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Original poster

Would you change your menu choice?

30 replies

Icefoot · 02/11/2023 22:10

Every Sunday morning I go for a run with friends then to the cafe for breakfast. I have fried eggs and bubble and squeak.

While we were running last week, one topic of conversation was our favourite dinner. Mine involves mashed potato. I didn't realise, but my friend has such an aversion to mash that the talk of it led to her being physically sick at the side of the road. She definitely has food issues, her diet is very limited, but I didn't realise she felt like this about mash.

I didn't realise, but now I do, I can't order bubble and squeak, (essentially fried mashed potato) can I?

OP posts:
cardibach · 02/11/2023 22:11

If she hasn’t had to puke when you’ve ordered it before, what’s the problem?

BrimfulOfMash · 02/11/2023 22:12

Dunno.

Ask her if she finds it difficult.

Original poster
Icefoot · 02/11/2023 22:14

BrimfulOfMash · 02/11/2023 22:12

Dunno.

Ask her if she finds it difficult.

I would but last time I said the words she was sick!

OP posts:
Saschka · 02/11/2023 22:14

Maybe it hasn’t occurred to her? If she hasn’t vomited before, I wouldn’t change my order.

Chellybelle · 02/11/2023 22:45

I wouldn't be going out to eat with someone who was like that to be honest.

meganorks · 02/11/2023 22:47

If it hasn't been an issue before, why would it now. Maybe she doesn't even realise what it is. Just order it as normal. Bubble and squeak is the best! Don't give it up!

dontgobaconmyheart · 02/11/2023 23:43

Surely you can ask without directly saying the words and even if you did say them once, how can that be worse than her sitting in front of it, if the issue is so severe.

Maybe something like " The other day I heard you say you have an aversion to what I always order when we eat after a run - does it bother you, and would you prefer I didn't order it again, if so please let me know"

Perhaps she's not put two and two together about what it is, who knows.

WhateverMate · 02/11/2023 23:50

Order what you want

If she has that sort of weird reaction she needs to stop talking about food and keep out of cafes.

Gowlett · 02/11/2023 23:51

Bubble & Squeak wouldn’t really be a thing, where I live.
I’d never really think sbout what it is. Maybe she doesn’t know?

NigelHarmansNewWife · 02/11/2023 23:54

If she hasn't had such a reaction to your regular breakfast order, definitely don't tell her it's mashed potato.

Redglitter · 02/11/2023 23:54

If you order it every week & it's never been a problem why would it suddenly be now. Presumably she doesn't connect it to mashed potatoes

I agree with pp though that's not a normal reaction to just the mention of something

nokidshere · 02/11/2023 23:55

If you have already been to the cafe with her regularly and had bubble & squeak then it's clearly not a problem for her? Maybe she doesn't realise it's made with mash so why stress her more by telling her?

And some bubble & squeak is made with chunks of boiled potato anyway.

Just leave it as it is.

BettyPhuckzer · 02/11/2023 23:56

Redglitter · 02/11/2023 23:54

If you order it every week & it's never been a problem why would it suddenly be now. Presumably she doesn't connect it to mashed potatoes

I agree with pp though that's not a normal reaction to just the mention of something

This and this

If she hasn't made the connection then why change your order

And - wow - what a reaction to the MENTION of a food 🤣😳

JetBlackSteed · 02/11/2023 23:57

i call bollocks. She had to puke on the run and blamed your talk of mashed potatoes.

Original poster
Icefoot · 03/11/2023 00:03

Clearly it's not a normal reaction, I knew she had some serious food issues and eats only a very limited range of foods, it was definitely the conversation that made her sick. She usually has toast.

OP posts:
Original poster
Icefoot · 03/11/2023 00:04

She's a good kind person through and great company, so why would I cut off our mornings out?

OP posts:
Chellybelle · 03/11/2023 06:59

Icefoot · 03/11/2023 00:04

She's a good kind person through and great company, so why would I cut off our mornings out?

Then it's something you're just gonna have to get over. Just don't order mashed potato unless you want sick at the table 🤷‍♀️

RedCoffeeCup · 03/11/2023 07:01

Just carry on with your order as it doesn't seem to have caused any problems so far.

Doingmybest12 · 03/11/2023 07:04

Carry on as she's not reacted to it before. Unless you now feel anxious in case she realises, in which case just change but don't explain why. I m guessing the bubble and speak you order looks far removed from mash.

Fifireee · 03/11/2023 07:06

Poor thing.
She wouldn’t sit with you if she minded your order.

pickledandpuzzled · 03/11/2023 07:14

Carry on. Your order is very different from mash, despite the same ingredients. It’s fried and a dryish texture.

Mil is averse to potatoes- she copes with others eating chips etc, but mash is too much- it’s wet, steamy, mushy and smelly apparently.

your order isn’t like that.

ThreeRingCircus · 03/11/2023 07:43

Bubble and squeak may be made with mash but it is quite different to mashed potatoes. It looks, smells and tastes different. If she has been able to have breakfast with you before with no issues then I wouldn't change my order. To be honest with somebody that has that serious an issue with food then you'll never be able to please her, if you changed your order what's to say she wouldn't have an aversion to the smell of sausages or the look of museli or whatever?

reluctantbrit · 03/11/2023 07:43

As someone who hates eating anything mushy I can't bring myself down to eat mash potatoes, so it's definitely a thing. My gag reflex is in a way that any attempt to eat soft hot food is a disaster.

But, for me knowing how I react and cooking it for others and seeing DD and DH drowing it in gravy are two different things. Your friend may not have the luxery.

Bubble and Squeak may not have hit her radar as it's quite a different texture and looks obviously nothing like it.

I would talk to her and ask. Acknowledge that she can't deal with this food and ask her what you can do. Even not sitting directly next or opposite her may do the trick.

Hellostrawberries · 03/11/2023 08:02

I agree you don't have to do anything because she hasn't made the connection. Years ago an old school friend of mine who now lives abroad was over for a visit. I took her to a favourite cafe for coffee and cake. She had chocolate cake and I had lemon cake. I had a few forkfuls of mine and then said, do you want to taste this, it's amazing, it's got swirls of lemon curd in it'. She retched, ran into the toilet and threw up!! She had an insane reaction to the word curd which I didn't know about. But until I'd mentioned it she'd been fine.

Uniquuue · 03/11/2023 08:45

If just talking about it make her vomit no way could she sit opposite you while you ate it.

She's making that up.