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Thursday, July 17, 2008
What do you cook for picky grownups?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Every year for her school auction my friend Mary offers to prepare a dinner for four as a donation. She looks forward to creating an impressive themed meal for some lucky winner.
This year she contacted the item’s purchaser to go over potential meals, suggesting a Tuscan feast or perhaps a Greek adventure. She was a little disconcerted when her enthusiasm was met with silence. Hesitantly the woman confessed she didn’t really eat beef or pork…or seafood. Mary countered with chicken. Turns out she wasn’t crazy about it. “Vegetarian lasagna?” Mary questioned. Guess what, she didn’t really like vegetables either.
Although Mary was rendered virtually speechless, they finally agreed on stuffed shells with ground turkey. Mary confessed her disappointment to me later. She explained the reason she offered these meals is because she likes the challenge of creating an unusual and special meal, not something so basic that it borders on boring. She wondered why the family had even bought this item when it was clear they took so little pleasure in what they ate.
I had to agree that it is a discouraging to cook for someone who viewed the dining experience as purely perfunctory. Have you ever invited someone over who seemed to like nothing? What did you make?
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