Brussel Sprouts

[elliemay1]

Had a meal in an hotel tonight which we often frequent. I had turkey and ham with the usual veg, brussel sprouts etc. They were so hard that I couldn't even cut into them. Informed the waitress who came back and said, 'Sorry, but the chef says that's the way he cooks them, al dente.' I complained to the restaurant manager but he just laughed it off and said it was a new chef. What would you have done?
P.S Having written this I know it sounds trivial but I was annoyed!

[shoota]

You need a firm sprout, a soggy one is no use to man or beast.

[rowanwitch]

He has a strange definition of al dente. put a bad review on websites that cover the locality if you feel strongly enough.

[elliemay1]

What happened to 'the customer is always right?'

[Buenchico]

I would have responded to the information from the waitress with this:
"Kindly tell the chef that there's a big difference between 'al dente' and 'raw'. I agree with his view that sprouts are far too often served over-cooked but there's still no excuse for serving them virtually uncooked. In my view, 'uncuttable' means 'uneatable'!"

[pastafreak]

For pasta or rice, it means "tender but firm to the bite". That's not the same as so hard a knife won't go through it. It doesn't sound like your sprouts fit the definition.

[New Judge]

Al dente means they should be firm when bitten. If you can't cut them with a table knife they are raw.

[237SJ]

A lot of restaurants serve kits that have all of the ingredients in a bag. Meat, potato, veg etc. They just heat it all up hence, some parts are rock hard.

[paddywak]

I love Brussels but there's a difference between al dente and cannon balls.Tell the manager the chefs job is to serve up meals the customer wants, not what he thinks they should want.

[shoota]

'Take them away and bring me something else, please.'

[elliemay1]

I know, I wish now that I had insisted on them being properly cooked. I think I was so surprised by the attitude that I didn't know what to say

[elliemay1]

They were definitely like bullets, nearly shot off the plate when I tried to cut into them!

[hellywelly4]

Glad it’s not just me - I am one of those who puts their sprouts on in August. I really hate al dente or raw vegetables. I suppose it’s what we have grown up with. I would have left them and then written to the hotel manager when I got home suggesting he has a word with the chef. If you’re a regular customer he won’t be wanting you to go elsewhere.

[Mamyalynne]

I would have requested a portion of a different veg and hoped that was cooked.

[elliemay1]

There was carrots and cauliflower too which were also hard but at least I was able to cut through them!

[barry1010]

A lot of hotels and restaurants serve veg that is very nearly raw. It seems to be the fashionable way to do it.

[iluvmargie]

I hate hard sprouts with a passion and don't know how anybody can eat them almost raw. I would have complained as well. Maybe if more do complain the chef will actually have to listen!!

[maggiebee]

We have a pandemic, problems with Brexit, possible food shortages and folk are complaining about hard sprouts. Good to see the good old British Bulldog spirit coming to the fore once more!

[Bazile]

You're all wrong

They were served rare

[pastafreak]

Maggiebee...if you pay good money for something like a meal, you want to actually be able to eat it. Do you think food waste is preferable to complaining?
If customers don't get what they want, then they will spend their money elsewhere. The hospitality industry is in jeopardy and needs to be in touch with customers to survive.

[barry1010]

maggie, the pandemic should not affect the chef's ability to cook sprouts.