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#Post#: 15248--------------------------------------------------
How In-salt-ing
DIR By: NFPwife
Date: October 3, 2018, 10:58 am
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Recently, I asked for salt at a restaurant and was told, "You
haven't even tasted it! You don't know if you need it!" in a
manner that implied I was insulting all the staff and at least
three generations of their families.
While that was, technically, true. I eat at this restaurant
often. I want salt. Also, medically, I have low blood pressure
and have been told to increase my salt intake from several
medical professionals. So, in addition to "wanting" it, I really
do "need" it. Since I was directed to increase my intake 20
years ago, I've definitely developed a taste for it, too.
In the instances where I do ask for salt, there's generally some
sort of "feedback" about it. Whether it's a sigh, eyeroll, or a
muttered comment when the person walks away. On one of the
Distractify articles on social media titled "Worst Patrons
Servers Encounter" asking for salt was listed not only in the
article, but from servers in the comments.
Has anyone else experienced this? My bottom line is I want,
need, and like salt and I'd prefer to get it without a side of
flak. My asking isn't meant to be an insult and none should be
interpreted. I've just been ignoring the PA gestures and, in my
first example, just made the request again. (I used to JADE and
explain the whole medical thing. I don't do that anymore.)
#Post#: 15250--------------------------------------------------
Re: How In-salt-ing
DIR By: Pattycake
Date: October 3, 2018, 11:11 am
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Why don't you mention it (or send an email or something) to the
manager? Tell him that people don't need a lecture every time
they ask for salt, regardless of what the waiter thinks, and
that you and probably others do have a reason for asking for it.
It's no different from listening to someone who tells them they
have an allergy or even just a dislike for something in the
dish, which they shouldn't get flak from the waiter for either.
#Post#: 15251--------------------------------------------------
Re: How In-salt-ing
DIR By: lmyrs
Date: October 3, 2018, 11:12 am
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Salting your food before tasting it is rude. I don't think a lot
of people care, but some people do.
That said, you have your reasons for knowing that you will want
salt. To do it politely, take a quick taste, and ask for salt.
They may still get PA, but that's not your problem to solve or
care about. No explanation needed. If it's problematic at a
particular place and you don't want to deal with it, go
somewhere else. Explanations aren't going to make a difference.
#Post#: 15254--------------------------------------------------
Re: How In-salt-ing
DIR By: NFPwife
Date: October 3, 2018, 11:29 am
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--- Quote from: lmyrs link ---
>
> Salting your food before tasting it is rude. I don't think a
lot of people care, but some people do.
>
> That said, you have your reasons for knowing that you will
want salt. To do it politely, take a quick taste, and ask for
salt. They may still get PA, but that's not your problem to
solve or care about. No explanation needed. If it's problematic
at a particular place and you don't want to deal with it, go
somewhere else. Explanations aren't going to make a difference.
>
--- End Quote ---
I think I generally taste before asking at sit down restaurants.
For the restaurant in my post, it's fast casual, they don't have
salt out, and I didn't want to do the dance of sitting down,
tasting and going back up to ask.
I think I will send an email. I have the manager's e-mail
because he was very helpful when I was doing the Whole Life
Challenge on helping me find compliant options.
#Post#: 15255--------------------------------------------------
Re: How In-salt-ing
DIR By: Aleko
Date: October 3, 2018, 11:37 am
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The late great Terry Pratchett noticed that many people on being
handed food will quite automatically grab the salt and pepper
and add some, even though they haven't tried it and so haven't
the faintest idea how salty and peppery the dish already is. He
invented a word for this tic: autocondimenting. And yes, you
have to appreciate how exasperating that is for cooks who have
carefully seasoned their creation just so.
However:
(a) there are people like NFPwife who actually need more salt
than normal, or just like need more salt than normal. (Now that
restaurants, shops and manufacturers are being exhorted here in
the UK to cut down on the salt content of their merchandise, I
can be 99% certain that anything like a tomato salad or an egg
sandwich is going to be under-salted for my taste).
(b) Chefs and waiters need to get over themselves. They may be
artists, but we're the ones buying the food and if we want more
salt in it, we want more salt.
#Post#: 15259--------------------------------------------------
Re: How In-salt-ing
DIR By: Rose Red
Date: October 3, 2018, 12:40 pm
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I know people who put hot sauce or soy sauce on almost
everything. It's not because the original dish is bland but
because they like the taste no matter how spicy or salty it
already was. So I'm not offended even for my homemade food.
Personally, I would taste a small bite first since I've been
surprised by extra saltiness in the past. Like they forgot they
already salted it and put it in again. :P
In your shoes, I'd keep a small sealable salt shaker or salt
packets in my handbag so I won't have to bother asking. Snag a
few packets from fast food. Not that you should if you don't
want, it's just what I'd do.
#Post#: 15261--------------------------------------------------
Re: How In-salt-ing
DIR By: JeanFromBNA
Date: October 3, 2018, 12:44 pm
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Commenting on how someone eats their food is rude. I would
definitely say something to management, if you can't fend them
off with the icy glare of death.
#Post#: 15262--------------------------------------------------
Re: How In-salt-ing
DIR By: JeanFromBNA
Date: October 3, 2018, 12:47 pm
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--- Quote from: lmyrs link ---
>
> Salting your food before tasting it is rude. I don't think a
lot of people care, but some people do.
>
> That said, you have your reasons for knowing that you will
want salt. To do it politely, take a quick taste, and ask for
salt. They may still get PA, but that's not your problem to
solve or care about. No explanation needed. If it's problematic
at a particular place and you don't want to deal with it, go
somewhere else. Explanations aren't going to make a difference.
>
--- End Quote ---
It's rude if you're at someone's home, or are someone's guest.
It's not rude in a commercial establishment where you have paid
for the food.
#Post#: 15263--------------------------------------------------
Re: How In-salt-ing
DIR By: lowspark
Date: October 3, 2018, 12:55 pm
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--- Quote from: JeanFromBNA link ---
>
> [quote author=lmyrs link=topic=720.msg15251#msg15251
date=1538583155]
> Salting your food before tasting it is rude. I don't think a
lot of people care, but some people do.
>
> That said, you have your reasons for knowing that you will
want salt. To do it politely, take a quick taste, and ask for
salt. They may still get PA, but that's not your problem to
solve or care about. No explanation needed. If it's problematic
at a particular place and you don't want to deal with it, go
somewhere else. Explanations aren't going to make a difference.
>
--- End Quote ---
It's rude if you're at someone's home, or are someone's guest.
It's not rude in a commercial establishment where you have paid
for the food.
[/quote]
This.
Actually, although I *know* it's rude in someone's home, I've
never really bought into that. Sort of like some people think
it's rude to add ketchup or hot sauce on something.
I get that the cook may feel they've made the perfect meal and
everyone should appreciate it and love it as is. But as a cook
myself, I want people to be happy to eat my food. If that means
adding salt or ketchup or whatever, so be it. I do not want
people to eat something I cooked, all the while not liking it or
wishing they could improve it to their liking but not doing so
to avoid insulting me somehow.
I really don't want people telling me how I should want
something to taste. I don't feel it's any better to tell someone
not to salt their food than it is to tell people *to* add salt.
So I sort of live by the idea that I won't tell you if you don't
tell me.
As for advice for the OP, I'd probably just reply something
like, "Do you mind bringing it, just the same? That way I can be
prepared either way."
#Post#: 15265--------------------------------------------------
Re: How In-salt-ing
DIR By: Luci
Date: October 3, 2018, 1:14 pm
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Because of a medical condition, we have trouble adjusting my
potassium levels. Sometimes the same soup from the same
restaurant tastes way too salty and sometimes I crave more. I
don’t see how a chef can be uppity and make decisions about my
medical condition and tastes.
My friend worked outside and I could tell how the weather was by
how much salt he put in dishes.
I hope it never comes to the point that I have to take salt to a
restaurant!
I don’t think using salt as guest is rude, either. I usually put
in half the salt called for in recipes and salt and pepper on
the table, just like years ago. It always surprises me how
little salt is added at the table, and these are not super
polite people. They have even asked for lemon juice when I serve
roasted or buttered asparagus. I don’t mind. I added pepper to
every savory dish, too, when I was young.
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