About eco warrior friend.

[lastqueenofscotland]

Before I get accused of single handedly ruining the planet, I’m very conscious of environmental issues, went vegan, try to avoid single use plastics, no children etc.
Went for dinner last night with a friend who is quite militant about the environment. And their new huge thing is food waste.

There were 4 of us round, all adults with appetites. (I’d run 10k beforehand and had skipped my usual post run snack) when we got there he was cooking and I know I can be a glutton but it was literally fuck all
I think everyone got about 2 tablespoons of rice and a similar amount of curry. He wanted there to be no possibility that there would be any left and therefore thrown away.
It was delicious but literally took up a fifth of a plate. One of the other ladies there jokingly said “is there a war on, what’s with the rations” to which he got very offended and went off on one a bit about consumption and waste etc.
AIBU to think this is a bit weird/ott
(Waits for mumsnet to come on and say everything more than a teaspoon of rice is gluttony)

I didn't even know "soup spoons" existed!

Soup spoons are round while dessert spoons are usually more oval, but I don't know why.

We only have one type of spoon of this sort and they're a roundish oval, so we just use them for soup and hot and cold puddings.

I grew up in a family that was quite formal when it came to food - we had a dining room and dinner (and lunch if we were all in) was always eaten there.

My mum had a beautiful silver canteen of cutlery and when we had a special meals with guests we would set the table properly, with all the different kinds of cutlery in the right place (I had a relative who worked in formal catering as well). I really liked the formality of it, though I never bother with it myself.

It was only in my 20s that I realised that most people didn't do this kind of thing .

I use a teaspoon to eat soup (and cereal)! My OH thinks I'm crazy but it makes it last longer and lets me savour it more

I hope you warm your bowl first (also insisted on by my family) otherwise your soup must be stone cold by the time you've finished!

Personally think he fucked up and didn’t make enough food so thought of the first excuse that came to mind. To avoid food waste you simply store it in a container for the next day.

Pudding (or yogurt or ice cream) is better eaten with a small spoon. A nice oversized teaspoon is perfect.

Have I got this right? OP was invited to eat a meal at a friend's home after a group of them had done a 10K run. The meal offered was 2 tablespoons of rice and 2 tablespoons of vegan vegetable curry.

A quick search says the rice would have been about 26 calories and the curry 28 calories.

I only own standard knives, forks and spoons (and a set of steak knives). I must admit I did think soup spoons, fish knives, tiny little forks etc were just something posh people/old fashioned people used. My parents don’t own those things, grandparents maybe.

Pudding (or yogurt or ice cream) is better eaten with a small spoon. A nice oversized teaspoon is perfect.
Absolutely. Can highly recommend the spoon from ikea's children's cutlery for this.
🏃🏻‍♀️

I inherited the family cutlery which is at least Victorian, nothing posh but growing up a tablespoon was a serving spoon - used to serve at the table, hence the name. I still have them and they are larger than desert spoons, however, newer ones are not the same sizes. I have some tablespoons from the 80's and they are much larger.

On the other hand, serving spoons seem to be made with plastic handles these days.

Am thinking it is time to go through the cupboard of doom and find all this old stuff but can't face the memories, some of it is in use, the rest is packed away.

I have a special spoon from my childhood set.

I’m guessing your friend is going in for virtue-signalling (“Look how eco-friendly I am, cooking as little as possible”) hiding tightness.

It’s weird, right and bloody rude.

Genuine question here but those saying it's not eco friendly to cook 2 meals - that you should batch cook and freeze.............doesn't the power to run the freezer equal the power it would take to cook a meal?

the fridge or freezer is running anyway, though, surely?

I would have got on my phone and while looking him dead in the eye order pizza and chips hahaha

But your freezer is always on, your hob and oven aren’t.

Sorry to butt into the spoon debate and im hours behind I didn't know Chris Packham has Aspergers that would explain his intensity i feel a bit guilty now anyway as you were.

Very rude!

Even if were are leftovers, he could have had them for breakfast!

I have to admit that I'm the culinary equivalent of John Lewis (Never Knowingly Underfeed), but if he was so worried he could have put out rice and curry and let guests help themselves to appetite. Any leftovers could go in the freezer.

He's just being tight! If he comes to you, feed him the same minuscule portions and give tons to everyone else. If he says anything, just mention that you know he has a very small appetite, and also hates waste, and didn't want to embarrass him by putting him in a position where he either has to leave some, or eat to the point of discomfort.

Don't invite people if they aren't really welcome.

I inherited the family cutlery which is at least Victorian, nothing posh but growing up a tablespoon was a serving spoon - used to serve at the table, hence the name. I still have them and they are larger than desert spoons, however, newer ones are not the same sizes. I have some tablespoons from the 80's and they are much larger.

I can confirm this.

Enjoying the debate over spoon size.

When I grew up (seventies and early eighties) a tablespoon was about 15ml. My mother's did appear quite big in comparison to her teaspoons and dessert spoons. They were used for serving your vegetables at the table, or sometimes for measuring amounts.

I suspect OP means a dessert spoonful.

The guy was rude to have guests over and not cook plenty. He could have stored the leftovers in the fridge for the next day or frozen them for a convenient future meal.

I'd have been tempted to offer to go to the chippy for everyone. I certainly might well have collected a portion for myself on the way home.

Is there a chance the host feels like he’s always hosting and no one else ever provides/brings food? Or did more people turn up than RSVP’d? Sounds like he’s trying to make a PA point here. Maybe you’ll have to take some poppadoms next time you’re round Stingy Steve’s house

Sounds like an oddball

Chris Packham is self-diagnosed.

Ah he's a 'worthy'. Buy him a new set of sackcloth and ashes for his birthday.

Years ago a friend shared a flat with a bloke who was a bit of a save the planet type. His favourite meal was a boiled whole (quite large) cabbage, sprinkled with paprika. I suggest you serve that to your friend if he comes for a meal, OP.

My mothers serving spoons which only came out on high days and holidays were massive so two rice and two of curry using them would be a meal.