To ask how you feel about “doggy bags”

[MyKingdomForACaramel]

Went for a meal with Dh this evening. We had some super fancy mixed grill type thing (hours later am still stuffed), think around 7 cuts of meat plus a couple of sides.

We ate about half before we realised that our eyes were most definitely larger than our bellies and both agreed that with so much left we should ask if we could take the remai set home.

Thus ensued a ridiculous conversation over who should ask for the “doggy bag” - we both felt it was entirely reasonable to ask, but both felt a little embarrassed to ask.

So I guess my question is - is it unreasonable to ask to take left overs?

Personally I don't like leftovers; I get a bit squeamish about them.

But that's because I'm an idiot. Nothing wrong with asking to take it home - unless it's like one tiny piece of kebab and one tomato or something!

Yes, in our urbanised industrial-farming, post-industrial society, the ingredients take up relatively little of the menu price. A slightly different thing (but in the same vein) was back in the ‘90s in Norway, finding bananas in the supermarket for 90p/kg, but apples picked literally a stone’s throw away (famous orchard region) £1.80/kg.

In my experience, often the most expensive eateries are the ones with the smallest portions. This often isn’t even reflective of ingredient quality (my interest here is animal welfare, which is more often mentioned in Wetherspoons re fre-range eggs etc than it is in posher places). Oh, and don’t start me on the greenwashing whereby 25% of the dish being organic meat results in the ‘organic premium ‘ being applied to the entire, prepared meal...

I ask. No problem. Say that I can't manage it all but it's so nice, can I take the rest home. Never a problem. It's a compliment to them. No need to mention dogs. (I hate the term doggy bag) Haven't got any pets, anyway.

I'm never embarrassed- I've asked in all sorts of restaurants including Michelin Star ones. I use the phrase "would you mind boxing it up please?"

Occasionally they make you sign a form to say you won't prosecute if you poison yourself with it, fair enough.

Has anyone ever actually put their leftovers in a bag? It seems like the most ridiculous method ever (unless it’s bread rolls or similar). I suspect part of the reticence of some is that the standard terminology sounds so unappetising (we just ask for takeaway boxes - in an area where many of the eatery staff don’t speak/understand English well, this is most likely to work).

But what do you do with your leftovers?

Have them the next day for lunch. Some things obviously don't save well so we don't bother (salad with dressing already on it doesn't save).

Taking food home from an "all you can eat" buffet is generally not allowed in the States. That's the line. Either you are buying a plate of food that is brought to you and it is 100% normal to take some of it with you when you leave, or you are filling your own plate to your heart's content and is forbid to even take a roll with you when you leave.

I'm in my fifties and my dad used to own a restaurant back when I was a teenager. His chef used to wrap up leftovers for customers using foil and he used to make the foil parcels into swans. I remember people leaving with big grins on their faces carrying gorgeous silver swans filled with leftovers.

Oh and leftover chips (fries for USians) can be used up in a delicious potato and onion soup recipe or put into any casserole during cooking. They carry on cooking and end up just the same way any potato you might brown first before adding the liquid part of the recipe. Leftover chips keep for two days in the fridge until used in this way or they can be frozen.

Leftover chips are great in an omelette in a similar way to a Spanish tortilla. Or chopped and fried up with bacon or chorizo. But I don't mind them just reheated and eaten.

Don’t understand the awkwardness - I just ask them to wrap it for me - sometimes it’s for us others for the dog - don’t get into it

My rule of thumb is that if it's a restaurant that also does takeaway, it's fine to ask for a doggy bag / a container to take leftovers home in. Otherwise, probably not.

I don't ask for a doggy bag anymore - I just ask if they could wrap up the rest. It's such a waste!