How do you tell someone that they're a terrible cook?
Especially since she does it for a living. (Note. I would never & will never tell her that.)
Some lady bought a grocery store in this tiny town.
To supplement her meager income she cooks, and sells, homemade food. Without exception the food is awful!
One day she made corn bread and ham and beans. The corn bread was good, but the beans and ham were in water. Just…water. It’s like she hadn’t boiled them down at all.
This morning I wanted cinnamon rolls so he ran to the store to get a can.
They didn’t have any. However she did have a pan of homemade cinnamon rolls.
I took one bite and just gagged. It’s like she put some random flavoring in it (imagine garlic or something that does NOT belong in a cinnamon roll) and very little cinnamon and sugar. The icing was like she put powdered sugar in water and mixed it up. No vanilla, nothing. I couldn’t eat it and I’m hungry!
It’s all uniformly bad so I’ll quit buying her $5.00 lunches.
Observing members:
0
Composing members:
0
46 Answers
How long has she been in business? It seems someone likes the stuff.
Unless asked, you tell them by not going there and buying any of it.
You can order her food and make a honest comment on Skip the dishes.
I couldn’t bring myself to do that. Probably pretend to like it, then spit it out at the first opportunity. Some things just aren’t worth hurting persons feelings over. But I wouldn’t be past going on the web, and giving them a crummy review, anonymously. Just so other folks just don’t waste time and money on the place. Does that make me a baddy?
How does she make a living out of selling terrible food?
Less than a year @snowberry. There was a grocery store there before but they closed down. This town just isn’t big enough to support a grocery store. Not with Walmart 10 minutes away.
Tell her her corn bread was good.
@rebbel You sir, are a true diplomat! I like that.
Send a cookbook with a Wichita KS, postmark. ;>0)
Dutch, and Nomore, thank you!
Why tell her? Just don’t buy her cooked food.
Does she have kids? a husband? It’s a pertinent Q because she must have fed them something. Maybe she’s already had some feedback.
@Dutchess_III I get that, but who is buying her terribly cooked food? Are these customers returning for more?
I don’t know. How would I?
Just move on, there’s no kind way to tell someone that who does it for a living. :(
@Dutchess_III,
I don’t know. How would I?
In a town that’s too small to support a grocery store, don’t people talk? She’d have to notice if all she sees is new customers and no repeats.
You’d think even in a tiny village people would pay for the convenience if it’s good. If she doesn’t get enough business to survive, seems like she would get the message.
Also seems like a great opportunity for someone who does cook to team up with her and boost the business for both of them.
But I would have to ask her that direct question to know whether or not she sees repeat customers.
I don’t gossip. Rick does, but it’s a subject that hasn’t come up as far as I know.
Well, you could ask her if her yummy cornbread has seen repeat customers.
What do you think the response would be?
I’d have to guess at what she understands, and I can’t do that, But if you raise the question (which seems like where you were going with your OP), it could take you into uncomfortable territory if SHE asks YOU a direct question like “I don’t have many takers. Any idea what the problem is?”
Not sure why you asked how to tell someone that they’re a terrible cook if you didn’t want to do that. Are you looking for a way to help her, or you just want her to stop cooking?
Credit to you for not being a gossip.
Buy them a REALLY good cookbook.
I wouldn’t personalize it to condemn them, I’d just report what I dislike about each thing… or just not say anything.
Maybe just don’t go there anymore. Let it be to spare her feelings. Not like it’s cusine from The Top of the Mark or Oberoi Intercontinental.
Yeah . I hate to give up on a local entrepreneur….but damn man. It’s just awful.
I feel ya. But it’s better than food poisoning. And that way she’ll have no ill feelings toward you. You ate there and made no negative comments. All good.
Or drop in and get a Coke now and then. “Might be in later for lunch. Really busy today, tight schedule”.
If her food is really, genuinely bad, her business will reflect that.
Depends…what is your motivation for telling her?
That would probably affect how you should choose your approach.
I see no reason to tell anyone that. Just don’t let him or her feed you.
People will return her food or stop buying it, and then she’ll know there is no market for it.
Maybe it’s a business opportunity for you. Sell something delicious in her store. I don’t know the cottage industry laws in your state, but they might be very lenient for small food businesses.
How do you tell someone they are a terrible fuck?
It could probably be a lot worse.
So why would you do it?
Some subtle gagging and retching might help.
My mother in law used to fix a sandwich filling that my sister in law dubbed “Heart-Attack Paté!” Mom was convinced we all loved the stuff. We all hated it. It gave me horrible indigestion, and it got so I dreaded going to her house to eat.
I finally spoke up after a couple of decades of indigestion. She never fixed it again, and didn’t seem too upset at the revelation.
However, it’s entirely different when you’re dealing with a stranger.
@JLoon Some subtle gagging and retching might help.
—Was that in response to the OP or to @TJFKAJ‘s “How do you tell someone they are a terrible fuck?”
@Strauss – HA! I see two problems, but one solution ;D
Strike up a conversation one day about some of your favorite dishes and give her the actual recipe. If she starts to make them and they start to sell, then maybe she’ll take another suggestion and another. And maybe she will let the bad ones go.
Answer this question 
Composing members:
0
