DEAR HARRIETTE: My co-workers and I have decided to be healthier and bring a potluck-style lunch for everyone on Wednesdays as opposed to eating fast food. Most of these lunches have been great, and they allow us to see what our co-workers eat at home. One of my co-workers brings hongeo, a fermented skate fish dish from Korea. This dish is on lists of the smelliest foods in the world -- I did my research! No one ever eats it, and it creates a general revulsion around the entire event, which used to be pleasant. My co-worker does not seem to care that her contribution turns off everyone to the idea of eating. It seems to give her a pass to eat all of the other food while not worrying if hers will be gone. Drawing rules around this event would single her out, but this stench is impossible to be around. Should I just send out a potluck lunch email with some guidelines? -- Hating Hongeo, Syracuse, New York
DEAR HATING HONGEO: Why not start by speaking directly to your co-worker? Talk to her privately and tell her that the delicacy that she has been bringing has not been a group favorite. Thank her for her generosity as you ask her if she would consider bringing something that is less pungent. Explain that you have observed that people are not eating it and that the dish's strong smell overtakes the rest of the food.
If that does not work, you may send a group email about the potluck asking participants to vary what they bring so that the group can try other food choices that are part of their repertoire. If she continues to bring hongeo, the group may need to speak and ask her to stop.
How about when you start crap like this, this is a possibility.
And how many have time to bring a dish on Wednesdays?
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
The Korean lady probably read this letter and is LHAO. She doesn't like pot luck and is bringing this dish as punishment!
That is what I thought. Because if I brought a dish to potluck & nobody touched it I would be embarrassed & never bring that particular dish again. I certainly would not bring it every week. Heck even if everybody liked what I brought I'd still change it up.
We have a large group in Indian's in our office and some of the food is very aromatic, but I've never smelled anything gross. I usually want to dig in.
The Army thought these buried pots of fermenting cabbage were land mines.
I remember that one.
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A flock of flirting flamingos is pure, passionate, pink pandemonium-a frenetic flamingle-mangle-a discordant discotheque of delirious dancing, flamboyant feathers, and flamingo lingo.
In the MASH episode it was kimchee, not fish though, very different, though cabbage doesn't smell that great either. I tend to think it is intentional.
Karl has a good point about potlucks not necessarily being healthier than fast food, unless that was part of the guidelines of their little potluck.
In the MASH episode it was kimchee, not fish though, very different, though cabbage doesn't smell that great either. I tend to think it is intentional.
Karl has a good point about potlucks not necessarily being healthier than fast food, unless that was part of the guidelines of their little potluck.
Kimchee is actually good.
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LawyerLady
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