DEAR ABBY: We took my wealthy daughter, husband and their four children to dinner at a very nice restaurant. We insisted on paying. In fact, we even restricted what we ordered so they could each have an expensive dish that they only picked at.
When it was over and it was obvious that they weren't taking home any leftovers, I started to motion to our waitress to ask for take-home boxes so my wife and I could take all of their uneaten food. My wife shot me the "don't you dare!" look, so all of it wound up in a dumpster. Needless to say, it became an issue. Was I wrong to want to take home their uneaten meals? -- PEEVED IN PENNSYLVANIA
DEAR PEEVED: Not as far as I'm concerned. Because your daughter and her family didn't like what they ordered -- and you were footing the bill -- there was no breach of etiquette in asking for a box for the leftovers.
Bah humbug. I have brought home leftovers and my kids have eaten it as well as vice versa. Perhaps wife wouldnt eat it, and that is fine... but that shouldn't mean it is off limits to ANYone else eating it.
Oh I dont think there is anything wrong with that. If it icks you out, it icks you out. I just dont get why wife would forbid someone ELSE from having a go at the leftovers.
I wouldn't want someone else's half-eaten food, unless it belonged to my children, or maybe my grandchildren. Anyone else, nope. But there's no "ick" factor when it comes to your own kids, IMO. A lot of times, I'll order small because I know my kids won't finish, so I know I can share theirs.
I'd have taken it. I take my bff's leftovers home almost weekly. She doesn't usually want to be bothered & I always take mine so I just add hers to my box. I wouldn't take a stranger's leftovers but generally anyone I like well enough to break bread with I have no problem with germs.
I think the husbands problem is he didn't want to look cheap or poor. He mentions his "wealthy" daughter and says that he and his wife limited what they ordered to save money. He thought taking home the left overs would make them look bad
When I lived with them, I always took my left overs home to my brother-in-law. I'm not a big fan of left overs, so they would go to waste with just me. But he would gladly take them for lunch. My friends would give me a strange look when I said they were for him. But I never cared.
I think the husbands problem is he didn't want to look cheap or poor. He mentions his "wealthy" daughter and says that he and his wife limited what they ordered to save money. He thought taking home the left overs would make them look bad
I agree with this. He didn't want to look destitute. Personally, I think it's a waste to let food go.
When I lived with them, I always took my left overs home to my brother-in-law. I'm not a big fan of left overs, so they would go to waste with just me. But he would gladly take them for lunch. My friends would give me a strange look when I said they were for him. But I never cared.
I think the husbands problem is he didn't want to look cheap or poor. He mentions his "wealthy" daughter and says that he and his wife limited what they ordered to save money. He thought taking home the left overs would make them look bad
I agree with this. He didn't want to look destitute. Personally, I think it's a waste to let food go.
He didn't seem to care. It was the wife that had a problem with the leftovers.
Right. It was the wife who shot daggers. Well, see nothing wrong with leftovers. If it was inappropriate, restaurants wouldn't have containers specially made for leftovers.
There was a homeless gentleman I passed every day between the subway and the bus. I noticed one day that he had several "to-go" containers next to him; I asked if someone donated them to him, and he replied that he LOVED getting left-overs. I bought a whole sleeve of "to-go" boxes, and dropped off a meal to him every morning on my way to work. On the way home, he'd always make a comment about how much he enjoyed the "xyz" that I had given him.
I think the wife in the OP was uncomfortable with taking the leftovers in front of her (apparently) well-to-do children. We as Americans waste sooooo much food. We'd be better off if restaurants scaled back on the size of the portions they serve. Less waste, and less obesity.
I gave my leftovers to homeless people, too. When I worked in L.A., if I were walking back to my office and saw one, I'd give it and tell them if they knew anyone who was hungry, to please pass it along. The food was always accepted with tear filled eyes.
There was a homeless gentleman I passed every day between the subway and the bus. I noticed one day that he had several "to-go" containers next to him; I asked if someone donated them to him, and he replied that he LOVED getting left-overs. I bought a whole sleeve of "to-go" boxes, and dropped off a meal to him every morning on my way to work. On the way home, he'd always make a comment about how much he enjoyed the "xyz" that I had given him.
I think the wife in the OP was uncomfortable with taking the leftovers in front of her (apparently) well-to-do children. We as Americans waste sooooo much food. We'd be better off if restaurants scaled back on the size of the portions they serve. Less waste, and less obesity.
Although, there are times when I KNOW I'm not going to eat all that crazy amount of food they set in front of me, and I'll ask for a to-go box immediately and put half in it before I even start eating.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
Although, there are times when I KNOW I'm not going to eat all that crazy amount of food they set in front of me, and I'll ask for a to-go box immediately and put half in it before I even start eating.
That is an old Weight Watchers trick for portion control too.
I have given my leftovers to the homeless when approached. I wondered if that was weird.
I've given my leftover half a sandwich, buy not anything I actually ate directly out of, like a pasta dish.
That was my thinking after I gave it away since it was a dish I had eaten out of. But, if he is one to look through trash cans later for food I am sure he prefers it on a more direct path.
I always take leftovers home. I eat very little at a time, and throwing away food is criminal in my book.
I'll even take other peoples' leftovers home to feed all the critters.....the feral cats, the raccoons, and the skunks.
Everyone is always hungry.
I always take leftovers home. I eat very little at a time, and throwing away food is criminal in my book. I'll even take other peoples' leftovers home to feed all the critters.....the feral cats, the raccoons, and the skunks. Everyone is always hungry.
Depending on the leftovers I feed them to my stray.
So much food is thrown away in this country. There really isn't a valid reason for anyone to be hungry.
We bring food home if it isn't finished.
And we have been known to gather the bits of everyone's plates for the dog.
It was a pride issue for the wife.
She was putting on airs.
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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.
Well, if you can't afford it, you can't afford it.
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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.
These were her parents and they raised her. I'm pretty sure she has an idea of how they "normally" eat out. There was no reason to take them someplace they couldn't afford when there are plenty of places I'm sure they could have.
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LawyerLady
I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.
I HATE HATE HATE to dine out with people like the LW.
He' thinks he's being magnanimous by ordering the side salad so everyone else could order an expensive meal--but all that means is that his cheapness is shining through and is literally suffocating.
They can afford to dine out, themselves. His "insisting" on paying--and then making his own order reflect the fact that either he's cheap or he truly couldn't afford that venue was VERY awkward.
It doesn't say how old the kids were--but a LOT of kids often "pick" at meals. They only truly like to eat at McDonald's.
My guess here is that the LW took them to Applebee's or Chipotle and thinks that's "expensive" fine dining.
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I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right.
Well, I could agree with you--but then we'd both be wrong.
I HATE HATE HATE to dine out with people like the LW.
He' thinks he's being magnanimous by ordering the side salad so everyone else could order an expensive meal--but all that means is that his cheapness is shining through and is literally suffocating.
They can afford to dine out, themselves. His "insisting" on paying--and then making his own order reflect the fact that either he's cheap or he truly couldn't afford that venue was VERY awkward.
It doesn't say how old the kids were--but a LOT of kids often "pick" at meals. They only truly like to eat at McDonald's.
My guess here is that the LW took them to Applebee's or Chipotle and thinks that's "expensive" fine dining.
The LW said the daughter was wealthy.
So, unless it was a kid with a VERY generous Tooth Fairy, you're barking up the wrong tree.
