never a big cook and it took a couple of boyfriends and their moms to expand my tastes a little bit for me to try something other than the bland potatoe salad and jello salad (of course with those yummi things floating in it!)

They might really appreciate it! If not - they might just see you as a food snob - but hey - you have a big support group right here!!!

Good luck!

PS I love your idea Alli with card - that's great!