Advice for a grossed out diner
May 13, 2017 11:51 AM Subscribe
I have family members who frequently have gatherings at certain restaurants that totally gross me out. Not eating anything there seems rude, but I just really, really don't want to eat the food. Any of it. What would be the least offensive way to deal with this?
Please assume that there is no way to not go to the restaurants with them. The family group in question is very large and I have little sway and I often sit these things out, so every once in awhile I do have to suck it up and go.
Also assume that it's not so much a picky eater thing (though I am that) as much as it is a question of how clean the restaurants are. I'll spare you the details, but I think I have sufficient reason to be really grossed out.
Also assume that we do go to other, better restaurants, and I happily eat the food there.
I've occasionally hand-waved it away as "I ate already," but I feel ruder than rude sitting there watching everyone else eat. I think it makes the other diners uncomfortable. I also thought about trying to find the least expensive/offensive appetizer I could find and just basically moving it around on the plate. But ideally, I would eat nothing--not even drink the water. I would be fine sitting there not eating anything but I feel that this makes me seem stuck up/like I have an eating disorder/fill in the blank.
How does a picky, easily grossed out eater handle this situation?
Please assume that there is no way to not go to the restaurants with them. The family group in question is very large and I have little sway and I often sit these things out, so every once in awhile I do have to suck it up and go.
Also assume that it's not so much a picky eater thing (though I am that) as much as it is a question of how clean the restaurants are. I'll spare you the details, but I think I have sufficient reason to be really grossed out.
Also assume that we do go to other, better restaurants, and I happily eat the food there.
I've occasionally hand-waved it away as "I ate already," but I feel ruder than rude sitting there watching everyone else eat. I think it makes the other diners uncomfortable. I also thought about trying to find the least expensive/offensive appetizer I could find and just basically moving it around on the plate. But ideally, I would eat nothing--not even drink the water. I would be fine sitting there not eating anything but I feel that this makes me seem stuck up/like I have an eating disorder/fill in the blank.
How does a picky, easily grossed out eater handle this situation?
"No, thanks! The last time I ate there I got a horrendous case of food poisoning! I'm not taking that chance again. Raise a glass of wine to me, and let's call it a day."
Worth a try?
Also, "suck it up and go" is bad advice. If you're an adult, you get to do as you please (assuming you're not harming others.)
posted by BostonTerrier at 12:00 PM on May 13, 2017 [7 favorites]
Worth a try?
Also, "suck it up and go" is bad advice. If you're an adult, you get to do as you please (assuming you're not harming others.)
posted by BostonTerrier at 12:00 PM on May 13, 2017 [7 favorites]
There is no need to go to a restaurant or event if you are not comfortable there. It sounds to me like you are very concerned with not offending people. Well, there are ways to say "no" firmly and with a smile, and people will live with that or they won't. If you absolutely must go to an event and don't want to eat, well, don't. Saying you got food poisoning is a great idea actually. But you shouldn’t have to justify your desire not to eat to anyone. It's your business, not theirs.
posted by Crystal Fox at 12:06 PM on May 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by Crystal Fox at 12:06 PM on May 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
Just tell them plainly you don't want to go to that restaurant, "If you're going to _____ I'm going to have to sit this one out, see you next time!" If they ask why, explain. It's your hang-up, own it. They may be willing to accommodate you.
If it's a question of cost, for example, some members of the family can't afford to eat somewhere else, then offer to chip in a set amount towards the bill to go somewhere nicer. Then you could say something along the lines of, "Hey guys, I can't really stomach ______ any more, but if you're willing to go to _______ and make it a little more of a special occasion, I am happy to throw a gift card of $____ to the top of the food bill (doesn't cover booze)." Of course in that case everyone might go hog wild on appetizers or whatever but that is beyond your control, perhaps.
posted by SassHat at 12:08 PM on May 13, 2017 [2 favorites]
If it's a question of cost, for example, some members of the family can't afford to eat somewhere else, then offer to chip in a set amount towards the bill to go somewhere nicer. Then you could say something along the lines of, "Hey guys, I can't really stomach ______ any more, but if you're willing to go to _______ and make it a little more of a special occasion, I am happy to throw a gift card of $____ to the top of the food bill (doesn't cover booze)." Of course in that case everyone might go hog wild on appetizers or whatever but that is beyond your control, perhaps.
posted by SassHat at 12:08 PM on May 13, 2017 [2 favorites]
What about something like, "Hey, I'm so excited to see you all but my belly has been a little sensitive lately, and I don't think [Restaurant]'s food will agree with me. I'll grab a snack beforehand and see you there!"
posted by schroedingersgirl at 12:11 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by schroedingersgirl at 12:11 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
Why not just order a bottle of beer?
posted by saradarlin at 12:16 PM on May 13, 2017 [27 favorites]
posted by saradarlin at 12:16 PM on May 13, 2017 [27 favorites]
A couple things you could try:
Offer to choose the restaurant yourself and make plans. Pick something around the same price range, and tell them you want to try that place or want them to try it.
Just tell them the truth, that you're not comfortable eating there. If you have information they don't, like you saw the cooks leaving the restroom without washing their hands or whatever, say that. If it's just that you have different standards, don't call them all gross or anything, but maybe just tell them you're a bit of a stickler about that sort of thing and you really don't want to eat there. They might think you have an eating disorder, I guess, but you can't control what people think about you. If you're sure you don't have a problem, just tell them you're fine and this is a one-off thing, and tell them to lay off if they bug you about it.
Look around and see if you can see anything prepackaged at that restaurant. Some places will at least have individual servings of drinks, like cans or bottles of water or soda. You can order that and try not to draw attention to the fact that you're not eating. It'd be great if they had some prepackaged food as well, Depending on the type of place, some places will have chips or pickles or something they sell prepackaged, but most places don't.
posted by ernielundquist at 12:23 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
Offer to choose the restaurant yourself and make plans. Pick something around the same price range, and tell them you want to try that place or want them to try it.
Just tell them the truth, that you're not comfortable eating there. If you have information they don't, like you saw the cooks leaving the restroom without washing their hands or whatever, say that. If it's just that you have different standards, don't call them all gross or anything, but maybe just tell them you're a bit of a stickler about that sort of thing and you really don't want to eat there. They might think you have an eating disorder, I guess, but you can't control what people think about you. If you're sure you don't have a problem, just tell them you're fine and this is a one-off thing, and tell them to lay off if they bug you about it.
Look around and see if you can see anything prepackaged at that restaurant. Some places will at least have individual servings of drinks, like cans or bottles of water or soda. You can order that and try not to draw attention to the fact that you're not eating. It'd be great if they had some prepackaged food as well, Depending on the type of place, some places will have chips or pickles or something they sell prepackaged, but most places don't.
posted by ernielundquist at 12:23 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
My family used to go to a diner-type place for breakfast sometimes, and then one day we saw something that made it impossible for me to ever eat there again. I just told the fam that I wouldn't be eating there again, and why, but here are some similarly-priced diner-type restaurants that I would be fine with, and we never ate there again.
posted by Huck500 at 12:35 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Huck500 at 12:35 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
It sounds like suggesting another location isn't possible, and like you're not willing to be open about not feeling good about eating the food. With that in mind, if your concern isn't the edibility of the food but the safety/cleanliness of the place, then order something as packaged and minimally-handled as possible, like a bottled soda or beer.
Literally anything other than eating exactly what everyone else is eating without comment might indeed make someone think you're stuck-up or picky or have an eating disorder or whatever. But you have zero control over what people think of you anyway, so find the compromise that feels comfortable to you and go with it.
posted by rhiannonstone at 12:50 PM on May 13, 2017 [5 favorites]
Literally anything other than eating exactly what everyone else is eating without comment might indeed make someone think you're stuck-up or picky or have an eating disorder or whatever. But you have zero control over what people think of you anyway, so find the compromise that feels comfortable to you and go with it.
posted by rhiannonstone at 12:50 PM on May 13, 2017 [5 favorites]
Your options are
(a) convince them to go elsewhere. The way to do it is to be extremely enthusiastic about some other specific place that is in the same price and type range. "Let's go to Francie's this time! They are my favorite pancakes in the world! I am super excited to go to Francie's with you all! I've made the reservation already!"
(b) get something that comes in a bottle eg a beer
(c) order something and don't eat it - if anyone asks just say "eh my stomach doesn't feel right all of a sudden"; this way at least you have something in front of you and aren't conspicuous
(d) don't go, which has been covered above. But (c) seems like the easiest.
posted by fingersandtoes at 1:18 PM on May 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
(a) convince them to go elsewhere. The way to do it is to be extremely enthusiastic about some other specific place that is in the same price and type range. "Let's go to Francie's this time! They are my favorite pancakes in the world! I am super excited to go to Francie's with you all! I've made the reservation already!"
(b) get something that comes in a bottle eg a beer
(c) order something and don't eat it - if anyone asks just say "eh my stomach doesn't feel right all of a sudden"; this way at least you have something in front of you and aren't conspicuous
(d) don't go, which has been covered above. But (c) seems like the easiest.
posted by fingersandtoes at 1:18 PM on May 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for your advice! Unfortunately, I don't drink, since ordering a beer would be the perfect solution. Also, due to family dynamics, there is simply no way I can weasel out of this 100 percent of the time (I do about 90 percent of the time). These people also love the restaurants in question and I worry that calling attention to their general grossness would be rude in its own way.
I think my strategy will be to order something very small and try my best not to eat any of it.
posted by whistle pig at 1:38 PM on May 13, 2017 [4 favorites]
I think my strategy will be to order something very small and try my best not to eat any of it.
posted by whistle pig at 1:38 PM on May 13, 2017 [4 favorites]
Just get something deep fried. It's not going to kill you.
posted by empath at 1:46 PM on May 13, 2017 [10 favorites]
posted by empath at 1:46 PM on May 13, 2017 [10 favorites]
The restaurant may offer other bottled drinks. Yes, you've eaten already, but offer to "split" a dessert with a family member and then barely touch the dish. (Many places do import their desserts from elsewhere, after all.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:06 PM on May 13, 2017
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:06 PM on May 13, 2017
Yeah, I think unless you have a genuine health and safety issue backed up by something like a concerning health inspection, you're going to come across as judgey or high maintenance. If you can't get out of going and don't want to feign illness, and refuse to eat anything-there's no magical solution we can give you. I suggest you suck it up and be gracious. French fries? Ice cream sundae? Salad? I am fairly confident-actually, extremely confident, that you won't die or get sick. And I say this as someone who loves good food-and who eats occasionally at Hometown Buffet because I also love my husband, and that's where his dad wants to eat with us.
posted by purenitrous at 2:07 PM on May 13, 2017 [6 favorites]
posted by purenitrous at 2:07 PM on May 13, 2017 [6 favorites]
Response by poster: My concerns, if it matters, include both insects and multiple people I've known coming down with food poisoning at said restaurants. So yeah, hoping to avoid the food poisoning. Any advice on the least food-poisony type of food? (Deep fried is one option.)
posted by whistle pig at 2:12 PM on May 13, 2017
posted by whistle pig at 2:12 PM on May 13, 2017
Anything that may not be made there - if there's a dessert case, admire it, and ask the servers. Sometimes appetizers are prepackaged, too.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:19 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:19 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
Don't get coffee because that's a big insect magnet.
Perhaps you could ask if they have any cans of seltzer water or club soda? That would go along with the "not feeling well" excuse. Another idea is to order an appetizer for everyone to share and then just not eat much of it.
posted by areaperson at 2:34 PM on May 13, 2017
Perhaps you could ask if they have any cans of seltzer water or club soda? That would go along with the "not feeling well" excuse. Another idea is to order an appetizer for everyone to share and then just not eat much of it.
posted by areaperson at 2:34 PM on May 13, 2017
Pretty sure mozzarella sticks are going come off the Sysco truck, into the freezer and then into the deep fryer. Barring a filthy plate, I think it'd be very hard to get sick off them.
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:48 PM on May 13, 2017 [12 favorites]
posted by fingersandtoes at 2:48 PM on May 13, 2017 [12 favorites]
I would look up the Health Department records for the restaurant in question (where I live, inspection results are posted within 14 days) and tell them, "They were cited by the Health Department X times within the past Y months. I know you like their food and you're welcome to eat there without me, but I will not eat there." If they feel judged, that's on them.
If you have legitimate reasons to be concerned about food safety, the idea of "not wanting to be rude" seems like misplaced priorities.
posted by Lexica at 2:56 PM on May 13, 2017 [5 favorites]
If you have legitimate reasons to be concerned about food safety, the idea of "not wanting to be rude" seems like misplaced priorities.
posted by Lexica at 2:56 PM on May 13, 2017 [5 favorites]
If you get a salad you can swizzle it around on your plate forever with it being really obvious you're not touching it. You can also get a bottled drink but if they're a really filthy restaurant I wouldn't drink that either unless it comes to the table sealed.
posted by winna at 3:11 PM on May 13, 2017
posted by winna at 3:11 PM on May 13, 2017
Oh yeah, I know exactly the type of family dynamic you are dealing with. Order the smallest meal possible, hide some of the food in a napkin, push the rest around and add "Sorry, something just doesn't feel right with my stomach today".
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 3:16 PM on May 13, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by tipsyBumblebee at 3:16 PM on May 13, 2017 [5 favorites]
If you have to go a certain fraction of the time which is less than 100%, and they choose that diner a fraction of the time that is less than 100%, it seems like you could just make an effort to go to the majority of the non-gross-diner events so that you could skip the gross-diner ones without it being much of a change, attendance-wise. Even better if they eventually piece the two things together and stop choosing the gross diner as much without you saying anything explicitly.
posted by ctmf at 4:03 PM on May 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
posted by ctmf at 4:03 PM on May 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
Some restaurants will let you bring something from outside for a "plating charge". Maybe you could make something "special", that wasn't obviously redundant with the restaurant, and pay them a small fee (for taking care of dishes, etc.). The dishes I'm thinking of are things like birthday cakes and spectacle desserts, unfortunately, but maaaybe you could stretch this to include something super healthy/vegetarian/diet-friendly, or a new recipe you're "just trying out" and want to share with everyone else.
This is reaching, I know, but I wanted to introduce the possibility in case you could expand on it for your own purposes.
One other idea: you could assume more of a planning role and make this into a "family having new restaurant adventures" kind of event.
posted by amtho at 4:07 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
This is reaching, I know, but I wanted to introduce the possibility in case you could expand on it for your own purposes.
One other idea: you could assume more of a planning role and make this into a "family having new restaurant adventures" kind of event.
posted by amtho at 4:07 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
Your best bet will be something that's fried to order. So, not nachos (tortilla chips are not fried to order) but fries, mozz sticks, etc. Stuff that's pulled out of a freezer bag and dumped into the deep fryer. Even if they don't change their fryer oil regularly, it's so hot that nothing can live in it.
posted by vivzan at 5:08 PM on May 13, 2017 [8 favorites]
posted by vivzan at 5:08 PM on May 13, 2017 [8 favorites]
Could you suddenly become a rabid fan of juice fasts, bring your juice potion with you and sip on that?
Perhaps your doctor would like you to try a liquid diet or a food elimination diet.
"We thought I was allergic to wheat but now they're thinking it may be rice, or possibly avocado".
I know, it does seem like I've been on it forever but I'm this far into it, I don't want to stop now.
"Remember when I was on that elimination diet? Well it made me feel so good that now I do it every 3 weeks. My Doctor says if it's helping he doesn't have a problem with it. I don't want to mess with success. I'll just sit here and sip on my organic protein drink, it's really quite good".
posted by BoscosMom at 5:12 PM on May 13, 2017 [2 favorites]
Perhaps your doctor would like you to try a liquid diet or a food elimination diet.
"We thought I was allergic to wheat but now they're thinking it may be rice, or possibly avocado".
I know, it does seem like I've been on it forever but I'm this far into it, I don't want to stop now.
"Remember when I was on that elimination diet? Well it made me feel so good that now I do it every 3 weeks. My Doctor says if it's helping he doesn't have a problem with it. I don't want to mess with success. I'll just sit here and sip on my organic protein drink, it's really quite good".
posted by BoscosMom at 5:12 PM on May 13, 2017 [2 favorites]
Sometimes, restaurants will sell fancy bottled water and/or sodas. You can get one or two of those, nurse them all night, and if anyone asks why you're not eating, just foist it off as 'Oh, I are before I came here; I'm stuffed".
posted by spinifex23 at 5:47 PM on May 13, 2017
posted by spinifex23 at 5:47 PM on May 13, 2017
The Whole30 diet nearly rules out all food that one could order at a restaurant because of cooking oil exclusions. So it makes a great excuse if you could pull off pretending you were on it...
If you want to order something you actually plan to taste, definitely do not choose fresh fruit or vegetables such as a salad. They have to be washed carefully and it's easy to miss an insect in a pile of lettuce unless they care about quality control (which they clearly don't).
I would choose something that is served hot. If there is nothing deep fried, pasta with a non-dairy based sauce (no meat or seafood) or bread products are rarely ever the culprit for food poisoning.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 6:00 PM on May 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
If you want to order something you actually plan to taste, definitely do not choose fresh fruit or vegetables such as a salad. They have to be washed carefully and it's easy to miss an insect in a pile of lettuce unless they care about quality control (which they clearly don't).
I would choose something that is served hot. If there is nothing deep fried, pasta with a non-dairy based sauce (no meat or seafood) or bread products are rarely ever the culprit for food poisoning.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 6:00 PM on May 13, 2017 [3 favorites]
I'm not sure if this has been mentioned yet, but sitting in a restaurant without ordering takes up space in the restaurant while not helping them make money. I will definitely judge people who don't order in a restaurant unless they have a serious medical reason for not buying something. (Also, are you grossed out by an entire category of ethnic restaurants? It sounds like this isn't an isolated restaurant, which might be more understandable.)
In terms of practical suggestions, high-end sodas and the like will cost money while often being pre-packaged. Or try ordering takeout and then just throwing it out. But if your family eats at a place regularly and doesn't get food poisoning, you will probably also be fine.
posted by steady-state strawberry at 6:45 PM on May 13, 2017 [7 favorites]
In terms of practical suggestions, high-end sodas and the like will cost money while often being pre-packaged. Or try ordering takeout and then just throwing it out. But if your family eats at a place regularly and doesn't get food poisoning, you will probably also be fine.
posted by steady-state strawberry at 6:45 PM on May 13, 2017 [7 favorites]
Another idea - small gift certificates, for whatever the amount an entree would be. You're buying something from the restaurant, and you're not potentially wasting food. You can then give them to other family members for holiday presents and the like.
Most restaurants have gift certificates you can buy.
posted by spinifex23 at 6:50 PM on May 13, 2017
Most restaurants have gift certificates you can buy.
posted by spinifex23 at 6:50 PM on May 13, 2017
Unless it's family-style/communal seating, sitting at a table your family would be sitting at anyway is not taking up restaurant space that could be used by a paying diner. I wouldn't add that to your list of worries.
posted by lazuli at 7:21 PM on May 13, 2017 [13 favorites]
posted by lazuli at 7:21 PM on May 13, 2017 [13 favorites]
Report it to the health inspector and see whether that makes any difference?
Say you had food poisoning or something sat poorly with you, and now even though you know the food probably won't hurt you, there's just this association you have with it--with just being in the place--and you can't get past it.
And also, order food for the table--something so you are spending money and appearing generous.
posted by ramenopres at 7:30 PM on May 13, 2017
Say you had food poisoning or something sat poorly with you, and now even though you know the food probably won't hurt you, there's just this association you have with it--with just being in the place--and you can't get past it.
And also, order food for the table--something so you are spending money and appearing generous.
posted by ramenopres at 7:30 PM on May 13, 2017
Can you bring a can of LaCroix in your bag and just pour it into a glass there? Or get a straw and sip it from the can? Usually my go to would be a bottle of Perrier or at worst, one of the little bottles of tonic water that the bar may carry.
posted by floweredfish at 7:32 PM on May 13, 2017
posted by floweredfish at 7:32 PM on May 13, 2017
If this is a lower end type of place, things like fried appetizers and desserts often come prepackaged. If in doubt you can ask the waitstaff if that's so. If it is, it's unlikely to make you sick to eat fried mozzarella sticks and a piece of pie that came from a freezer.
posted by katyggls at 7:39 PM on May 13, 2017
posted by katyggls at 7:39 PM on May 13, 2017
I don't know that that's that safe. You still have sauces of indeterminate age, plus the amount of time stuff sits out after it's cooked, plus cross-contamination, plus hand washing/other issues to consider.
posted by amtho at 8:18 PM on May 13, 2017
posted by amtho at 8:18 PM on May 13, 2017
You said that they sometimes go to better, cleaner restaurants. Can you "suck it up and go" when they go to the cleaner restaurants, in order to avoid going to the grosser restaurants without guilt?
Otherwise I would start a preemptive campaign of stories about friends and coworkers getting sick at those restaurants, and then when they are suggested say "oh no, remember how sick my friend Sally got there? No thanks, I'll pass." Make up more stories and more friends from time to time to drive the point home.
posted by vignettist at 8:34 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
Otherwise I would start a preemptive campaign of stories about friends and coworkers getting sick at those restaurants, and then when they are suggested say "oh no, remember how sick my friend Sally got there? No thanks, I'll pass." Make up more stories and more friends from time to time to drive the point home.
posted by vignettist at 8:34 PM on May 13, 2017 [1 favorite]
How about hot tea or a drink from the soda fountain? You can just tell your family, "Sorry, the last time we ate here, the food didn't agree with me" - and throw in an extra dollar or two for the tip.
posted by dancing_angel at 11:01 PM on May 13, 2017
posted by dancing_angel at 11:01 PM on May 13, 2017
Show up late. Show up for the dessert course. Order something and share it. Be social and then leave early. "Argh! An old friend is having a reading that night! I'll swing by after and say 'hi' to everyone!" You might even get away without ordering if it looks too crowded to easily fit you in. Hug your favorite people and then scoot.
posted by amanda at 6:51 AM on May 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by amanda at 6:51 AM on May 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
The place sounds gross and the idea of spending money for food you won't eat sounds bizarre to me. I would have no problem saying "guys I'm out, that place is gross, hit me up when you are going to [not-gross place]."
Your money, your belly, your life.
posted by headnsouth at 2:26 PM on May 14, 2017 [6 favorites]
Your money, your belly, your life.
posted by headnsouth at 2:26 PM on May 14, 2017 [6 favorites]
One of my go-to excuses when I don't feel like eating, for whatever reason, is "had a late lunch." Seems to go over, repeatedly, without much fuss. If this were a one time event, any of the other excuses here would be fine, but since this is a repeat occurrence, "having an iffy stomach" one time and "juice fast" the next and "elimination diet" after that is going to get you talked about and judged a whole lot more than you're comfortable with.
posted by storminator7 at 8:26 PM on May 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by storminator7 at 8:26 PM on May 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
In addition to being a low intrinsic risk, deep fried potato products may involve less physical handling after being cooked, in case the problem is that they don't wash their hands very much.
posted by en forme de poire at 8:53 PM on May 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by en forme de poire at 8:53 PM on May 14, 2017 [1 favorite]
I used to be a site inspector for a state department of public health, before getting into epidemiology as a career. That period in my life corresponds to the last intentional fast food meal of my life (at a Taco Bell that I then inspected).
Since then, my standby (if I must) is a small order of fries and a bottled drink (most places have bottled water these days). You mention above that "fried" is something you're thinking about--that's a good instinct, stick with that. Avoid meat and dairy, rinsed greens and vegetables (salads, sprouts, sliced fresh tomatoes), or sauces that don't come in packets. Pick a starchy fried vegetable (fries, tots, jalapenos, tempura, etc.) and try not too think about it too much.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 11:09 AM on May 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
Since then, my standby (if I must) is a small order of fries and a bottled drink (most places have bottled water these days). You mention above that "fried" is something you're thinking about--that's a good instinct, stick with that. Avoid meat and dairy, rinsed greens and vegetables (salads, sprouts, sliced fresh tomatoes), or sauces that don't come in packets. Pick a starchy fried vegetable (fries, tots, jalapenos, tempura, etc.) and try not too think about it too much.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 11:09 AM on May 15, 2017 [4 favorites]
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You can check out the particular restaurant ahead of time to either a) reassure yourself that their cleanliness levels are fine or b) inform the event planner of (recent, repeated) health and safety violations and suggest that they pick a different venue.
posted by porpoise at 11:57 AM on May 13, 2017 [10 favorites]