re: Does it piss you off when people are close minded about trying new foods?

As the first reply noted, I feel sorry for them. If something is ble to supply nutrition to the human body I will at least try it once, and I have done so with things that people go eewww.

I think you'll find this applies to the majority of people. You can tell by what is usually ordered the most off the menu. It's familiar to them, and in their comfort zone.

My kids HAVE to try everything new I cook. Even if its one bite. We have had several "AH HA i do like that!" moments. They understand if they dont try it they might be missing out. They also have to eat it if they order it at a restaurant (no wasting). If someone else cooks and makes them a plate, or orders and buys them food, they are expected to eat it. AND say they like it

I consider it manners.

Tell you some weird arse shite. True story. I bring three people out to lunch at a nice restaurant a while back for business thinking they are going to really appreciate this and be blown away. We walk in the door and look at the menu and the train immediately derails. One is cool and interested in ordering, asking me about various things on the menu, background on it, and what I would suggest, and the other two have this real strange look on their faces, but one in particular has a look of terror on their face because the salad isn't iceberg (shite you not), that they can't EVEN pronounce a few things, and the menu items aren't familiar to them. They freak out and are talking real loud, making a scene saying "what is that? I've never had that before. Ohh, I don't know about this." About this time customers are turning their heads like WTF?

I had to actually make my red faced apologies to the server and get everyone to go down the road to a place where they could get a hamburger. Everyone was happier than a pig in shite, and thanking me for lunch, while I felt a sense of real disappointment in letting them down, and also wondering what those people must be saying about this crowd here, including me, and how I will show my face in there again.

Food is a weird thing for some people I suppose. I think many are just not exposed to much growing up, and live their whole lives eating the same thing over and over and over again, and they take great comfort in that routine in life because its familiar to them. To them I believe food is just something they have to eat to survive. To the minority, food is something we live to eat and are always up for that new experience that blows us away or incorporates different flavor profiles that gives us a new experience, but in the end, it's the experience were looking for in life.

The two just don't really mix very well.

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It was always the "I don't like that" repsonse which is fine, until I dug a little deeper and realized that the first and only time she had tried a few things was when she was like 8. But her parents would just cook plain crap all the time and that's what she was used to.

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You nailed it.

People's perceptions of many things are driven by past experiences in poorly executed food, be that growing up or trying it once at a restaurant that failed miserably, and yet that's the perception they are left with. It's a damn travesty,

It makes me feel sorry for them and their stunted growth into adulthood. But it doesn't piss me off, necessarily. I time I get irked over it is when said person not only has to tell me how they don't like certain things, but also the fact that I do like different foods but refuse to eat at fast food joints makes me a "food snob." speaking of which, what a stupid term. one of the most ridiculous "cut downs" in recent memory.

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One of the few foods I didn't like too much growing up was brussel sprouts. Now I have tried them again and love them. Conversely, sweet candy like cereals are gross to me now where Fruit Loops was my favorite as a child

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ditto. not just about your pallet, it's also a psychological barrier one overcomes as they get older and mature. some never get past that I guess.

Don't really care if people don't want to try new things, their loss. But I do care when people salt their food before trying it, that irritates me.

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it's also a psychological barrier one overcomes as they get older and mature

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For sure. I equate disliking tons of foods to children. My parents taught me from a young age that you suck it up and eat what's served to you. Because of that, I have been able to make myself acquire a taste for things I didn't like.. And eventually grow to love them.

I guess some people are more sensitive than others but the idea of something normal being so disgusting to someone that they legit gag and barf seems insane. The one or two things I dislike (raw celery) would never make me puke. Lol.

That story is funny as hell, but I think I would have left them sitting at the table by themselves and gone to the bar to eat. You might want to take the iceberg eater on a shopping trip to see all or at least some of the different types of lettuce to be found. I for one do not see the point of a wedge(of iceberg) salad as being such a big thing, it takes two cuts with a knife.