Is it a class thing?

[Pollypenguin01]

I don’t really want to go into the why’s of this question as it’s pretty outing but I’m looking for a average opinion.

Would you ever take a ‘gift’ for the kitchen staff at a restaurant?
Has this always been a thing to do?
Do you have to be of a certain class and in a certain class of establishment for this to be the norm?
If you happen to be a Chef/waiting staff/restaurant owner/etc would you think it very strange for a customer to bring a gift for the chef and cooking staff?

The example of gifts would be, a pack of beer, some mini cakes or doughnuts, some other appropriate food or drink multi pack.

YANBU = God no, I have never heard of this!
YABU = you’re clearly some sort of cretin that doesn’t know how to behave in civilised society!

Please feel free to explain your vote!

I wouldn’t, but I have a friend who collects the same tuna salad for her lunch every day.
It’s not from a take away - it’s a regular restaurant and she has this arrangement exclusively with them and collects it every day on the way to work.
When we go there for coffee they always throw in little extra treats - which I eat because she is too busy being thin and beautiful - I digress!
Anyway - I know that she dropped in some nougat (purchased somewhere exotic) to them so in that kind of situation I think it’s ok. I’m sure she would send them a token for Christmas etc.

What @aliw61 said.

I was on the fence until the last update. Soz op you’re practically tap dancing on the shark now.

I've never heard of this but if it is somewhere you visit often and are recognized by the staff, why not?

Not quite the same thing but I always tip at my favourite restaurant (more at Xmas) and I always ring the bell for an excellent steak at my local Miller & Carter.

Mutual friends told me yesterday that they took china plates and bone handled cutlery to McDonalds

And it was at this point the thread jumped the shark.

@Eminybob Ha ha you beat me to it

I’d send Ali’s text.

Thank you for this thread - I love hearing about people so insecure in their upbringing and status that they make fools of themselves trying to be ‘better’.

Twunts.

Good grief.

Friend is a chef in a very nice restaurant, showed her this and she thinks it's bonkers and they'd be a bit baffled if they recieved a gift

I don't get the shark references?

You had me right up to McDonalds

Did MN only discover jump the shark with that recent thread? It's so weird to see so many uses on this thread, like I've wandered back to 2005 or something.

@AwkwardSquad

This is brilliant. It’s like a Fast Show sketch, or Harry Enfield.

Those are funny.

I’m really not lying. I know it sounds absolutely bonkers and quite honestly I’m not sure if I haven’t banged my head and woken up in a parallel universe but it is true and has happened.

Our mutual friends have said the McDonald’s incident did happen. It could be an elaborate joke they are both in on but I really don’t think it is.

I have put £6 in an envelope and will post it Monday morning on the way to work. I will be up earlier than them so they won’t catch me. I’m not sure if I’m going to text them back or just leave it at the moment.

I do feel sad we are loosing a friendship but I mainly feel really stupid that I haven’t seen it in 3 years. They obviously thought we were ignorant and lower class all through our friendship which makes me wonder if I need to be more watchful of other people’s attitude towards me.

If the friendship is over theres no way on earth I'd be paying the £6. Dont pander to their nonsense. Paying it is basically saying they're right. They're not.

Mutual friends told me yesterday that they took china plates and bone handled cutlery to McDonalds

Anymore examples OP. I’m sure you must have some more.

Why on earth are you entertaining their demands for £6? Just block them.

If this is real. You call them friends but unless they’ve suddenly both had lobotomies, you clearly don’t know them well at all or see them often because otherwise their weird habits would be well known to you already. In which case just ignore their messages and don’t respond to any further invitations.

You'd better tell the wife that I have a Miele vacuum cleaner and appliances in my housing association property. Say something about how living in a free house courtesy of the taxpayer ignoring the fact I pay full rent and always have done frees up the income to enjoy the superior handling qualities of the CX1 Blizzard on the IKEA laminate and seagrass stair runner.

Laugh and block.

I too have a Miele.

I think your 'friends' are snobby and mad so best distance yourself & definitely don't pay the £6.

I have sent the link to this thread to them so we will see what happens.

Crumbs, OP, you're brave!

Of course you have, because that’s what any rational person would do. Cue outraged friends storming onto the thread...

The only time I've ever heard or seen anything similar was a longtime and regular visitor at Claridges bought an ice cream machine to go in the staff canteen. But, yes, this is odd and not something I've ever heard of apart from that one example.

I might if it had been a high profile dinner in a private dining room, or dealing with a special event such as a wedding. But certainly not food, probably expensive alcohol and probably a crate. I've managed some extremely VIP dinners in my time and such gifts would've totally bemused the staff.