What are the worst crimes you have seen committed at a buffet? Or any communal food situation.

[Sparklingbrook]

Following on from people who stand too close when queuing.

Also any top tips for buffet etiquette on an AI holiday?

Crimes for me-

Picking up food and putting it back
Using incorrect spoons and cross contaminating different foodstuffs

I hate parents sending their children to the buffet tables unaccompanied. They're children FGS, of course they want to put their fingers in and try everything or as in Spain this year, have an entire plate of chicken breasts but it's not cute or funny. It's your job as a parent to supervise them! I'm happy to wait while you explain what something is or what it might be similar in taste to.

I freely admit to being a small glass refiller. I need at least a pint of water or juice with my breakfast and crap hotel bathroom tap water isn't nice!

I hate people at work who, when there is a 'bring a dish' buffet 'forget' their dish but happily eat 4 overfilled plates of food...line manager I am looking at you

Also I hate people who barge junior school age children away from the buffet.

My children have manners, don't spit, poke, slurp, and always use the tongs. Your stomach isn't more important than my children who have patiently queued for their food.

Normalis.....ask them for LARGE glass...then i shan't have to scowl at you :D

I've tried many a time.

Most times I get told none are available

I use a coffee cup Normal, holds more!

This thread is giving me palpitations . I will remind you that I am currently in a transitional living situation which obliges me to make use of a 'complimentary' buffet dinner EVERY NIGHT. With my three children. I have seen things that I shall never be able to unsee. Did I mention that the breakfast buffet features DIY waffles and cans of squirty whipped cream? Also, unlimited pop and unfettered access to Froot Loops.

Going off a recent thread, I'd say the worst crime at a buffet would be taking someone from behind whilst sampling the prawn vol au vents

It's not buffet but it's food sharing related and it gave me mad rage!

If just had DS, getting to grips with BFing and was really hungry all the time. Mil came round with DH's three brothers to meet their nephew - they're all lovely lads but I admit I was two days post labour and feeling delicate. We order a curry and one of my Bil's says he doesn't want rice, so we order enough to split round the rest of us.

When the food arrives, I watch him empty a whole carton of rice into his plate. Not only was he having some when he said he didn't want any BUT he had a whole frickin' portion! He's lucky I had DS on my lap and was confined to the chair! I got so irrationally mad about it, I had to go upstairs with DS claiming I felt awkward BFing in front of them. It still irks me now, almost 18 months later!

you have to ask for a large glass, for water

and then fill it with juice :D

bit of etiquette here

Why do people do that Zebra!?? If I said I didn't want something and then fancied it when it arrived I'd just not have any and suck it up. Or maybe chance my arm at having any leftovers when everyone was finished. I'd have taken it off him in your situation.

Koala I remember reading that moussaka story on here before. What are people like?? And the icing!!!!

The last AI I went on with the thimble sized OJ glasses, I took the water glasses down from our room! The family on the next table said what a good idea it was and the next morning they did the same. I dont think the staff were too chuffed!

On that holiday were a whole load of Germans and they ate like nothing I have ever seen. They would go through the whole starter and main buffets with 2 plates each, as their starter, then do it again for their main. Then take half a cake or dish of trifle for their pudding. And they ate it all! I dont know how they did it.

I usually just watch, aghast, at the mountains of food people pile into their bowls at breakfast buffets esp.

The yoghurt and dried fruit, the eggs, bacon, bread, mushrooms, tomatoes, toast, absolutely piled up!! It's so gluttonous and revolting to watch.

It makes me just want to sip my coffee and get out.

They changed the rules at DP's staff canteen recently after he took too much advantage of the limitless supply of poppadoms. He used to take up to 4 on curry Thursdays

The rule is now one poppadom each. He is most put out.

Sorry nuggets - I find sharing the story my version of therapy. I am still absolutely outraged at it (these people took the unopened champagne off their table and put it in their bags at my wedding and when I asked what they were doing said quite plainly, oh we don't drink it so we thought we'd take ours home and give it to friends'. Ermmm noooo. Oddly example who was a stickler for behaviour always backed them up and said I was the rude one for challenging them. I know what she'd have said if anyone not from her family had done it!

As for other sharing atrocities, my friend went out with her new boyfriends mates for a curry. She isn't a big curry fan so ordered the only thing she likes -a Byriani and told them she didn't like much els. Everyone else ordered pilau rice and a main dish. When the biriani arrived first they all started loading it on their plates saying 'oh pass THE rice'. Friend kept trying to yank it back saying 'its not THE rice, it's my main meal' they just laughed and said patronisingly 'don't worry we will all share and more rice is coming'. She was left with no biriani and they then put their meat dishes on top of the biriani hey had put on their plate. Friend was left with pilau rice and the dregs from their meals. They rolled their eyes at her and made out they were doing her a favour by forcing her to expand their palate. Then they expected her to pay her portion of the bill!

I really hate breakfast buffets when people are just taking vast amounts of food to get their money's worth.
I am afraid i don't agree with taking stuff from the BB to make lunch with either. But that's just me.

I usually have toast (if there's no silly machine) and lots of coffee. DH has a full English and the DC make bacon sandwiches.

*example? ExMIL i meant of course.

I started a thread once bemoaning the lack of manners or thought at a breakfast buffet.

The buffet had run out of an item sausages but instead of moving past and keeping an eye out for a new tray to be delivered, the selfish twunts stood there and blocked the rest of the buffet, with plates of food going cold and shouting at the chef for not cooking new sausages fast enough.

I was gobsmacked and fascinated

Breakfast buffets are fascinating places. Watching everyone come down to eat in various stages of readiness.

There's usually people with wet hair.

The only person who is allowed to make their lunch at the breakfast buffet is my dad. He eats only a small bowl of fruit, if anything at breakfast, and a tiny bread roll with one slice of cheese for his carry out lunch. He never ever gets his money's worth at those places. I may sneak a croissant out if I couldn't face breakfast due to a holiday related cocktail virus, but I wouldn't eat a big brekkie then pack a picnic. That's just cheeky.

IIRC MrsK it was claimed that everyone does it at Disneyland Paris because it's so expensive to eat lunch there. There was talk of a family doing a sarnie production line while the Dad shielded events with his newspaper.

I put a price of toast in a conveyor toaster and it came out done only on one side, so I thought I'd turn it over and do the other side. Except it must have been the same side again and the damn thing actually caught fire! But I couldn't do anything as it was half way through so I had to watch the flames getting bigger until it came out the other side. The toaster was then closed down for the rest of the morning. You should have seen the looks I got.
In my defence this was the morning after a wedding I'd been at and I think I was still quite drunk.

Piece of toast obviously

And this is why I will never go on an all inclusive package holiday!
A friend of mine witnessed on last year's holiday -fingers in food and double dipping but worst of all someone licking the yogurt ladle and putting it back in!!
I am sure plenty of bad things happen in kitchens too but I don't have to see them! yuk