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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

The Salad Bowl

105 replies

ThinkGlow · 20/08/2019 16:43

DH and I have been invited to a BBQ by acquaintance-type friends next month. We're not close to them but hope to be, they're lovely. But we're quite different finance and upbringing wise (relevant). I'm Aldi, they're Harrods.

As I always would do, I've offered to bring wine/chocs and what I'd call a posh salad (feta/cous cous/pine nuts naice enough?!) and they said that'd be great.

Then I realised I couldn't possibly use the plastic 30p Wilkos mixing bowl that I usually use to house a salad. I'm pretty sure I'd spontaneous combust with shame offering my homemade salad in a plastic, battered and well used, bowl. So I've bought a posh one.

But what's the take-back etiquette?! I have zero knowledge of how to use a teaspoon correctly never mind what the correct/non-offensive way of taking back my salad bowl would be. But I do want to take it home. I spent too much on it to donate it to them

Do I take it back with whatever is left in it? Or sort of empty the contents for them?! How can this not be done awkwardly?!

Help.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Versaillaise · 20/08/2019 20:03

Gorgeous bowl!

TitsInAbsentia · 20/08/2019 20:07

Love the bowl, and your salad would look fab in it but maybe just ask the hosts if they have something you can decant the salad in to to save possible spills/breakages on the journey?

BeefTomato · 20/08/2019 20:08

It really is a lovely bowl. Have you thought about announcing how much you like your new bowl at the start, then they won't be surprised when you take it back at the end? It could be endearing...

ymf117 · 20/08/2019 20:24

Totally understand the wanting to take things in a nice bowl, but as a pp has suggested, ikea for £3 isn't a bad idea, I'm sure Aldi must sell some lovely ones too.

Personally I'm very conscious about getting things back to people after hosting in case someone's thinking cheeky bitch pinched it 😂 I'm sure most others are too!

Craftycorvid · 20/08/2019 20:29

I’d be brazening it out with me plastic bowl and raising an eyebrow at anyone who mocked it. But your naice bowl should be coming home with you.

Notthetoothfairy · 20/08/2019 20:32

You can buy large disposable platters (silver coloured), probably best to do that.

skybluee · 20/08/2019 20:35

Mine is from Tiger too Solstice, it's a big lettuce leaf.

2018SoFarSoGreat · 20/08/2019 20:47

fabulous bowl. What I would do is take the fabulous bowl, but carry the salad mixings in a food bag or tupperware (together or apart, as need be), so that it does not get wilted and you can mix it in the lovely bowl on the spot. With naice salad tongs - you have them, right? If not, two wooden spoons will do the job. Take an extra (smaller) food bag, wait til the end, then transfer leftovers to the extra bag, offer to host, lift lovely bowl casually and thank the hosts.

Most of us hate to have to wash then care for other's lovely bowls. Worse, they inevitably will be the one thing that gets chipped. They will want you to take it away, promise.

One note: how do you toss a salad in a square container? It needs to be curved does it not? I'd be more worried about that then getting my bowl back.

Whodo · 20/08/2019 21:01

That is a bowl that was worth waiting for!

IamEarthymama · 20/08/2019 22:14

Lovely bowl! I will show you mine!

I have loads of different bowls of all sizes, we eat lots of itame, pad Thai and pasta, stews and the like and I serve in bowls so often pick them up. I have lovely soup bowls with a Bee pattern that make me very happy and Spiral bowls for rice pudding.

I also have really old China serving dishes from grandmother, mother and old relatives and friends.
We always use them at Christmas time.
I have wooden salad bowls too that double as repositories for giant courgettes at this time of year.

Ice cream, trifle and Eton Mess is served in glass bowls and cereal in pottery bowls.

Hard-boiled eggs are served in those little bowls you get with creme brûlée so you can peel the shells before slicing onto your buttered toast.

I have just realised I am obsessed with bowls.
😉😂

The Salad Bowl
The Salad Bowl
The Salad Bowl
IamEarthymama · 20/08/2019 22:17

I was joking about the big red bowl, it's for decorative purposes and is huge!

OP as long as your salad tastes as good as it sounds I am sure that all will be well. Use some Tupperware and your hosts can either decant into their bowl or serve as is.
Enjoy yourself, that's the main thing 😊

Fruitbatdancer · 20/08/2019 22:22

Love the bowl.
I have an aunt who always asks you to bring shit and try’s to steal your tableware she’s a nightmare. I’ve tried the following which may be useful for you;

  1. “I’ll take the bowl home dirty, don’t want to add to all your washing up”
  2. write your name in SHARPIE under said bowl - no denying it’s yours when they tip it up to wash it
sweeneytoddsrazor · 20/08/2019 22:37

Does anybody use the word dish when referring to individual serving bowls rather than large bowls?

EustaciaPieface · 20/08/2019 22:38

It’s a lovely bowl! Definitely don’t risk losing it at the BBQ!

cranstonmanor · 20/08/2019 22:58

If it's empty just take it with you when you leave. If everybody os done eating just take it with you when you leave. If not, ask them do they have another bowl to tip the rest of the contents in so people can keep eating? Don't make the bringing the biwl back the question, make thd salad the question.

AliceAbsolum · 20/08/2019 23:00

Bangin bowl Smile

CalamityJune · 20/08/2019 23:06

I would go for a bigger, cheapo tupperware, I wouldn't jeopardise my naice bowl!

I actually tend to bulk buy those tinfoil takeaway containers from amazon for when I am making things to freeze, and they come in really handy for parties ( I am the cheesy coleslaw / sausage roll lady ).

CalamityJune · 20/08/2019 23:08

@sweeneytoddsrazor to me, a dish implies a shallower receptacle; somehere betwixt plate and bowl. Deep things are bowls.

That's my judgement on the matter!

MoaningMinnie1 · 20/08/2019 23:13

Buy a nice one in a charity shop. There are some real bargains to be had.

HUZZAH212 · 20/08/2019 23:19

I'd take it in tupperware and take the nice bowl so it gets an outing. Show host the salad and nice bowl and offer to use the nice bowl, or would she like to use one of hers? If she uses yours just pick it up at the end and say you'll take it home as it's not dishwasher safe and you don't want to put her to trouble.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 20/08/2019 23:20

@CalamityJune but what would you put in it. I know lots of people who say dish not bowl so wondering if it is a local dialect thing. Only for individual servings though or large desserts. For instance it would be a dish of trifle not a bowl of trifle that would then be portioned up into individual dishes.

Toneitdown · 20/08/2019 23:23

Personally I'd take the Tupperware.

However, if your heart is set on the fancy bowl then just ask them if they have a smaller bowl to empty salad left overs into when you leave, and then give the bowl a quick wipe and take it home with you. Honestly nobody would expect you to leave a salad bowl there, it won't look weird at all. You're just overthinking it because you're nervous.

CalamityJune · 20/08/2019 23:27

@sweeneytoddsrazor yes, thinking about it I think I would serve from a dish, be it vegetables or crisps or whatever. Bowls for individuals!

I have never thought this deeply about tableware!

Original poster
ThinkGlow · 21/08/2019 07:13

You're just overthinking it because you're nervous

You're right - and thank you for the replies, seems it's absolutely okay to just use Tupperware I will do that, and know nice bowl is safe at home!

OP posts:
ZigZagIntoTheBlue · 21/08/2019 07:37

If I were hosting I'd prefer you to take your bowl with you at the end - less stuff to store and remember to give back to someone else!