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AIBU?

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AIBU for hating people wanting “a taste” of my food?

434 replies

HereComesAuntySocial · 22/01/2026 13:06

I went out for brunch with a friend which we do quite often, we usually order different meals. .

Every time we go anywhere she takes ages to decide what she’s having and questions me about what I’m going to order and makes suggestions when I just want to choose my own bloody food!

When we get our meals she will start eating her own then eyeing up mine and ask me if she can “have a taste?”
I don’t understand this at all, It’s often something she’s likely to have had before, I don’t see the point in just trying a small amount of a meal because what if you really like it? Is it not disappointing knowing then you can’t have more or having food envy wishing you’d ordered the same?

Sometimes she offers me a taste of her food first (just the wording of this is really winding me up) and I know it’s so she can then dip into my meal.
If I refuse she keeps on at me but I’d had enough today so I said no firmly and told her I just wanted to eat what I’d ordered.
She laughed and said “well I’m still tasting yours” and before I could stop her she’d stuck her used fork into my smoked salmon and scrambled egg.

I lost my temper and pushed her fork away with mine and then said I actually didn’t want my food now and she could have it.
I was really angry and she seemed taken aback and said it was a complete overreaction and it’s normal to try each other people’s food when eating out.

Unfortunately I have experienced this before and I’ve been out with groups of friends where people have asked to taste each other food and I just think it’s so unhygienic and puts people under pressure to say no.
I also really hate people staring at what I’m eating and commenting on it with things like
“oh that looks nice? What’s in it? What does it taste like?“
I had to stop eating my lunch in front of other people at work feeling like I was expected to start offering it round.
I fell out with a colleague once who was hanging around quizzing me like he’d never seen a chicken baguette before, he got highly offended when I said he reminded me of a seagull waiting to dive bomb me.

Another food crime is people who don’t ask and just take food off your plate, I find that men are the worst offenders who ask if you are planning to finish your meal or wait until you are taking a small break from eating and lunge at it before you get a chance to stop them.
My BIL used to make comments like “you can’t possibly eat all that” or “where do you put it all?”It made me feel like he was trying to shame me into not finishing so he could eat the rest so I refuse to eat with him now unless it’s unavoidable.

I know some people say they love the experience of sharing food and it makes it more enjoyable to try different things, I have friends who start offering round “a taste” of their meals before they have even tried it themselves, I just find it weird!

Whilst all these are annoying scenarios to me, nothing is as bad as people who order a small meal or nothing at all claiming they aren’t hungry but then they change their mind and ask for some of mine - or worst still start helping themselves. There is a special place in hell for those people - especially when it’s a pudding I’ve been looking forward to, fuck off Janice we will not need “two spoons” 😂.

AIBU to get so pissed off about this or was Joey right when he just made it clear he doesn’t share food?!

OP posts:
Greenmouldycheese · 23/01/2026 20:50

Gotitgotit · 22/01/2026 13:53

This! I really don't have a problem with tasters when out with friends or family.

Same. I never try other people's food because I like what ive ordered myself, but I have no problem sharing my food or desert if friends want. Some people are just very teratorial about food.

Greenmouldycheese · 23/01/2026 20:41

You are being a bit unreasonable to be angry and have all these thoughts around food. It's just food to me and I woukd never accuse someone of being a seagul or get really a.gry at someone wanting some of my food. Just wondering if you lived in poverty growing up and experienced a lack of food which has made you so paranoid and protective of your plate?

BarbieShrimp · 23/01/2026 20:41

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 20:25

Oh my God, I’ll stop immediately, a random on the internet disapproves!

A random on the internet, plus most people on this thread, plus the majority of adults in this country.

JerryTubs · 23/01/2026 20:37

YANBU. She’s a cheeky fucker! It’s disgusting to swap saliva IMO. I don’t even like my children to eat from my plate. Some people are more laid back and that’s also fine but you don’t get to impose what you think on others. You did well to say no to her - well done. Next time she invites you out just reply “I will if you promise not to ask for some of my food.” My Nan used to do this, she’s dead and I don’t miss it one bit, so it’s obviously not something that I feel differently about with the passing of time. Like you say it’s not like it’s a new food item they’re never likely to have again is it?

outerspacepotato · 23/01/2026 20:31

Unhand my food or Feel the Tines of My Fork of Wrath in your Grabby Hand!

EsmaCannonball · 23/01/2026 20:31

People who don't order chips or won't have a pudding because they are 'trying to lose weight' and then eat (sometimes more than) half of yours are the worst.

I won't eat food off someone else's plate because it just seems unhygienic.

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 20:25

Grammarnut · 23/01/2026 19:43

You shouldn't do it to anyone. It's disgusting.

Oh my God, I’ll stop immediately, a random on the internet disapproves!

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 20:12

Those who think it’s fine to stick a fork that’s been in your gob in others food… think about all the bacteria in your mouth, bad breath 😷

Dinosaurhearmeroar · 23/01/2026 19:53

I would have seen absolute red at your friend helping themselves to my meal! That’s gross and it’s just bad manners. I am also in total agreement about people asking about your food while eating it - I find that deeply annoying. I have had colleagues comment on my food but negatively - “that looks horrible! What are you eating?” me: my lunch. Now kindly eff off.

ThisMellowCat · 23/01/2026 19:49

DO NOT EVER, EVER touch my plate when I am eating. It drives me nuts and for her to put her used fork in your food, she’d have had my meal over her head.
many times I have totally abandoned my meal with people commenting on how I enjoy my food, or ogling it so much it put me off, to people just dipping in with no thought.
its rude and unhygienic and it annoys the hell out of me. You are not alone!

SemiRetiredLoveGoddeess · 23/01/2026 19:46

She seems to lack social skills and awareness to say the least. Not to mention courtesy and manners.

Why do put up with her!

Elektra1 · 23/01/2026 19:43

Just don’t go out to eat with that friend. Simple. Some people like sharing food, others don’t. She hasn’t got the message that you don’t, so don’t eat with her. Go for a walk instead. Make a joke of it. Or don’t be friends with her.

Grammarnut · 23/01/2026 19:43

WhatMyNameis · 23/01/2026 18:58

I love "a taste" when I haven't had it and am not sure, then next time I know I like it and will confidently order it!

I can read a fucking room tho, I'd never do it to you!

You shouldn't do it to anyone. It's disgusting.

Oldwmn · 23/01/2026 19:42

HereComesAuntySocial · 22/01/2026 13:06

I went out for brunch with a friend which we do quite often, we usually order different meals. .

Every time we go anywhere she takes ages to decide what she’s having and questions me about what I’m going to order and makes suggestions when I just want to choose my own bloody food!

When we get our meals she will start eating her own then eyeing up mine and ask me if she can “have a taste?”
I don’t understand this at all, It’s often something she’s likely to have had before, I don’t see the point in just trying a small amount of a meal because what if you really like it? Is it not disappointing knowing then you can’t have more or having food envy wishing you’d ordered the same?

Sometimes she offers me a taste of her food first (just the wording of this is really winding me up) and I know it’s so she can then dip into my meal.
If I refuse she keeps on at me but I’d had enough today so I said no firmly and told her I just wanted to eat what I’d ordered.
She laughed and said “well I’m still tasting yours” and before I could stop her she’d stuck her used fork into my smoked salmon and scrambled egg.

I lost my temper and pushed her fork away with mine and then said I actually didn’t want my food now and she could have it.
I was really angry and she seemed taken aback and said it was a complete overreaction and it’s normal to try each other people’s food when eating out.

Unfortunately I have experienced this before and I’ve been out with groups of friends where people have asked to taste each other food and I just think it’s so unhygienic and puts people under pressure to say no.
I also really hate people staring at what I’m eating and commenting on it with things like
“oh that looks nice? What’s in it? What does it taste like?“
I had to stop eating my lunch in front of other people at work feeling like I was expected to start offering it round.
I fell out with a colleague once who was hanging around quizzing me like he’d never seen a chicken baguette before, he got highly offended when I said he reminded me of a seagull waiting to dive bomb me.

Another food crime is people who don’t ask and just take food off your plate, I find that men are the worst offenders who ask if you are planning to finish your meal or wait until you are taking a small break from eating and lunge at it before you get a chance to stop them.
My BIL used to make comments like “you can’t possibly eat all that” or “where do you put it all?”It made me feel like he was trying to shame me into not finishing so he could eat the rest so I refuse to eat with him now unless it’s unavoidable.

I know some people say they love the experience of sharing food and it makes it more enjoyable to try different things, I have friends who start offering round “a taste” of their meals before they have even tried it themselves, I just find it weird!

Whilst all these are annoying scenarios to me, nothing is as bad as people who order a small meal or nothing at all claiming they aren’t hungry but then they change their mind and ask for some of mine - or worst still start helping themselves. There is a special place in hell for those people - especially when it’s a pudding I’ve been looking forward to, fuck off Janice we will not need “two spoons” 😂.

AIBU to get so pissed off about this or was Joey right when he just made it clear he doesn’t share food?!

This is like 'I don't like chips' then pick chips off your plate. I fucking hate it, say so & no one would dare!

Grammarnut · 23/01/2026 19:40

YANBU I don't mind sharing dishes in a take-away or at a restaurant where there is a common dish, as long as the cutlery used to take the food has not been anywhere near anyone's mouth or the food on their plate. If it has I just stop eating that food. It's unhygeinic and I would never ask for food off someone else's plate, nor fihish off someone else's food (not even my DCs' when they were small). It's contaminated with someone else's saliva. Eugh.

CatsOfDoom · 23/01/2026 19:34

Quagmireschin · 23/01/2026 18:52

I get the same thing!

If I somewhere I have to take my own food (coeliac, I don’t want it trust anyone else to cook for me), and all I get is people asking to try what I’ve brought with me.

They forget I can’t eat any of their food, so if they take some of mine, I’m going hungry. It really annoys me and they are always so uppity when I point that out and say no.

God it’s so annoying isn’t it? It never seems to dawn on them that it can’t work both ways.

Chinsupmeloves · 23/01/2026 19:30

I am this annoying friend who's always curious to try different dishes! I would never however put my fork into anyone's food, well apart from my kids when younger.

LibDemMoles · 23/01/2026 19:28

I have a friend who doesn’t eat chips or dessert. Unless someone else has ordered it. Infuriating.

UnctuousUnicorns · 23/01/2026 19:27

godmum56 · 23/01/2026 19:15

Yep, that's where she nicked it from. We were twelve in '82, such lovely girls. 🤣

godmum56 · 23/01/2026 19:15

UnctuousUnicorns · 23/01/2026 18:32

Or to paraphrase a line a school friend used to write on her books and stationery etc., "You toucha ma food, I breaka your face." In her case it was "you toucha my stuff, I breaka your face". Such demure and delightful convent school girls we were. 😂

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JumpingPumpkin · 23/01/2026 19:11

Ew! I would not want someone else taking food off my plate. Happy to share Chinese/Indian/tapas but that's taking food out of serving dishes using clean cutlery.

My ex always used to turn down ice cream cones then ask for a bite, quickly made it clear that if I bought one it wasn't for sharing.

godmum56 · 23/01/2026 19:07

Tallisker · 22/01/2026 14:45

Or a steely knife 😁

but they just can't kill the beast

princesspadam · 23/01/2026 19:05

I hate this! My SIL does it and I’ve told her if she wanted what I’m eating she should order it!
I don’t share food with anyone

envbeckyc · 23/01/2026 19:04

I only share my food with my husband and vice versa, if we are on holiday and we have ordered food that neither of us have tried before! This is acceptable because we share fluids….. but only if it’s unlikely that a chance to try the food again!

I think that people helping themselves to food from someone’s plate that they are not intimate with is not acceptable, especially with a used fork!

Cherrytree86 · 23/01/2026 19:03

Why are some people so greedy??!

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