Dave Smith wrote:
>
> I have a friend who is a wonderful kind woman, not much of a cook, but
> really nice, and lives in a lovely home in a nice neighbourhood. One of
> her neighbour's is a chef. The chef's wife called and invited her and
> her husband to a party for her chef husband. Our friend and the chef
> family had been to a party at my brother's where my nephew had cooked a
> quick roasted beef tenderloin fir a short time in a very hot oven.
>
> Chef's wife extended this invitation to my friend and asked if she could
> bring that dish. She also asked her to bring two bottles of wine, one
> red and one white. She specified which wines. Then chef's wife asked
> her to bring enough of the meat dish for 20. The date of the party is
> also our friend's birthday.
>
> Current prices for a whole beef tenderloin around her are about $80. The
> wines turn out to be $20 a piece. My friend was not thrilled. She
> discussed it with her husband, who said screw that we'll have our own
> party her for that money. She called back the chef's wife, clarified the
> date..... ooops sorry. I didn't know that my husband had planned a party
> for me here on that night so sorry, but we can't make it.
>
> The next day she got a call from another neighbour asking if she was
> attending the party. Our friend said they had been invited but could
> not attend because her husband was having a party for her. It seems that
> chef's wife had called the other neighbour after our friend canceled
> and asked her to bring the two beef tenderloins... and two bottles of
> wine. So our friend asked the other neighbour if she was going...... no
> way !!
>
> I have to hand to to our friend that she was able to find a nice way to
> decline the invitation. I am not sure how I would react to an
> "invitation to a party" that is going to cost me $200. I have no problem
> with a pot luck, but being expected to supply beef tenderloin for 20
> people plus $40 worth of wine is a bit much, IMHO.

No Kidding!!!! Yeesh, some people! To invite someone to a party, then
to beg for the 'diggles' (high-priced ones too, at that) is a bit beyond
typical etiquette in my books. I agree - a potluck dinner is one thing,
but beef tenderloin roasts for 20 is something else!

Sky, who'd decline also

P.S. I'm surprised the hostess didn't also request sterling silver
tableware and lead crystal wine glasses in addition! <VBEG>

P.P.S. How did your friend find a nice way to decline?

--
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