Does Your Partner Like Food?

[Quinn01]

I just thought this would be interesting to see how everyone else deals with this situation.

I myself have a girlfriend who happens to be a very very pickey eater. It drives me insane me wanted to be a chef and love food and all. I would eat anything. Shes never had some kinds of steak.

She just mainly eats chicken. It kills me.


How about you guys? Do you have girlfriends/wives, boyfriends/husbands who love food or are pickey eaters?

[Mezzaluna]

I'm an avid home cook with a broad-ranging palate. My husband is willing to try new foods, so I use new ingredients. Once I didn't tell him what I'd added (cumin) and he was too surprised by the unexpected taste that he wouldn't eat the dish. Now I make sure to tell him I've added a small amount of a new flavor or ingredient, and trust him to either learn to like it or to eat the meal and tell me not to make it again.

As Nicko can attest, he's gotten more game at new eating experiences! We've been to Tru and Alinea in Chicago- neither of which he understood, but in both places he was able to appreciate our interest and find something to enjoy. When we got married my mother-in-law actually apologized to me for teaching him to eat such plain, unseasoned food (other family members have food allergies). When I told her what I was cooking and that he was eating it, she congratulated me. He just needed time and respect for his "infant" palate.

[chrose]

I am lucky in that my wife was brought up in a small town with a very "white bread/Mayo" upbringing. Her parents were poor and didn't care too much for cooking. Yest somehow she turned out to have quite a palate. The only thing she doesn't really go for is food that's too spicy. She has a low tolerance, but at least some tolerance for spice. So other than that I have pretty much free rein in cooking for her!

[kuan]

I don't think my wife and I would be together if it hadn't for liver and onions!

[MuskyHopeful]

My wife is not what I would call daring, but she will try different things. She's set in her dislike of some foods, however, like mushrooms, which can be a little annoying. She also doesn't like olives, which is less annoying. She also avoids clams, oysters, and mussels. She will eat some fish, but is not crazy about salmon or tuna, raw or cooked. Go figure. Anchovies freak her out, though she eats them in some red sauces and doesn't know it. I tell her she's really missing out in those areas. No pates or liver for her either, aside from foie gras, which we have maybe once a year while eating out. The seafood avoidance doesn't bother me. If I want to make something she doesn't like, she gets shrimp. Shrimp are easy. The mushroom thing bugs me, though.

She will eat beef, pork, lamb, chicken, veal, etc. So we're good there. Salads, veggies, etc. are also no problem.

Did I mention she won't eat mushrooms?

Kevin

I like muskies. My wife doesn't like mushrooms.

Kevin

[foodpump]

It's complicated because of the kids. Today's Tuesday so they hate mushrooms or peppers, but I have to say the kids do have an "educated" palate: Likes parmesan, Gouda, Brie, undecided about most vegetables, hates Risotto, loves gnochi, mashed.... The wife is a different story, as nothing is ever right, and when it is, then it's "too right". The only thing that really bugs me is that just one glass of wine will turn her face red, two glasses an she's asleep. No fun drinking alone....

[Andrew563]

Mine hated it when I would try different preparations, techniques, etc. i used to hear "Can't we just have sandwiches?" It drove me nuts. Not too surprising she is my ex now.

[BORK]

My husband LOVES food! Everything from whatever I cook for dinner to the finest restaurants around. The only thing is that he has to DIP EVERYTHING! When he asks me "what's for dinner..." and I tell him, his next question is always "what did you make to dip it in?". Can't complain about that too much, now if I could only get him to like the world's most perfect food...ARTICHOKES!

BORK <><

[Free Rider]

Most people enjoy my food. The only problem I've encountered is with my mother. She has anorexia and it's hard to get her to eat anything at all. She is so afraid that she will enjoy food that she refuses to eat bread that is not stale and moldy, for example. It must be heartbreaking to enjoy cooking and eating and not be able to share it with the person with whom you live.

[thebiggerbopper]

I think I've been blessed. I love to eat and my wife loves to cook. LOL We both eat almost anything and love to try new things. My wife is a deli manager in a big grocery store and is always trying new things there too. She is one heck of a good cook and is known all around town for her cooking.

[Jock]

I'm really lucky that my wife and daughter are good eaters. They have their occasional likes and dislikes as we all do but they will eat pretty much whatever I prepare.

Jock

[Cheech]

I am very lucky, my wife has worked in the kitchen for almost as long as I have. We both understand the challenges that come with a job in the kitchen, and often bounce ideas off of one another.

My experience with picky eaters is that if you want to expand thier horizons, you have to sneek it by them first. After they see that something new is good, then you may have a better chance at something besides chicken for dinner.

Later Yall,

[Steve A]

I'm lucky too. Since both my wife and I were in the military when we met, travel and different food was nothing new to either of us. In fact, I used to cook at a mutual friend's house all the time. She was a constant dinner guest. It was all downhill from there and that was 20+ yrs ago.

Ciao,

[Nentony]

My wife is great. The kids too. When there is a problem, it's usually my fault. Once, when I was trying to learn Indian cooking, I made curry 4 days in a row(different kinds). On the 4th day she and the kids revolted and ordered Pizza.

Tony

[diane]

I see I am responding to #14 on this thread. Yet it is probably the MOST important question that could be asked in any culinary forum on the net. Consider a tree. Beautiful, luxuriant in foliage above the ground. But what is underneath? The same thing in less recognisible form. But essentual to the continued growth of the tree. So it is (IMHO) the family that shapes the taste. The restaurant is the shining leaves. The fruit, if you like. Just my 2 cents.