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We don't even have to guess if you've ever been served food at someone's home – we know you did, we all have. At the end of the day, food and its importance in social interactions is something that unites most of the cultures around the world.
At the same time, it can not only build those social bridges, but destroy them too. Especially, when the served food misses the mark – just like it did in the stories from today's list.
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#2
Birthday party when I was like 8. The dad had made a bunch of pizzas, we were all excited when he started listing them off - tuna with pineapple, tuna with pepperoni, tuna with olives, everything tuna
#3
My german friend invited me for dinner and served me overcooked spaghetti with ketchup and corn… (im italian)
When you go to someone’s house, it isn’t uncommon for you to be served food by them. In fact, food is typically served not only for sustenance, but it also plays a major part in social dynamics, a guest's experience, and even in creating lasting memories. So, essentially, it’s a pretty important thing a host does when a guest comes over, even if it doesn’t seem like it.
Food can create a welcoming atmosphere for a guest and show the host’s politeness. It can foster social interactions, as it can be a natural conversation starter and icebreaker. For instance, asking the host about how they prepared the meal, what’s in it, whether it has any sentimental or other value, and things like that.
#4
my ex friend say she made tuna pasta bake. it was baked with pasta, tuna, water and dreams. no seasoning in sight. I asked for vegetables and she opened a can of corn and gave me 3
#6
pasta and sauce, normal right? no, i had a bite, looked up at my friend she says "we like it still crunchy but like half cooked" i still dont think that pasta on my plate had even seen a drop of water
It can also set the tone for the whole event, like creating a fiesta vibe with Mexican cuisine, making a sophisticated evening with fancy cocktails, or inspiring a nostalgic mood with meals from your childhood or home country.
Well, we think you get the gist – the food during any event, even if it's the most basic friend hangout, usually plays a bigger role than just mere nourishment.
#7
Exchange in America. They made batch of food the day I arrived we ate the same thing warmed up for A MONTH until I had to leave because I couldnt take all of it anymore (there was more)
#8
My friends mum put pesto, chicken, lamb, beef, fish and tripe into one pot and served it to me with an egg.
#9
my grandma made me try her “broccoli casserole” and it was watery mayo with uncooked broccoli and soggy bacon bits i was trying so hard to be nice but i was gagging like a cat that’s about to throw up
After all, besides all of the mentioned significances, it's no secret that food carries a lot of cultural importance. It's considered a part of intangible cultural heritage. From traditional recipes to cooking techniques to dining etiquette – it all can reflect the values and beliefs of different cultural communities.
Interestingly, The UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage list even includes quite a lot of food-related customs. For example, the culture of Ukrainian borscht cooking; the Korean practice of making and sharing kimchi (known as Kimjang), or Arabic coffee being as a symbol of generosity in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE.
#10
girlie was defrosting the chicken and wiped the bl00d off the counter with her dish towel that she later used for drying the dishes 😀
#12
They served me with a glass of pina colada and it tasted very weird. I look inside the metal straw and it was full of mold 🙂
And so, since food carries such a big importance in many areas of our lives, it is rather easy to mess things up and prevent it from fulfilling its many purposes.
Here’s where this meme comes to mind: “You can’t eat at everybody’s house.” It was a phrase that went viral on various social media platforms, with people sharing their takes or jokes about why it’s “dangerous” to eat at other people’s homes.
Whether it’s because they simply don’t know how to prepare food, or they do it in questionable manners, with questionable products.
#13
Sausage casserole but pretty much boiled the sausages and once it had a bone in the sausage. Scarred me for life.
#14
raw eggs that she called “very runny” scrambled eggs. the eggs were on the pan for 10 seconds and the pan was warm, not hot.
#15
spaghetti but instead of sauce it was strawberry ice cream. backstory=mum ate it when pregnant and decided she liked it, so it became their norm. I can't stress enough how much I don't recommend it
Or it’s because you never really know their cleanliness levels – they might be overly frugal, like this dude, and cross any hygiene common sense levels. They also might interfere with food preparation, which isn’t that cute when you think about the fact that either of them tends to be rather unclean beings.
Well, basically, you can find a plethora of reasons why eating at someone’s place might not be the best idea out there. Just take a look at today’s list – it will give a head start on that.
Have you ever been served something borderline traumatizing at someone’s home? Please, share your stories.
#17
my sister went for dinner at her Pakistani friends house and came back slightly disappointed cos they made Chicken Nuggets & chips instead of a Curry 😅 ✨
#18
Don't know the name but it was bananas rolled in mayo and then rolled in chopped peanuts and I think she baked them briefly? 😱
#21
stayed over at a friends house when I was 10 and his mum made us pasta..with milk. not sauce, the sauce was milk. I now have an irrational hatred of pasta❤️
#22
i was drinking water and after few seconds i said "why is there crunch?" i opened it as i see a millions of ants ALIVE..i repeat..ALIVEE😭
#24
Served us noodles, looked closely and there were worms. And by worms I mean FULL OF WORMS. White small wiggly worms.
#25
so it is a cultural thing so i’m not gonna be disrespectful, i used to live near a russian community and they had me straight up eating COW BRAIN JELLO…..it’s exactly what you can imagine(the jello was a greyish green color)
#26
She made fish fingers but cooked them in oil so much and they were rock solid frozen in middle but drenched in oil on outside I had to take a drink every little bite
#27
A guy invited me around to his for dinner, he made tortellini and covered it in ketchup… proceeded to eat all of it himself and not offer me any…
#28
So I always eat what I am offered and grateful for every meal but once when I was around 10, I was invited over for dinner at a friends house and it was banana stuffed raw fish. 🙂
#29
at a friend's and her mum always made fish pie, it was beyond vile, and she used cornflakes for the breading, and I had to eat it or I won't get pudding, and as a 10yro, ofcourse I want pudding?
#30
Went to a friend's house and her mother served up uncooked chicken nuggets. That's how they ate them 😩
#32
she said it was stew, it was cold water with undercooked pieces of chicken and beef, hard potatoes and carrots. the water was ice cold and clear, no seasoning. literally toilet water
#33
she called "garlic bread" a normal buttered piece of toast with seasoning garlic granules on top
#36
She made Nutella on toast for breakfast, but she put butter on before the Nutella, and didn’t even put it on a plate
What do you think ?
Lousha 4 months ago
My worst "culinary experience" was actually not even food. When I was very little, we visited some relatives in a rural area, and I went over to a neighbour who was also a distant relative, where lots of other small kids gathered. We were outside and the mom brought out a tray full of plastic cups, with a plastic straw in each. I grabbed mine, and from its smell I thought it was ginger ale. I found it strange that the end of the straw was cut in four places, and the little slits folded out, but didn't give much thought to it. I took a big mouthful. It was horrible, but I was a polite child, so with a lot of effort I managed to swallow it, then I coughed for a good while. It was water with dishwashing liquid, so we could blow bubbles. I was a city kid, never seen homemade bubble making stuff, only the store kind with a little wand that had a hole.
Lousha 4 months ago
My worst "culinary experience" was actually not even food. When I was very little, we visited some relatives in a rural area, and I went over to a neighbour who was also a distant relative, where lots of other small kids gathered. We were outside and the mom brought out a tray full of plastic cups, with a plastic straw in each. I grabbed mine, and from its smell I thought it was ginger ale. I found it strange that the end of the straw was cut in four places, and the little slits folded out, but didn't give much thought to it. I took a big mouthful. It was horrible, but I was a polite child, so with a lot of effort I managed to swallow it, then I coughed for a good while. It was water with dishwashing liquid, so we could blow bubbles. I was a city kid, never seen homemade bubble making stuff, only the store kind with a little wand that had a hole.
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