Most people don't know the difference? Who is she kidding? I'm people, and I love homemade mashed potatoes. The ones from a bag are good too-if you're trying to spackle your walls! Dear God! I'm offended for people everywhere. If the bitch doesn't like to cook, might I suggest she's in the wrong business?

Anyway, I've been enjoying the blog for a while now. Thanks for the laughs!

I guess it's too late to cancel her faux-potato shenanigans altogether? Because her trying to give you the hard sell about them, and that "we food professionals" nonsense, plus the "can't tell premade from homemade" (ooh, wanna bet me, cupcake?)--it all seems to spell B-A-D N-E-W-S.

Yikes. I'll cross my fingers for you.

And for your family.

That is SO wrong. Even *I* can tell the difference between real potatoes and wanna-be potatoes.

I wish I could see her face when you walk up to her at the evet and hand her a business card.....

My brother used to be a food distributor, and he sold crap like this all the time, mostly to so-called family restauraunts of the Applebee ilk. Put me right off eating out. Unfortunately most people do seem more interested in quality rather than quantity of food, but that's no excuse for this woman. Can't you fire her?

The part that jumps out at me is the line about it being more convenient for THEM. Excuse me if I thought that they weren't the point.
If the caterer I use regularly called me to say this, I promise that her ears would be burning.

Yogi

You know, the potatoes seem so minor compared to how she's talked down to you. Even if you weren't in the biz, she has no right talking down to you. I don't even take that from my auto mechanic.

I think that most people can distinguesh a real boiled and mashed potato from reconstituted cardboard. And where does she get off saying nobody makes mashed potatoes anymore? I would hate to be at her house during Thanksgiving. She probably makes a meal fit to serve astronauts on a tour of duty on the space station...

I totally would have pulled the food industry card, something along the lines of, "well, when I turn a trick, I don't like when my customers say, 'hey, are those real?'" I would have stood back and watched her stammer and trip all over herself. Betcha she'd figure out how to make some dang rice!

Great Blog!

I'd have to say something like, "Well, I'd hoped I would be the one to hire YOU to do this, but," hand her your business card. "It seems you need my help in making edible potatoes. Yes, some of us actually can tell a difference between bagged and fresh peel potatoes." Even pre-baked and reheated would be better than from a bag. Yuck!

And you know, at the actual event, this won't be the only corner they cut.

Who can't tell tell the difference between astronaut food and real 'taters? I can and I'm a complete clod!

Can it be true that the average person doesn't make mashed potatoes from scratch? The easiest thing in the world to make?

I have been reading your blog for a while and it is great! Your writing always gives me a good laugh and hopefully this food related joke will give you one; it seems fitting to today's post.

What is the difference between roast beef and pea soup?

Anyone can roast beef!

The only things that should come out a bag are cotton balls. Taters in a bag DO taste different. Memories of school lunches are cluttering my brain now. Ick.

She gives the industry a bad name.

I have cooked in more restaurants than I care to remember as a student of the art and I can never remember making anything that was not from scratch.

Even in the Navy, we made our mashed from real potatoes.

Yikes...good luck!

Yep, this is when I would fire her. Not only the bagged-potatoes, but the rudeness. Things are not going to be good.

Oh, my darling, please tell me this is a RUSE!

And she *really* tried to argue with you? Doesn't she realize that she is only stabbing herself in the foot on this one?

She should be grateful you have more taste than she does. She could learn something from you.

Best o' British luck on this one!

Excuse me, I'm an "average person". I work and have little time after picking up the kid to cook dinner, but I always ALWAYS make real mashed potatoes. And I can tell a difference.

Also, she never answered your question about what ELSE was from a bag.

I'll bet she uses gravy from a jar. Yucky ptooey blech!

Nah, hardly anyone will notice. Just the guests unfortunate enough to have WORKING TASTEBUDS.

Sheesh.

I have always made potatos from scratch. I'd rather not have them than to have the instant ones.

I was under the impression that the customer normally decides what they want for the menu.

I'm in shock. How is that woman in business? I'm completely appalled. You are incredibly patient. How did you keep from either screaming or telling her that you're a damn good professional and that if she uses that phrase one more time... well, you get my point. whew. makes me that more confident in my abilities if a "professional" woman is that incompetent. Good luck with all of that...and at some point I really think you should tell her that you are a food professional.

PLEASE-OH-PLEASE TELL ME THAT YOU TOLD HER OFF, FW STYLE!!

And how will taters in a bag get those yummy lumps that normal smashed potatoes get?? I grew up on Minute Rice & powdered mashed potatoes. UGH!!!! You have NO IDEA how wonderful it was to finally meet real food from real produce.

Can't tell the difference??? HAH!!! How long will she stay in business?? How the heck did you keep from flashing your professional credentials in her face??

Please keep us informed on how this plays out.

I used to harbor the same reservations about the bagged mashed potatoes. Replete with my nose in the air. Until recently, they were foisted upon me, and I was surprised. They're actually pretty good and do not taste like Hungry Jack.
Although, it certainly does not excuse the caterer's idiotic conversation with you.
Disgraziado.

even to an asian palate who did not grow up eating potato and mash, i do not like those yuck from a bag... shame on the so-called professional caterer!

"Let us food professionals do what we do best, ok?"

At that point I SO hope you told her that you are, in fact, a professional caterer. After that comment, the gloves should've come off!