Grr! Coworkers!

[ThomCat]

One of our vendors offered to take us out for a holiday lunch. Two of my coworkers accepted but never told me about the offer. Why? Because they want to go to an expensive steak house and I'm a vegan.

Their steak is more important that being professional and social and including me.

:wtf:

This is the second time they've pulled this shit! Are people really that addicted to steaks? They couldn't stand to go to some other fine restaurant that would have something I can eat?

Last year they insisted that our company holiday dinner had to be at a steakhouse too, and I sat there with shit to eat while they gorged on $300 meals of steak and seafood.

I'm really sick of this shit. And if I bother to say anything it'll be my fault because they have a right to eat steak if they want.

Happy Fucking Holidays from the guys in my office. x(

[MrCoffee]

1. that sucks, TC

i'm sorry, bro.

[ThomCat]

3. Hey.

:hi:

It has really soured my day. :(

[MrCoffee]

7. don't take any guff off those swine, TC

assholes only know how to shit on everything. don't let it get you down.

[Bunny]

2. They didn't even tell you about the offer? Boy that does suck!

I love a good steak, but I would never want to exclude someone because of it - it's one meal, for chrissake! You deserve better than this, my man. :hug:

[ThomCat]

6. Seriously.

That's just unprofessional behavior.

The last time they pulled this I asked them why they excluded me and their answer was "We know you don't like steak, and that's what we wanted, so we figured it was best to just go without you."

I'm different, so I'm less important and it's okay to exclude me and be rude to me. x(

[Gormy Cuss]

23. Unprofessional, rude and immature.

If I had a nickel for every time my business meals were adjusted to accommodate someone's dietary restrictions I'd be rich. I worked in a group that routinely had pizza parties and when a new hire told us that she was vegan, we ordered a no cheese, veggie pizza every time and let her choose the toppings. As if it really mattered to the rest of us.

BTW, you're different but your importance is measured in your contribution to the company, not your dietary needs. The boors have the problem and they deserve mediocre chain restaurant beef, the jerks.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

64. I can't eat pizza.

I used to eat pizza with everything on it except pepperoni, and it would come back up an hour later because of the tomatoes and bell peppers. That's what clued me in.

I'm allergic to tomatoes and they are too acid. I've also had to bring my own food from somewhere else when around people who catered stuff that was waaay too spicy, like P.F. Chang's or Thai restaurants. I've also been at buffets where the famous last words were "No, it's not hot". One tiny bite and I had to rush to find some water to drink to put out the fire.

I refuse to go into chain Italian restaurants (like the one they have flamefests over here) because they think Italian cooking equals smothering everything in tomatoes. It doesn't.

And when I give them instructions about no tomatoes, or no jalapenos on my nachos, the waiters are deaf. Once I went in a Mexican place and distinctly told them "no jalapenos". They brought them with jalapeno slices on top of the cheese nachos, and I sent them back. Then I picked up one and tasted it and the jalapeno juice was still there. They had just picked them off. I sent them back again.

:banghead: :puke:

[Gormy Cuss]

78. I'd be a very unhappy puppy if I couldn't eat tomatoes, but I know what you mean.

Most people don't register that something as commonplace as a tomato can cause GI distress. Peppers on the other hand, especially hot ones, are a more common issue for people and I've never been in a work group where everyone would want hot and spicy food --- there's always someone who can't handle it or dislikes it. That's why pizzas, salads, and deli sandwiches became the default choices.

[ThomCat]

79. I hate restaurants that are that inconsiderate, and there are a lot of them.

I make note of the good, considerate restaurants, and who the good serving staff are. I make a point of going back and becoming a regular so that they know me and are more willing to always make the food the way I can eat it.

I like walking into a place and having a waitress say, "I know what you want. I'll bring it right out." :)

I hope you have good restaurants like that near you.

[BarenakedLady]

4. Yuck!

That's awful!

:hug:

[ThomCat]

8. I can't believe how pissed I am about this.

I'm usually very laid back about stuff, but I'm furious about this. x(

[SallyMander]

5. OMG! Lameness!!

As if there aren't 400 million other restaurants to choose from in NYC... :grr:


Whatever, they just missed out on spending some time with your lovely self! Nitwits.

:hug:

[ThomCat]

10. Absolutely. We're in midtown Manhattan!

There's noplace else they could imagine having a good meal?

Tavern on The Green is a mile away! :rant:

[SallyMander]

13. Some people think only of themselves

This is clearly evidence of that phenomenon!!!

:hug:

:hug:

[madinmaryland]

68. I think there is an Olive Garden in NYC.

:hide:

[ThomCat]

81. Yes, and I've been there a few times.

:P

If you're with a group, and that's absolutely where they want to go, sometimes you quietly go along.

[Writer]

9. I'm very sorry. Being New Yorkers, they should know better than not to be inclusive.

If they want steaks at Gallagher's so f'ing bad, why don't they have a dinner together that same day, but choose a more amenable place for lunch?

:thumbsdown:

~Writer~

[ThomCat]

11. It's not like they even insisted on one of the best steakhouses.

They went to fucking Smith and Wellenski! :shrug:

It really is a case of them thinking that being different is a good excuse to exclude someone. They'll exclude our Indian technicians from conversations because they're talking about stuff they think is "too American." They'll just simply neglect to explain running jokes to the two women in our office because they're women.

And yet they truly believe that they're not the least bit prejudiced. They're being considerate by keeping to themselves.

It's so fucking easy to justify and rationalize bullshit! x(

[Writer]

21. What industry do you work in?

[ThomCat]

22. We're specialized Telecommunications Consultants.

Large advertizing agencies outsource telecommunications management to us.

[Writer]

30. Wow. Most geeks I know...

(and I use that term with utmost respect - my hub's a geek) are very tolerant of difference. However, when I was over at NBC, I was the only woman working in a team of men, and I encountered (forgive me NJ DU'ers!) a macho NJ male cliquishness that consumed all of our discussions and dictated our outside of work activities.

I'm not sure what you're dealing with, but I think a few words to a more pliant person wouldn't hurt.

:hug:

~Writer~

[ThomCat]

32. I did have a word with the company president

(our direct boss).

I asked him not to say anything or make an issue of it. But I told him he needs to know that this kind of unprofessional conduct is going on because they're using a vendor.

That vendor would be horrified to know that people he works with are being deliberately excluded or a petty reason. I'm sure he was told that I was just too busy to come.

[Writer]

34. Good for you.

:thumbsup:

[Rabrrrrrr]

92. If they're dumb enough to think Smith and Wollensky is good, then let them go alone.

Fuck 'em.

These are clearly people it ain't worth being around, and by their not inviting you, they've done you a huge favor.

[ThomCat]

95. Seriously! There are two better steak houses within blocks of here.

If they really, truly are that addicted to steaks at least go to a good place.

They're addicted to meat, but they don't know enough to judge how good it is! :shrug:

[Arkansas Granny]

12. How selfish and inconsiderate of them. They must be a real

class act to work with.

[ThomCat]

14. Oh yes. But I'm sure they'd say the that about me.

:(

[LaurenG]

15. It's wrong

and it happens to me frequently. We have meals brought in a lot and they never tell the person bringing it that I am vegan. They don't like potato bars or build your own taco's, they insist on meat lovers pizza or something meaty and never mention the lone vegetarian. They're afraid they'd have to eat something healthy I guess.

It was so bad last Monday that even the salad was smothered in cheese and bacon(with blue-cheese dressing)! There was no picking it off. Thankfully, I have a stash of oatmeal and peanut butter or I'd starve all day on "lunch days". Some days it's hard to see them all stuffing themselves when I'd be thrilled with a side of vegetables sans the dairy and meat additives.

I'm sorry Thom. :hug:

[ThomCat]

16. I'm sorry you have to deal with that too.

:(

It's just another way of meat-eaters shoving their dietary choices judgementally at us, which they hypocritically accuse us of doing to them. I'd sure as hell never exclude them or treat them poorly because they eat meat.

[TommyO]

44. Please don't blame all meat-eaters for the actions of some

Many of us are in tune with differing dietary requirements and choices and fully support them.

[ThomCat]

46. I definitely won't do that. I promise.

I'm the only vegan I know here in NYC, so all the friends I share meals with are meat eaters. :)

[TommyO]

47. I saw another one of your messages after I posted that

You definitely covered that and I apologize for even thinking that you blamed all of us omnivores.

edited: forgot to include "thinking" in the above sentence

[ThomCat]

49. No offense taken. It clearly wasn't your intent.

:)

[Ellen Forradalom]

17. That's awful. Not telling you is more of a diss

than the fact that they went to a place that serves steak.

The steakhouse could probably arrange something vegan. Such places often have pastas, vegetables, baked potatoes and salads on the menu. While dreary, it wouldn't be meat or dairy. So really, there was no excuse at all.

[ThomCat]

19. Most steak houses probably could make something.

This place, we know, has nothing I can eat. These guys convinced the president of our consulting firm last year that our company holiday dinner had to be there, and I found out first hand that all they could offer me was boiled vegetables.

Even their salad is just iceburg lettuce with cheese on it. Their only vegetable dish is creamed spinach (I can't eat dairy). There was Nothing I could eat on the menu at all. And the whole rest of the company sat there and ate several courses of steak and seafood while I had a plate of boiled vegetables.

Yes, it's a very deliberate diss to do this, expecially after I quietly sat there and smiled through that holiday dinner last year.

[Ellen Forradalom]

25. Well then, they are nothing but

used panties sitting on the magazine rack at the supermarket.

[ThomCat]

26. Okay, that analogy just made me laugh!

:rofl:

[Ellen Forradalom]

62. I actually saw that last night

It was the nastiest thing that came to mind. :puke:

[blockhead]

58. not a lot for you to choose from, but not even inviting you really sucks.

[ThomCat]

80. That's the place

And those vegetables listed in the "sides for two" section are exactly what I had, boiled into tastelessness. :(

[mtnester]

18. Most people are not like that

guilt guilt guilt oh the guilt filled douchebags. What a LAME excuse...what they really did not want to see was your self control. They could have invited you, but they would have had to sit there, eating their steak, while you had salad and begged for a veggie side dish that was not soaked in butter.

Guilt young man...guilt...

OH, and FWIW, as soon as I read this thread and realized you were a vegan, and knew you were going to the 5 state meetup in Ohio, I started thinking about adapting my usual delish fruit pizza recipe to vegan (easy...change cream cheese to tofutti) so that EVERYONE can enjoy! See...not everyone :)

[ThomCat]

20. You're awesome!

:hug:

No, not everyone is like them. But it's far too common. I really appreciate people who are considerate. :)

[Flaxbee]

24. that really does suck, ThomCat

people are so damn insensitive! I know for a fact, having lived in NYC for about two years, there are plenty of restaurants that would offer a lot of options for EVERYONE to enjoy. Sheesh.

Any way you can gather some menu options from various places you'd like and try to come to a consensus, or is that just too much to deal with? Part of me would want to find someplace everyone would like, but then again, part of me wouldn't want to spend more time with such dolts that I don't know if I'd bother....

[ThomCat]

28. I did try that. I really did.

When they proposed this steakhouse for our holiday dinner last year I politely proposed half a dozen other high end restaurants. They didn't respond to me at all, but just lobbied the president and convinced him that "everyone" wanted to go to the steakhouse.

I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, but they clearly made a deliberate decision to be rude. For some reason, getting an expensive steak dinner that they don't have to pay for is a really big deal to them, and it's more important than professionalism. :(

[lost-in-nj]

27. hey you

:hi: :hug:

I will take you to my favorite restaurant

they have AWESOME salads and pastas... and steaks.....


lost

[ThomCat]

29. I would love it! Especially having you across the table

to talk to over good food. :)

[lizerdbits]

31. Weird, we had the same conversation at work today

One of my coworkers is vegetarian so even though the rest of us wanted steakhouse for a group lunch we are going to check with her that there's something besides salad for her to eat. Of course she's not vegan so it's a little easier. But that's no excuse, you need to be included.

Reminds me of a holiday party where there were 2 chicken dishes and salad. One was rolled up chicken breasts with ham and the other had shellfish. So I guess the jewish and muslim people had salad.

[ThomCat]

33. I'm glad you all talk about it and take her into account.

:)

Maybe it's something in the culture of the NYC consulting industry. People in this industry are used to big dinners on someone else's expense account. A previous firm I worked for did the same thing, taking us all to a famous seafood restaurant that had absolutely nothing on the menu that wasn't seafood.

[MissMillie]

35. wow.. that's cold

I mean, really cold


I'm so sorry


:hug:

[ThomCat]

37. It's good to know people's priorities.

Steak is more important that a coworker or professional conduct. I won't pretend to understand, but it's still good to know where they stand.
:)

:hug:

[malta blue]

36. DAMN.

That is some fierce selfishness Thom - I am so sorry. There really isn't anything there for you, is there? I must admit, I am a complete carnivore, but I am also very sensitive to others', so I would ensure that a restaurant would include something - SOMETHING - for you to eat (and I'm not talking about a baked potato either).

Sorry my friend :hug:

[ThomCat]

38. You know...

Last year when the decision was made to go to that same restaurant I walked over there and has a word with the manager to find out what I could do to make it a non-issue. Could I arrange in advance for a simple vegetable dish?

I figured some sauteed vegetables over a baked potato would be possible. Something. I don't demand anything, and I don't expect much. But this place couldn't even do that. They only use butter, not oil, to fry stuff. I was totally amazed.

:shrug:

This is, in some ways, a lesson for me. If I am the nice one who constantly tries to accomodate other people they'll never make any effort to accomodate me. Maybe I SHOULD sometimes be the militant vegan so many meat-eaters accuse us of being. I certainly won't be treated any more rudely by them as a result.
:)

:hug:

[Name removed]

39. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[GardeningGal]

40. Can you say something to the vendor?

It won't help what happened this year, but it would stop it from happening next year.

[ThomCat]

41. I am definitely going to need to find a polite way

of telling them that their primary contact with our company should be our boss, the president of the company, not the guy who set this up. The boss was excluded too, and if he'd been invited then this wouldn't have happend.

Our boss doesn't mind if the vendors don't include him because he deals exclusively with clients, not vendors, but he'll back me on this.

[SPKrazy]

42. Damned carnivores

seriously Thom, sorry you have to put up with that

I'd buy ya dinner if you ever come to Arkansas

:hi:

and it won't be meat, we'll go eat somewhere up in Fayetteville that has some good vegan dishes

[ThomCat]

43. I've never been to Arkansas.

I'd have to come in the early fall and try stuff made from local produce. :)

:hi:

[SPKrazy]

45. Lots of good local produce all summer and fall

:hi:

it's a pretty state

it's not a progressive state, but hey
we are a blue one!

Dem Governor
Dem Lt. Governor
Dem majority in state house and senate
Dem US Senators
Dem majority in the US House

so no, they aren't the liberals I'd like them to be, but at least we got the Repukes out of control of the statehouse.

:hi:

[flvegan]

48. The last law firm I worked at had 150 employees.

2 vegans, 4 vegetarians...all my fault *snicker*. Never a problem. Guess it's who you work with. Sorry, Thom.

[TommyO]

50. It truly is the people you work with

We have a small, but incredibly diverse group of people working together, no vegans, but four vegetarians in a group of twelve, somehow we manage to find places where everybody can get something to eat.

[ThomCat]

51. It is who I work with.

:shrug:

I was pissed earlier, but it's hard to stay mad. They're not that important.

All of their vendors also deal with me too, but I have some vendors that they don't work with. I'll get some invitations that they CAN'T be included on. :)

[madeline_con]

52. Don't steak houses have salad bars?

I think your coworkers may just be dicks.

[ThomCat]

54. The high end steak houses don't.

It's menu items only. 40 kinds of steak, and a total of 10 other items on the entire menu. :P

Even for people who love meat I don't understand why those places are so popular. But if I understood, I probably wouldn't be a vegan. :shrug:

[madeline_con]

57. So, they are dicks.

They couldn't get their shit together enough to suggest a place you could all enjoy. :(

[BreweryYardRat]

53. They're douchesocks.

Call them out on it. Once would have been forgivable, twice isn't.

[ThomCat]

55. I think they'll get somelessons in professional conduct

indirectly from our boss. He's got a talent for getting messages across without being in your face about it. :)

And that prevents it from being a conflict of me versus them, which could interfere with business.

[fizzgig]

56. that is some grade a passive-aggresive douchbaggery

it has always confounded me how hard it is for some people to be decent

:hug:

[ThomCat]

60. The one who organized this is very passive-aggressive.

You nailed that exactly right. :)

:hug:

[bullwinkle428]

59. Dude, that's absolutely atrocious behavior on their part!! I have a story

to share on this particular subject!

I recently celebrated my 20th anniversary on the job, and as part of that, I got to choose the restaurant where our departmental lunch celebration would take place. My boss was nice enough to suggest we have the lunch in the town in which I live, some 40 miles from the little town where I actually work. My co-workers are all from little towns in Iowa, and don't really have the kind of eclectic tastes in cuisine (relatively speaking) that I do. Generally, the "subject" of the celebration gets to choose the restaurant.

When my boss asked me for my preference, I told him I go for Asian food most often (Thai, Japanese, lots of sushi), as well as Mexican (lots of authentic restaurants around here). I let him know that I'd rather choose something "safe" that everyone could enjoy, and found a nice compromise restaurant. No skin off my ass, and everyone was happy. The moral of the story...if I could make adjustments, the self-absorbed assholes you work with could certainly lose their tunnel vision, especially when there are so many amazing restaurants in NYC.

If you ever have the chance to make it to Iowa City, I'd be proud to take you over to the Red Avocado for dinner (http://www.theredavocado.com/)...I can't imagine you going hungry there!

Oh, as for the poster upthread...well, lets just say I can recall a specific thread related to Christmas last year where they absolutely took a dump on the efforts of a very fine DUer to bring some joy to someone else in their life. It was utterly pathetic and uncalled for, just like this.

[ThomCat]

61. That looks like an awesome restaurant.

:)

It's funny that they can't imagine anything but that particular steakhouse. We have an amazing number of really awesome celebrity restaurants that get international raves. We have some of the greatest hotels in the world whose restaurants are known for defining modern fine cuisine. We have classic five start restaurants with longstanding reputations. We have the best of high-end national cuisines from the best of French cuisine to the most delicate of Japanese cuisine.

Even restricted as a vegan I can eat in a different very fine restaurent every day for 6 months and never repeat a restaurant. You'd think omnivores would want to check out some of those restaurants too. :P

[kentauros]

63. Vegetarian here (almost vegan) :)

If you wanted to be "mean" the next time they plan on going to that steakhouse, call in a complaint to the health department! :P And if it takes more than one complaint, get all your veg*n friends to join in the fun

I've worked with many a redneck over the years (working both in the energy industry as I do now and in kitchens/bakeries) so I know the type. You could tie them down, blindfold them and they still would not eat anything but what they already know (BBQ, venison, beef, chicken, pork, fish) and it would be like trying to feed pureed artichoke hearts to a baby ;) That type of omnivore is simply beligerant and overly stubborn in what they will eat or (not) try.

And the rude one earlier that mentioned being a "foodie" obviously has no idea what that means. In my experience locally, a "true" foodie will eat at 5-star restaurants as well as the hole-in-the-wall places where the quality is easily as good for a 30th of the price of the high-end place. It's all about how much love the proprietors put into their food and business. You can certainly find that attitude at the top, but I've seen way too many chefs and cooks in the high-end places that are there only for that fat paycheck. Providing the customer with the best possible meal ever isn't always a priority for a lot of food businesses, no matter whether they're high-end or lowest of the low-end or anything in between. And I'd say by your knowledge of great places to eat in NYC that you are well aware of this mindset of putting your heart into the food and service you provide and how the best places continue to be the best places to eat and dine :D

(I hope that made sense ;) )
Chow!

[ThomCat]

71. Yes, that made perfect sense.

:)

I do love food. And I love good restaurants. I'm definitely a foodie. One of my favorite experiences is checking out new restaurants with friends, and taking people to good restaurants when they visit NYC.

And, yes, one of those guys is the type of who never, ever tries anything new. :P

[kentauros]

77. I don't know if you bring your own meals to work

but I have found that if I use the right spices, even the rednecks will comment that my leftovers smell good. Lately, I've been using a Middle Eastern spice I learned of at a Palestinian cafe I frequent here for their falafel. They use sumac and ground cumin, but one of the sibling owners told me to try the blend of sumac, paprika and cinnamon. I don't measure any of it when I make my "stew fries" but I'd say the ratio is about 5 : 3 : 1 (sumac : paprika : cinnamon.) Reheating it usually sends those aromas throughout our small offices and everyone, even the one redneck "meater" comments on how good it smells :D I wouldn't expect him to ever try it, but at least the aroma gets a positive comment out of him.

Sumac is made from the berries of a plant that is native to Africa. It has a tart flavor and works well with other spices. http://www.uni-graz.at/~katzer/engl/Rhus_cor.html

[ThomCat]

83. I used to

but with the loss of the use of my hands (arthritis) I can't cook anymore, so now I eat out for 3 meals per day.

I loved to cook, and still do when someone can help me. :)
That sounds awesome! I can understand why your coworkers would be enjoying the smell.

[tavalon]

65. I hate to be another bad guy here, but as a person with very difficult dietary constraints,

and as a person who watched my vegan friend walk into every restaurant with a chip on his shoulder, I learned that I wanted to have a different relationship with restaurants. I go for the company and the food is very secondary. I would be ticked that I wasn't even invited but if they had been considerate enough to invite me, I would happily gone to the steak restaurant with them and ordered something vegan (difficult for sure, but not impossible. Try gluten free sometime).

They still suck for not even inviting you. People can be so stupid that way.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

70. i think thom would go if he were invited. i feel like he has had to endure many steak dinners

:)

[ThomCat]

72. I posted above

about the extent I went to quietly fit in on a company trip to that restaurant last year. I doubt anyone would think I have a chip on my shoulder. If your friend has a chip on his shoulder it's because it was already there, not because he was a vegan.

I've been out in restaurants many times with friends with various limited diets. One person can't have any wheat product. I am vegan. One person is alergic to garlic. etc. It is definitely a challenge. But you certainly don't manage a situation like that by excluding the people who have dietary restrictions.

If they invited me I would have politely suggested alternative restaurants. And if they insisted on this steakhouse I would have declined to go. I've sat through too many steak dinners to keep doing that again.

To be honest, I'm tired of being the only one who does the polite and considerate thing. It's easier not to go. It's just wrong that I have to deal with this, and worse when they exclude me entirely. They're just compounding rudeness with more rudeness. :(

[RebelOne]

66. My company is having a holiday luncheon. I'm also a vegetarian.

Look at the menu. And I'm the only vegetarian among about 50 employees.

Baked Ham
Smoked Pork Loin
Mashed Potatoes w/ gravy
Steamed Vegetables
Crowder Peas
Green Beans
Fruit Salad
Red Velvet Cake
Cobbler

About all I will be able to eat will be the vegetables and mashed potatoes without the gravy, since you know that will be meat based.

[ThomCat]

73. That does not look like a good menu.

:(

Steamed vegetables will be bland. It would be nice if they could at least lightly saute them with onions or garlic or something.

I have no idea what Crowder Peas are. Is that a good posibility? or is that just another way of saying Peas in butter?

It looks like you'll be eating a lot of desert. If you're not a vegan then those are all safe. If you don't eat eggs/dairy then I guess you're stuck with fruit salad.

Holliday dinners are definitely a bit of a trap. My last company had a few employees who kept Kosher, and they were screwed too. At least there, we had a group of us with nothing to eat so we could socially commiserate. :P

[RebelOne]

96. I think crowder peas are a Southern dish as this is Georgia.

I'm not a vegan, as I do eat dairy, so I won't have to just eat fruit salad.

[CreekDog]

67. they should inform everybody and try to pick a place that can work for everybody

if some folks want to go to a steak house, they can do it among themselves. it's innapropriate to have an office function and not invite staff because of a dietary difference.

[ThomCat]

74. Absolutely!

You'd think something that simple would be hard to dispute. But "I want steak" seems to trump anything else. :shrug:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

69. your coworkers are ASSHOLES! as a person who LOVES steak i would never pick a steakhouse

for a company dinner. worst place for a vegan/vegetarian/hindu. its selfish, self centered assholic behavior.

[ThomCat]

75. You've been patient and listened to me rant about them before.

:hug:
Yes, One of them is definitely an asshole. The other is just going along and more than happy to be clueless about how rude it all is.

I would never, ever pick an entirely vegan restaurant for a company meal either (even though you know my preferance for Red Bamboo). I've always suggested places where they could get what they want, even if there's only one meal on the menu I can eat. I'll even settle for the same old Pasta Primavera at every company dinner if it allows me to be social.

[raccoon]

76. That was rude of them.

Sorry, Thomcat. :hug:

[ThomCat]

84. Hi Raccoon!

:hi:

It's one more rude thing in the world. We all just have to keep moving. I'm just going to enjoy my own food and know that I eat better than they do. :P

[DS1]

82. bottom-feeding scum

and you can tell em I said that.

And people pay 300 for a steak? I'm not naive enough to think that never happened, but it's the first time I've seen that amount actually thrown around. It makes me cry a little on the inside.

[ThomCat]

86. Seriously! The specials there can get incredibly outrageous.

I've spent $300 per a meal a few times. It was for special occassions, I knew the chefs, and the food was amazing! It was at Windows on the World at the World Trade Center, and it was an absolutely amazing place.

But for a slab of beef? :shrug:

The specials over at that steakhouse are supposed to be fantastic, and that's what they get. But still... :shrug:

[DS1]

89. Do they have prices on those menus?

As in, New York Strip, 300

or is it a "if you have to know, you shouldn't be there" arrangement?

[ThomCat]

93. On the standard menu, it's $40 for a steak.

It's the specials that get expensive, and those change constantly. And, of course, the expensive drinks that go with it.

The standard menu is posted above, but it's one of those places were you're a fool to order off the standard menu. :shrug:

[redqueen]

85. Boy they're really into the whole "spirit of Christmas" thing.

What selfishness. That's one thing I really cannot stand.

I just don't understand it.

[ThomCat]

87. I wouldn't bring up that argument

because then both of them would definitely say "But you're Jewish." :eyes:

But you're right. They're definitely getting into the holiday mood. :P

[redqueen]

88. That doesn't matter... it's the spirit of the thing...

and they're not Jewish, are they?

Whatever their religion (if any) they are still assholes who clearly don't get it. :P

[ThomCat]

91. I know one of them is Greek Orthodox.

I have no idea what the other one's family religion is. I think Catholic, given his french ancestry and his family is from New Orleans.

But I don't think either of them cares about religion or the holidays except that it means days off from work and vendors taking them out to dinner. :P

[LeftyMom]

90. That's really shitty of them.

x(

I don't have to put up with that sort of shit, because several of my coworkers are vegan. But at my old job? Nobody ever made any effort at all to get something to eat, and on potluck days they'd eat anything I brought before I got to eat. :grr:

[ThomCat]

94. We had an office Thanksgiving lunch

with the IT and Finance departments, so there were about 40 of us. Three people made a point of talking to me about what they wanted to bring to make sure I could eat it (wonderful people!). Of course, those dishes disappeared first!

Now that I'm on crutches I have one benefit though. I can't stand in a buffet line and serve myself food, so I get to go first with someone to help me. :7

I actually got food this year!

[Raejeanowl]

97. Pretty Rude, But...

I'm not sure your preference trumps theirs, any more than one non-Christian trumps 50 Christians when it comes time to putting up the holiday displays.

But rather than have you subjected to who knows what pot luck slop, a more middle-of-the-road menu restaurant with a self-respecting chef worth his or her salt can be called ahead to ask that something good be prepared for a vegan in the party. And you'd know where to take your mammal-eating friends the next time, also.

You co-workers are just being rude and selfish and pre-emptive. And whatever is being planned for the next company holiday dinner, you are within your rights to speak to the boss and ask that something other than a shrine to meat be considered once in a while.