How not to offend your Polish host who makes too much food?

Bakergirl:

Bakergirl
Edited by: Moderator May 4, 09, 17:34

#1
How can I stop offending my host.

Everytime I visit he plies me with food and drink, and I'm a person with a small appetite and these foods are new to me. AFter eating so much, I get either full up or I just can't manage anymore, like yesterday, eating home made gelatine. It was very nice and tasty, but I'm not used to eating it and after so much (a sandwich full) I was full up and feeling a bit sick.

My host was absolutely mortified at the thought of my not eating it all, and was quite put out that I couldn't manage any more.

Is this an insult to Polish people, or is my host a little sensitive?

Bakergirl
Guest

Bakergirl	Edited by: Moderator May 4, 09, 17:34 / #
How can I stop offending my host. Everytime I visit he plies me with food and drink, and I'm a person with a small appetite and these foods are new to me. AFter eating so much, I get either full up or I just can't manage anymore, like yesterday, eating home made gelatine. It was very nice and tasty, but I'm not used to eating it and after so much (a sandwich full) I was full up and feeling a bit sick. My host was absolutely mortified at the thought of my not eating it all, and was quite put out that I couldn't manage any more. Is this an insult to Polish people, or is my host a little sensitive?

wildroverThreads: 180 Posts: 8,188 Joined: Jun 7, 07	May 4, 09, 17:51 / #
Poles are noted for their hospitality , and feeding up of guests , but if you are clearly unable to consume the amount given you then you shouldn,t be pushed into eating it... I have tried all kinds of Polish food , most i like , but some i just do not like ... you have to be more firm with your friend , eat the things you like , untill you have had enough , and don,t feel obliged to make yourself ill just to please them... a good friend should not be offended if you are unable to eat all you are given....

PolskaDollThreads: 44 Posts: 4,134 Joined: Jun 15, 07	May 4, 09, 17:51 / #
I think he's trying to impress you with his culinary skills. ;) One thing you could try is to say to him you are full at the moment but could you take some home with you?

z_dariusThreads: 22 Posts: 5,091 Joined: Oct 18, 07	May 4, 09, 17:55 / #
I think you should do what some rich Romans did - get a feather. Gobble up as much as you can, go to the washroom, tickle the back of your throat with the feather, then come back and eat some more. Repeat until all food is gone ;)

Bakergirl	May 4, 09, 18:16 / #
z_darius: Gobble up as much as you can, go to the washroom, tickle the back of your throat with the feather, then come back and eat some more. Repeat until all food is gone ;) His friend said to do that. I think Polskadoll has it right. He is trying to impress me with his cooking, as he is a very very good cook, and he enjoys cooking a lot. I'm off to visit there now, but this time, I'll go before I have my own dinner at home, that way the only person's cooking I might be too full up for is my own. I'm making a Steak and Mushroom pie (all home made). Maybe next time, I'll force feed him my cooking!!!! lol.

leszek38Threads: - Posts: 33 Joined: Apr 5, 09	May 4, 09, 18:54 / #
Just eat as much or as little as you feel is enough for you. It is not offensive to leave something on your plate. As a matter of fact, if guest have eaten everything, it means I am a bad host. I prepered not enough food.

Lir	Edited by: Lir May 4, 09, 19:31 / #
Bakergirl: Everytime I visit he plies me with food and drink, It's just what Polish people do :) The best way to deal with it is as follows:- (a) When you know you are going to visit, don't eat anything 12 hours before you go. (b) Don't say no to anything after you have had your fill, just say that you need a bit of time for it to digest, you'll have a bit more later..... (c) When later turns up and you are asked again , just repeat (b) and say the food was very tasty and well made. Then just go home whenever it suits you lol. Your Polish hosts will be content with the above :) :)

reeso3000Threads: 1 Posts: 6 Joined: Jan 17, 09	May 4, 09, 19:32 / #
You could do what I did once ;-p when in a small village I was invited to a BBQ and was given the biggest Polish sausage ive ever seen -unfortunetly I am not the biggest fan of them at the best of times! anyway I thought I better eat it to be polite but it was full of fat and really started to make me feel sick so when no one was looking I put it in my pocket ;-p and had to keep it there for an hour!! so line your pockets with plastic bags and just scoop it in when hes not looking ;-p

KsysiaThreads: 39 Posts: 545 Joined: May 6, 09	May 7, 09, 10:25 / #
Or eat really slowly, take little pieces of every dish on your plate, but only eat what you like, compliment everything and make your conversation so good that you have not time for eating because your mouth is talking. Then ask for some to take home. Or ask for recipes. Or ask for a headache pill.

davidpeakeThreads: 18 Posts: 515 Joined: Nov 7, 06	May 7, 09, 10:56 / #
how about getting stoned before you go, maybe you could eat a bit more then :)

George8600Threads: 20 Posts: 1,114 Joined: Feb 19, 09	Edited by: George8600 Jun 11, 09, 02:04 / #
Hm, I have never heard of this in Poland(that is for him to do it at such an excessive amount then get offended). I guess he's just a very giving person that happens to be Polish, they are quite hospitable; which is a great combination since I love Polish food; can you send some left overs? jk jk Just tell him you want to save some and put it in the fridge, unless he misinterprets that and stockpiles you with tons of food- then your on your own. :-/

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Jun 11, 09, 08:07 / #
tell him you can't eat all without massive amounts of vodka.. then give him a bj.. rofl

SeanusThreads: 22 Posts: 30,158 Joined: Dec 25, 07	Jun 12, 09, 12:05 / #
You just have to politely decline. It's the same in parts of Scotland too.

anubisThreads: - Posts: 37 Joined: Apr 22, 09	Jun 12, 09, 17:06 / #
Pleading medical reasons saves me from overly solicitous hosts piling too much food or food I don't like on my plate. "Sorry, but my doctor has me on this strict limited diet because of my [fill in the blank w. random diagnosis] problem" & they back off. Of course you might be entertained with well-meant but unsolicited health advice throughout the meal, but it's better than overeating or having to eat something you don't like.

southernThreads: 116 Posts: 10,955 Joined: May 17, 07	Jun 11, 09, 07:54 / #
Bakergirl: How not to offend your Polish host who makes too much food? Give him a BJ.

RyanJFThreads: 1 Posts: 19 Joined: Apr 30, 09	Jun 11, 09, 15:39 / #
Bakergirl: Bakergirl Edited by: Moderator May 4, 09, 17:34 #1 How can I stop offending my host. Everytime I visit he plies me with food and drink, and I'm a person with a small appetite and these foods are new to me. AFter eating so much, I get either full up or I just can't manage anymore, like yesterday, eating home made gelatine. It was very nice and tasty, but I'm not used to eating it and after so much (a sandwich full) I was full up and feeling a bit sick. My host was absolutely mortified at the thought of my not eating it all, and was quite put out that I couldn't manage any more. Is this an insult to Polish people, or is my host a little sensitive? Bakergirl Guest I can sympathize. The parents of both my grandparents were Polish (Well, they were Russian, but originally from Poland), so I suppose they picked some things up, because every time we go out East to see them, we end up having more food shoved down our throats than we manage.

Wyspianska	Jun 12, 09, 20:58 / #
Bakergirl: How can I stop offending my host. Everytime I visit he plies me with food and drink, and I'm a person with a small appetite and these foods are new to me. AFter eating so much, I get either full up or I just can't manage anymore, like yesterday, eating home made gelatine. It was very nice and tasty, but I'm not used to eating it and after so much (a sandwich full) I was full up and feeling a bit sick. My host was absolutely mortified at the thought of my not eating it all, and was quite put out that I couldn't manage any more. Is this an insult to Polish people, or is my host a little sensitive? I was called unpolite when I couldn't finish my dinner visiting an English family. Trust me, it was more than one full sandwich and I felt sick for the next few days, yet no one could understand I'm not used to eat that much. Plus the time of such a full meal was very late for me (around 6 pm while in Poland we have it around 2 pm) and I couldn't fall asleep that night. It's true that in Poland you will probably get fed and treated well but no one will feel offended if you simply cannot manage anymore food than what you need. In England it seems to work the other way around.

Wroclaw Boy	Edited by: Wroclaw Boy Jun 12, 09, 21:02 / #
Bakergirl: My host was absolutely mortified at the thought of my not eating it all, and was quite put out that I couldn't manage any more. Is this an insult to Polish people, or is my host a little sensitive? I just drink loads and tell them ill have the rest for breakfast.. As your eating keep commenting on how lovely it is, just say yes great food but i really cant eat any more. No problem.......