Etiquette Tuesday: Pick One

[ 0 ] April 17, 2012 | Johnna

©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood

Let me start this week’s etiquette tip with this statement: it is OK to be picky but there is a line that should be drawn. Recently I went to a restaurant which is primarily full of stop and go traffic i.e. mostly take-out orders. While I was making my order (*buffet selections), I overheard one of the other patrons asking one of the waiters whether a dish had an oil in it that the patron was allergic to. After it became clear that the waiter was unsure whether it truly did not contain the allergic oil, the patron continued to push her by stating “are you sure it has the oil???”. By this point, I was annoyed and I was not the one waiting on her.

My annoyance comes from the fact that there were tons of other options (*it was a buffet!) and if you are that allergic, why even chance having a reaction from a fly by night food bar. Most of the selections on a buffet menu are not hand crafted with that sort of detail, my impression has always been take a chance at life when I indulge in these things. Most of the things that they offer have all kinds of ingredients that they may omit from memory because of the type of production that is associated with buffet menus. On the other hand I understand all restaurants should keep track of all the ingredients that they are serving in each dish.

Picky eaters this week is for you: It’s OK to be choosy but when does it stop??

Tags: dining etiquette, Etiquette Tuesday

Category: Etiquette Tuesday

About the Author (Author Profile)

Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.