Ordering food for other people?

[janedoe]

My husband has been at conferences on and off for the past couple of months. On a couple of occasions, someone has ordered something for him at a restaurant saying that he has to try it. He already has, and he hates it. So he takes a deep breath and chokes it down. I keep advising him to just say no but he feels it's the polite thing to do. I think that it's completely rude to assume that the person you're ordering for hasn't tried the food you're forcing on them or, worse, that there aren't any food allergies involved.

What is the idea behind ordering food for other people? Is that some custom I'm unaware of? And how do you get out of eating it?

[smartrock]

He should just decline, politely but firmly. Citing allergy or food preferences should be optional but may be effective. Unless the person is a total jerk, they should not hold it against him.

Aside from going to dinners where, because one of my kids is "in the industry" and a fellow chef sends out a special dish for the table, I haven't eaten with people presumptuous enough to order something for me over my objections. The only other instance is when it's a large meal where everything is being served the same thing.

[SoapySophie]

I've never heard of someone doing this. Seems a bit obnoxious to me.

[beth101509]

Whenever we had training sessions or conference calls, we would order out but we were given the option to choose what we wanted to eat. No one just assumed we would want something. That seems a little pushy to me.

[Jollymolly]

I have been to a few dinners were others have taken it upon themselves to order. The first question I have to ask is what country are they from? I went to a dinner were the inviter ordered 12 dishes for 5 people. He was showing he was the boss the man and had enough money to feed us well. Must say the food was gross and I felt much like your husband and at least tried to eat some of it. My other two coworkers only ate rice and then went out for dinner.

It could be cultural.

[ZoeysMommy]

Sometimes I meet my husband for lunch and he will order for me if im running late but he knows what I like so I guess that's different

He needs to politely decline, its not appropriate

[POPTOP]

If something is suggested to your husband and he does not like it, he can just say, I have tried that and really did not like it. I prefer XYXYXYXYX. Buying meals out is so expensive already, why have to eat something you don't like.

[janedoe]

I have been to a few dinners were others have taken it upon themselves to order. The first question I have to ask is what country are they from? I went to a dinner were the inviter ordered 12 dishes for 5 people. He was showing he was the boss the man and had enough money to feed us well. Must say the food was gross and I felt much like your husband and at least tried to eat some of it. My other two coworkers only ate rice and then went out for dinner.

It could be cultural.

You may be right. This last round was uni (sea urchin) sushi. It's an acquired taste. The guy who ordered it for him ("you have to try this") isn't Japanese but my husband's mom was. It was weird since my husband doesn't need to be introduced to sushi but the guy who ordered it for him ended up paying so I can see that dynamic.