He wanted people who ate at his house to have what they wanted

[JBloggs]

He wanted people who ate at his house to have what they wanted
http://www.appalachianhistory.net/2014/02/he-wanted-people-who-ate-at-his-house.html
JB "This is precious..."

 

[gillumhouse]

Can we relate to that! It is a wonderful story, thanks for posting it.

 

[JBloggs]

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

 

[Madeleine]

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!

 

[JBloggs]

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!
.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!

I am not talking about a veggie or something simple, I mean those super difficult diets that we freak out over. ThOSe ones we should just ask. Give them what they want.
I know you know, and we all know, whenever we have had a super special diet, we go to all lengths to accommodate and they don't even eat it, or at times even skip breakfast! We bent over backwards and that is the thanks we get! We say.
This is when i say that innkeepers try to do too much, try too hard, when the person may have said "Just fry up some potatoes" or something. Not wanting us to freak out and go to all lengths, and we do!
If I had an open kitchen, and I know you did the omelets thing, I would go for an open breakfast. I would make it a made to order omelet, crepe or whatever bar. Give them the fruit with or without meat, with or without potato or toast on the side.
I wonder if it isn't just as easy or less work than creating a meal for everyone at once...
hm, maybe i will change my tune for 2014...maybe I will short order cook.

 

[Madeleine]

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!
.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!

I am not talking about a veggie or something simple, I mean those super difficult diets that we freak out over. ThOSe ones we should just ask. Give them what they want.
I know you know, and we all know, whenever we have had a super special diet, we go to all lengths to accommodate and they don't even eat it, or at times even skip breakfast! We bent over backwards and that is the thanks we get! We say.
This is when i say that innkeepers try to do too much, try too hard, when the person may have said "Just fry up some potatoes" or something. Not wanting us to freak out and go to all lengths, and we do!
If I had an open kitchen, and I know you did the omelets thing, I would go for an open breakfast. I would make it a made to order omelet, crepe or whatever bar. Give them the fruit with or without meat, with or without potato or toast on the side.
I wonder if it isn't just as easy or less work than creating a meal for everyone at once...
hm, maybe i will change my tune for 2014...maybe I will short order cook.

.

We do a version of this...omelet comes with (fill in the blank), side of toast (or not), side of meat (or veggie sausage) but that's as close as we get. I can leave blueberries out of pancakes or leave fruit off french toast or leave the tomatoes off the scrambled eggs. Or add tomatoes to the eggs if the person can't have gluten and is getting eggs a second day.
If we're set up for omelets (and we get complaints about eggs all the time - 'oh, I don't eat (scrambled, fried, omelets) could you make me (omelet, scrambled, fried) instead.') we are not making pancakes. I know it sounds like such an easy switch up FROM THE DINING ROOM, but it's a PITA for DH who does not handle change easily.
You know we have been doing this for 10 years and yet, if I walk into the kitchen and say, as I have been saying for TEN years, '1 full, 1 no sausage, 1 no tomatoes' he will stop what he is doing and say, 'what? What do you want? How many guests is that for?' every stinkin' time. I write it down. I say it again. I asked him to tell me exactly how he wants the order to come in and he still needs me to say it 3 more times.
Heaven help me if it's a guest who only wants the sides! 'Just toast and sausage, no eggs' and he asks, 'what do they want in the eggs?'
So, for me, trying to do short order would eventually involve death or divorce. ;-)
I don't know how to explain that to guests. They think it's no big deal to make something he wasn't planning to make. How hard can it be? What's wrong with him? It's a stinkin' egg white omelet for pity's sake. Can't he even do THAT?
I love being an innkeeper in January. ;-)

 

[JBloggs]

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!
.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!

I am not talking about a veggie or something simple, I mean those super difficult diets that we freak out over. ThOSe ones we should just ask. Give them what they want.
I know you know, and we all know, whenever we have had a super special diet, we go to all lengths to accommodate and they don't even eat it, or at times even skip breakfast! We bent over backwards and that is the thanks we get! We say.
This is when i say that innkeepers try to do too much, try too hard, when the person may have said "Just fry up some potatoes" or something. Not wanting us to freak out and go to all lengths, and we do!
If I had an open kitchen, and I know you did the omelets thing, I would go for an open breakfast. I would make it a made to order omelet, crepe or whatever bar. Give them the fruit with or without meat, with or without potato or toast on the side.
I wonder if it isn't just as easy or less work than creating a meal for everyone at once...
hm, maybe i will change my tune for 2014...maybe I will short order cook.

.

We do a version of this...omelet comes with (fill in the blank), side of toast (or not), side of meat (or veggie sausage) but that's as close as we get. I can leave blueberries out of pancakes or leave fruit off french toast or leave the tomatoes off the scrambled eggs. Or add tomatoes to the eggs if the person can't have gluten and is getting eggs a second day.
If we're set up for omelets (and we get complaints about eggs all the time - 'oh, I don't eat (scrambled, fried, omelets) could you make me (omelet, scrambled, fried) instead.') we are not making pancakes. I know it sounds like such an easy switch up FROM THE DINING ROOM, but it's a PITA for DH who does not handle change easily.
You know we have been doing this for 10 years and yet, if I walk into the kitchen and say, as I have been saying for TEN years, '1 full, 1 no sausage, 1 no tomatoes' he will stop what he is doing and say, 'what? What do you want? How many guests is that for?' every stinkin' time. I write it down. I say it again. I asked him to tell me exactly how he wants the order to come in and he still needs me to say it 3 more times.
Heaven help me if it's a guest who only wants the sides! 'Just toast and sausage, no eggs' and he asks, 'what do they want in the eggs?'
So, for me, trying to do short order would eventually involve death or divorce. ;-)
I don't know how to explain that to guests. They think it's no big deal to make something he wasn't planning to make. How hard can it be? What's wrong with him? It's a stinkin' egg white omelet for pity's sake. Can't he even do THAT?
I love being an innkeeper in January. ;-)
.

I love being an innkeeper in January. ;-)

I love hate being an innkeeper in January. ;-)

 

[Arks]

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!
.

Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want?

The special preparation is for someone who must have something different because of a food allergy or other unusual circumstance. As long as you must make them something special, it seems fine to ask them what they want.
But people who just want something different because they want pancakes today rather than eggs, no, we're back to cook's choice there.

 

[Madeleine]

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!
.

Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want?

The special preparation is for someone who must have something different because of a food allergy or other unusual circumstance. As long as you must make them something special, it seems fine to ask them what they want.
But people who just want something different because they want pancakes today rather than eggs, no, we're back to cook's choice there.
.

Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want?

The special preparation is for someone who must have something different because of a food allergy or other unusual circumstance. As long as you must make them something special, it seems fine to ask them what they want.
But people who just want something different because they want pancakes today rather than eggs, no, we're back to cook's choice there.

But, the other 12 guests are now wondering why they didn't get something special. And why we didn't ask them what they wanted.
I hate to bring up someone's dietary problems in front of everyone else by saying, 'Now here's your special gluten free, non dairy, sugar free whatever.'
And, like JB says, half the time they skip breakfast because they don't really think you're going to make them something even if you go over it with them 10 times before breakfast.
Ah, another check in question - will you be joining us for breakfast? We have made a note about your special requirements and the cook has a special meal planned for you in the morning.
Guilt.
Plus, as you've read here, MANY of the 'I must have something different' guests are doing it because they can, not because they have to.
This is my week to weed out the recipe book. I am going to be making 'meal plans' so I don't have to plan every breakfast everyday. (Yes, I am not the cook but I am the planner.)

 

[Breakfast Diva]

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!
.

Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want?

The special preparation is for someone who must have something different because of a food allergy or other unusual circumstance. As long as you must make them something special, it seems fine to ask them what they want.
But people who just want something different because they want pancakes today rather than eggs, no, we're back to cook's choice there.
.

Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want?

The special preparation is for someone who must have something different because of a food allergy or other unusual circumstance. As long as you must make them something special, it seems fine to ask them what they want.
But people who just want something different because they want pancakes today rather than eggs, no, we're back to cook's choice there.

But, the other 12 guests are now wondering why they didn't get something special. And why we didn't ask them what they wanted.
I hate to bring up someone's dietary problems in front of everyone else by saying, 'Now here's your special gluten free, non dairy, sugar free whatever.'
And, like JB says, half the time they skip breakfast because they don't really think you're going to make them something even if you go over it with them 10 times before breakfast.
Ah, another check in question - will you be joining us for breakfast? We have made a note about your special requirements and the cook has a special meal planned for you in the morning.
Guilt.
Plus, as you've read here, MANY of the 'I must have something different' guests are doing it because they can, not because they have to.
This is my week to weed out the recipe book. I am going to be making 'meal plans' so I don't have to plan every breakfast everyday. (Yes, I am not the cook but I am the planner.)
.

"Ah, another check in question - will you be joining us for breakfast? We have made a note about your special requirements and the cook has a special meal planned for you in the morning"
I think this could be very effective! Then in the morning, just put their plate in front of them and move on to the next thing. If a guest want to know why they have something different, they can answer it themselves!

 

[Silverspoon]

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!
.

Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

It's a great idea. Of course, I drag my feet.
Why don't we ask...because if we make something completely different for ONE person, and it's always just ONE, why then not make every other guest exactly what they want? Why make them eat eggs when they want pancakes? Or serve them toast when they want hash browns. It just never ends.
We've come a long way from the casserole days to actually cooking when the guest sits down. But restaurant-style 'make what they want'? Maybe if I had a closed kitchen with a huge range, warming drawer and double ovens then I could think about making what they want. Or I only had a couple of people to cook for.
I'm getting stressed just thinking about trying to plan for all these different people again!

I am not talking about a veggie or something simple, I mean those super difficult diets that we freak out over. ThOSe ones we should just ask. Give them what they want.
I know you know, and we all know, whenever we have had a super special diet, we go to all lengths to accommodate and they don't even eat it, or at times even skip breakfast! We bent over backwards and that is the thanks we get! We say.
This is when i say that innkeepers try to do too much, try too hard, when the person may have said "Just fry up some potatoes" or something. Not wanting us to freak out and go to all lengths, and we do!
If I had an open kitchen, and I know you did the omelets thing, I would go for an open breakfast. I would make it a made to order omelet, crepe or whatever bar. Give them the fruit with or without meat, with or without potato or toast on the side.
I wonder if it isn't just as easy or less work than creating a meal for everyone at once...
hm, maybe i will change my tune for 2014...maybe I will short order cook.

.

We do a version of this...omelet comes with (fill in the blank), side of toast (or not), side of meat (or veggie sausage) but that's as close as we get. I can leave blueberries out of pancakes or leave fruit off french toast or leave the tomatoes off the scrambled eggs. Or add tomatoes to the eggs if the person can't have gluten and is getting eggs a second day.
If we're set up for omelets (and we get complaints about eggs all the time - 'oh, I don't eat (scrambled, fried, omelets) could you make me (omelet, scrambled, fried) instead.') we are not making pancakes. I know it sounds like such an easy switch up FROM THE DINING ROOM, but it's a PITA for DH who does not handle change easily.
You know we have been doing this for 10 years and yet, if I walk into the kitchen and say, as I have been saying for TEN years, '1 full, 1 no sausage, 1 no tomatoes' he will stop what he is doing and say, 'what? What do you want? How many guests is that for?' every stinkin' time. I write it down. I say it again. I asked him to tell me exactly how he wants the order to come in and he still needs me to say it 3 more times.
Heaven help me if it's a guest who only wants the sides! 'Just toast and sausage, no eggs' and he asks, 'what do they want in the eggs?'
So, for me, trying to do short order would eventually involve death or divorce. ;-)
I don't know how to explain that to guests. They think it's no big deal to make something he wasn't planning to make. How hard can it be? What's wrong with him? It's a stinkin' egg white omelet for pity's sake. Can't he even do THAT?
I love being an innkeeper in January. ;-)
.

And I'm really getting into the groove for Feb. too!

 

[Brigette]

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?.

Give them what they want! haha
Every time I read another perplexed innkeeper asking everyone WHAT CAN WE MAKE WHAT CAN WE MAKE "Vegan Gluten Free for three days here!?" Ask them what they want, and make it! Why don't we ask?

I asked the guests what they wanted and dietary restrictions aren't perplexing to me, but I still wanted to check in with other innkeepers for assistance based on the multiple number of nights the guests were going to be staying and the very limited number of foods given, which I listed in my original post on Google+. Thankfully, I received helpful suggestions from fellow innkeepers and we'll have four distinct breakfasts for them, based on the foods they normally eat, when they come and stay with us for their special honeymoon trip. I'm glad I made my post because I also now have backup plans for when guests don't tell us they have a dietary restriction until after they arrive (even though we ask beforehand...three times).