Skip to main content

You know what I'm talking about...

This thread is about one thing:

Your opinion of dipping etiquette.

I've had this discussion many times throughout my life, and the argument is "If you dip your steak in steak sauce, it's insulting to the chef." I think that's whack. Replace "steak" with "chicken finger" and "steak sauce" with "honey mustard" and who gets their feelings hurt? No one.

I'm big in to cooking and have worked in restaurants for many years.. I know guys who claim to have the greatest steaks in the world... By achieving this goal, they will spend 90 seconds pouring Dale's on their ribeyes, then let it marinade for an hour, then throw it on the grill. So then you sit down to eat, and "Hey, do you have any A-1?" someone may say... "WHAT?!?!?!?! HOW COULD YOU POSSIBLY NEED THAT?!?!?!?!!!" What if you asked for more Dale's? Isn't this only adding to their current "hand-crafted masterpiece"? People really will get insulted.

I think it's ignorance.

I grew up in a family that ate everything entirely too spicy for most people in the United States to consume. I remember being 12 years old and having friends stay over at our house, and they knew to bring their own food because whatever mom made for dinner, it was going to be too hot for them to eat. At the time, I felt bad... embarrassed, I suppose.. But now as an adult, I'm still guilty of the same thing. I want everything hotter. Could a chef be insulted by my enthusiasm for heat? That's my own personal preference, I mean no harm by asking for sriracha or tabasco, it's just who I am.
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Then I suppose I fall into the ignorance catagory....I feel highly insulted if someone asks for another sauce for my "perfectly wonderful steak"! My opinion is this....when invited to someone's home for a meal....DON"T ASK! If you are in your own home....do what you want to do. Surely, if I can purchase the steak and spend my time cooking it, you CAN tolerate it and eat it like I serve it! One more ignorant person I suppose.
quote:
Originally posted by Killen Lady:
Then I suppose I fall into the ignorance catagory....I feel highly insulted if someone asks for another sauce for my "perfectly wonderful steak"! My opinion is this....when invited to someone's home for a meal....DON"T ASK! If you are in your own home....do what you want to do. Surely, if I can purchase the steak and spend my time cooking it, you CAN tolerate it and eat it like I serve it! One more ignorant person I suppose.


My! MY! Aren't we proud of our culinary expertise! You have categorized yourself correctly.

Un-wad yer panties, KL. Not everyone's taste buds are tuned to the same frequencies as yours. I suppose you would be insulted if anyone asked for a little salt or pepper at your sanctified table. Are truly gratified if your guests "tolerate" the viands you put before them? Is that your goal--to achieve food tolerance? Good grief! A food Nazi!
quote:
Originally posted by Killen Lady:
Then I suppose I fall into the ignorance catagory....I feel highly insulted if someone asks for another sauce for my "perfectly wonderful steak"! My opinion is this....when invited to someone's home for a meal....DON"T ASK! If you are in your own home....do what you want to do. Surely, if I can purchase the steak and spend my time cooking it, you CAN tolerate it and eat it like I serve it! One more ignorant person I suppose.


You would not like to eat at my table. I am a good to excellent cook. I am not at all insulted by comments or requests, usually I will ask my guests how they like their steak or chop. The biggest thing is they are made welcome and all feel free to be comfortble. I apologize to none of them, if they don't like what I am serving I will offer them something else. They will not go away hungry or intimidated. You should be ashamed of yourself.
quote:
Originally posted by Killen Lady:
Then I suppose I fall into the ignorance catagory....I feel highly insulted if someone asks for another sauce for my "perfectly wonderful steak"! My opinion is this....when invited to someone's home for a meal....DON"T ASK! If you are in your own home....do what you want to do. Surely, if I can purchase the steak and spend my time cooking it, you CAN tolerate it and eat it like I serve it! One more ignorant person I suppose.


So I'm assuming when you have guests over, you never use the phrase "Make yourself at home".
quote:
Originally posted by interventor12:
I rather like herbed butter on my steaks. Using sauces is a hallmark of many cuisines.

Does anyone eat their burgers on a plain bun?


exactly! Who wrote this guide that says "It's ok to dip fried chicken and french fries, and to put sauce on your burger buns, but anything else is taboo."

Maybe it's about the breading... Next time I have steak with a stranger, I'm going to bring my own kaiser roll, and stuff it with the steak. Then, I can top it with anything I chose. That's normal behavior, right?

Killen Lady, What if you served steak with fries? I figure like most Americans, you think it's pretty customary to dip fries in ketchup... What if I squirted some ketchup on my plate and (let me stop, before we get in to steak and ketchup, I'm not going there, this is just an example) dipped a fry, then took a bite of steak that may have gotten dangerously close to the glob of ketchup next to it? Would you be offended then?

What if there were 12 people there? Would you hawk-eye everyone to monitor their dipping habits, and make note as to who to not invite next time?

I'm not saying this to be mean, or spiteful, I'm just saying that it's outdated thinking...
quote:
Originally posted by Killen Lady:
Then I suppose I fall into the ignorance catagory....I feel highly insulted if someone asks for another sauce for my "perfectly wonderful steak"! My opinion is this....when invited to someone's home for a meal....DON"T ASK! If you are in your own home....do what you want to do. Surely, if I can purchase the steak and spend my time cooking it, you CAN tolerate it and eat it like I serve it! One more ignorant person I suppose.


No, I wouldn't call you ignorant. But I wouldn't want to have a meal at your home.
Maybe your dinner guest doesn't think your steak is a "perfectly wonderful steak" & wants to add whatever to it. Not allowing them to asked is just rude.
I will begin with my apology. I never meant to offend or start an argument. I was only giving my opinion and I suppose I should have kept my mouth shut. I am not a regular "poster" on your forum and I was just trying to participate. I promise you that if you had dinner in my home that you would be welcomed and treated very nicely. If I were offended that you asked for something to dip your steak in, you would certainly never know I was offended. I am a really nice person and would never want anyone to feel unwelcomed in my home. I am so sorry that I left that opinion of me. Again, I apology for posting and would never want to hurt someone's feelings in my home or anywhere else. Please forgive me.
quote:
Originally posted by Killen Lady:
I will begin with my apology. I never meant to offend or start an argument. I was only giving my opinion and I suppose I should have kept my mouth shut. I am not a regular "poster" on your forum and I was just trying to participate. I promise you that if you had dinner in my home that you would be welcomed and treated very nicely. If I were offended that you asked for something to dip your steak in, you would certainly never know I was offended. I am a really nice person and would never want anyone to feel unwelcomed in my home. I am so sorry that I left that opinion of me. Again, I apology for posting and would never want to hurt someone's feelings in my home or anywhere else. Please forgive me.


Hey K-lady, you sound cool. My old lady taught me to eat what was set on the table unless you are asked if you need anything. Some of these people may not have had a cool old lady to teach them how to behave. I bet you cook an outstanding meal. I don't see where you owe any of these folks an apology but it is cool of you to be so nice.
As a guest, I eat whatever is offered and I'm appreciative of the hospitality.

As a host, I make sure that the meal is made to suit the taste of the guests first.

When I make pulled pork BBQ, it takes me at least 12 hours to just cook it. I make my own sauces, but the meat usually doesn't need any. However, if a guest wants to put ketchup on it, they are the guest and I'll hand them the bottle. They can put grape jelly on it for all I care. If I find out they don't like pork, I'll throw some chicken or vegetables on, no problem. My goal is for them to enjoy themselves and leave on a full stomach. The guest is like the customer, they are always right. Treat them right and you'll always have a full house for a party.
quote:
Originally posted by Bamacat:
My old lady taught me to eat what was set on the table unless you are asked if you need anything. Some of these people may not have had a cool old lady to teach them how to behave.


Reaching for the salt/pepper, asking for a sauce or whatever isn't what I would call bad behavior.
That's what makes this forum so interesting, we all have our own opinion. Some we agree with, some we don't. Wink
Everyone has their own opinion of what tastes good to them. My wife, (bless her heart), like strawberry jam or preserves with her mashed potatoes. You should see the reaction of waitresses in some restaurants when she asks for it. Does it hurt anyone?, i don't think so; but she enjoys it. I have had guests that thought mayonaise was made for everything; eggs, meat, beans, etc. Seemed gross to me but they asked for it. Serve whatever makes others happy.
quote:
Originally posted by semiannualchick:
quote:
Originally posted by Bamacat:
My old lady taught me to eat what was set on the table unless you are asked if you need anything. Some of these people may not have had a cool old lady to teach them how to behave.


Reaching for the salt/pepper, asking for a sauce or whatever isn't what I would call bad behavior.
That's what makes this forum so interesting, we all have our own opinion. Some we agree with, some we don't. Wink


That's cool.
killen lady, i don't get the impression a person would feel unwelcome in your home. i think like you, most people who were raised to think that a guest asking for condiments is rude, were also raised to keep that thought to themselves and to never make someone feel unwelcome. i was raised the same way.

i will say that the best steaks i have ever had didn't need sauces, but to each his own.

as far as salt and pepper, i was taught that is rude to use any before you tasted your food. if you wanted some after tasting, that was ok, but that it implied you didn't think much of the cook's seasoning ability if you just piled it on without tasting first. i think that is reasonable.

don't be discouraged from posting. folks probably tend to be a little more blunt on here than they would be to your face. don't take it personal, and wade on in here. we need more polite people posting.
The best steak (and probably the most expensive) I've ever had was a beef tenderloin that came with three sauces - all freshly made.

Generally, though, I would agree with hoss that the best steaks don't need any sauce, and certainly not a sauce from a jar or bottle.

If you put a sauce on one of my grilled/smoked sirloins, I would be offended, but I wouldn't let on. Don't plan on being invited back, though.
I just really don't get being offended by someone using sauce on your steaks. Sure, to you it may be perfect and not "need" anything. French fries don't "need" ketchup either. But I put ketchup on the best fries I have ever put in my mouth. That's just my personal taste. Same for my steaks. Sure, sometimes I may have a very good steak and decide not to dress it up. But to imply that using sauce is a reflection on the quality of the food is reading too much into it, in my opinion.

Add Reply

Post

Untitled Document
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×