Quote Originally Posted by PamNY View Post
I think Bleecker's reply is insightful. Nothing annoys me more than listening to people blather on about their digestive issues or their dislikes during a meal. I think a guest who behaves with discretion is a treasure -- to me that's far more important than whether someone eats my food.

Are these people you entertain regularly? If so, I'd ask (discreetly and privately) about the matter if a similar incident occurs. Otherwise, I would say nothing and forget about it.
We've eaten at each other's homes several times over the years and together at restaurants. Not that I make an attempt to memorize people's specific food avoidances in great detail. Who would,...unless it's your own parents, in-laws, your own childen/grandchildren? I draw the line..in terms of trying to remember people's food avoidances in great detail.

My mistake might have been just serving and dividing the food on everyone's plates in similar amounts. I should have asked before serving.

I agree PamNY, it's tiring to hear about someone's list of food dislikes at the dinner table....his 31-yr. old daughter does this. It's gotten to a point for special dinners where I tell him, my partner, he should at least have 1-2 dishes she likes and the rest it's up to her to have it served to her or not. He cooks at least half or more of the menu since he wants to give his "gift" to his daughter. A natural thing for any reasonable parent.

Believe me, her food dislike list is long, annoying..which includes alot of vegetables that we both like/have often. In such situations, I let him determine most of the menu which he enjoys doing anyway. Why frustrate myself?

Compare this against my mother...who only sees me ..maybe once or every 2-3 years since I live in another province. She just goes ahead and prepares whatever she thinks is healthy and tastes good to her, not to me. It's up to me to eat it if I want it. And I do because it genuinely is healthy cuisine, even though certain dishes are slightly boring..because she had reduced on salt (which is good), alot less spices than I would use. Ok, I'm eating out of guilt ..but it's healthy food, thank goodness.