• Replies 3 replies
  • Subscribers 83 subscribers
  • Views 68 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

Navigating that hotel breakfast buffet

nidriks

I like to travel. I have a general social anxiety for the world, but I got to 48 and realised I had to see some of the world.

I like breakfast buffets in hotels, or I like the idea of filling up before a day's exploring. I like a nice variety of new foods that I can try, even if most days I'm pretty stale in my variety - same breakfast, same sandwich for lunch etc - it's nice to expand ones horizons and push one out of one's comfort zone. No matter how hard it is.

So, here am I am, right now, in a hotel in Germany, having a breakfast buffet. Talk about sensory nightmare.

The people...they're everywhere. I chose bigger hotels because at least I can not feel singled out, but then all the people are there.

There's no trays. Hey, I have probably dyspraxia too, you know, how am I supposed to balance a plate, a cup of tea and my fork? Yeah, I only have a fork usually. We'll get to that.

How much do I take? How many times can I go back? Will they think I'm greedy? Do I eat like other people?

I don't like using a knife. I use just a fork. Yes, I scoop food on to it with my finger. That's fine at home, but will people think I'm a disgusting oaf? Look at the size of that cutlery. Am I a giant? That knife - okay, I sometimes use it for butter - is bigger than my arm. Why?

Now I have the sniffles because I've eaten. I just get them when I eat anything? I've read it's a reaction to food being ingested. Anyone else get that? Okay, something I just ate irritated my bowels, or is that just the stress of wondering if I'm doing everything right?

But, I've done a fair few breakfasts in hotels now. I should be an expert, but it's still hard every time.

How do others cope?

Parents

  • As a veteran of hundreds of business trips and countless hotel stays, here are my thoughts:

    nidriks said:
    how am I supposed to balance a plate, a cup of tea and my fork?

    This one is surprisingly straightforward - get you plate of food first - take it to the table and return for the beverage of choice, return and finally return to pick up cutlery, napkins if needed, a little tub of nutella / butter etc and a fruit juice.

    nidriks said:
    Yes, I scoop food on to it with my finger. That's fine at home, but will people think I'm a disgusting oaf?

    In most cases yes, this is poor etiquette. You have been holding utensils to serve the food, coffee pots etc and have probably picked up various germs along the way, so normal practice it to not touch your food directly unless it is something like a piece of toast where you discard the part you are holding.

    Blowing your nose at the table is also an etiquette blunder in many cultures as it is seen as you disgorging quantities of germ filled mucus in public. If you must do it then I suggest you do it a quietly and discreetly as possible and have a small plastic bag on hand to place the used tissue into, then stick this bag into your pocket out of sight.

    I believe it is the eating action that "massages" the sinuses and makes them more prone to running. I found that having a hot shower before breakfast worked well to let the steam activate the sinuses so they could be cleared effectively before breakfast, plus it left me smelling clean and fresh for the day.

    nidriks said:
    How much do I take? How many times can I go back? Will they think I'm greedy? Do I eat like other people?

    Personally I like to use the first day to try as many of the foods as practical then on subsequent days reduce my portion size to normal. Overeating is just going to encourage weight gain anyway.

    Remember that the fruit juice is probably high in sugar so I keep this a small glass, a normal sized coffee and water if I am still thirsty. Keeping hydrated when travelling is often challenging I find so drinking in the morning when I still can go back to the bathroom in my room is comforting.

    I think the only country where I struggled at breakfast was China as it seemed more of an evening meal to me with lots of garlicy fried food and savoury rice as the only options. Most places outside of this have a general "Western" breakfast option - even Scotland that prides itself on frying anything that moves, and anything that stays still is fried until it moves!

    Just my thoughts on the subject.

  • in reply to Iain

    I'm not a fan of breakfast buffets, there's just to much food and it's overwhelming and loud, I just want black coffee and a couple of pieces of toast.

    Germans seem to like a massive breakfast, so I don't think they'd mind you going back for more, especially if you go from savoury to sweet, or cereal then onto other things.

Reply
  • in reply to Iain

    I'm not a fan of breakfast buffets, there's just to much food and it's overwhelming and loud, I just want black coffee and a couple of pieces of toast.

    Germans seem to like a massive breakfast, so I don't think they'd mind you going back for more, especially if you go from savoury to sweet, or cereal then onto other things.

Children
No Data