I used to make pyramids out of the mini creamer cups, but I always put them back. My parents would've killed me if I'd intentionally spilled them.

can I add something? Salt shakers...they are a container for a condiment (spice? herb? whatever) NOT A LOLLIPOP for little Jimmy.

:-)

Salt's a mineral :) Sorry...random fun fact for the day.
Love your site, food whore. I've been lurking (occasionally posting) for a long time. It's nice to have a place to vent, isn't it?

I'd like to point out that saltshakers are not for making snow on the table, table tops and booth cushions are not the recepticals for chewed gum, and to the people in san antonio, stop stealing the toilet paper from the stalls!! (I swear, we have regular patrons the take our toilet paper everytime they come in. they must never have to buy it)

Coasters and straw wrappers are just that--not yet-to-be-made confetti to sprinkle around the table and floor underneath your table.

Thanks, Food Whore--absolutely love your site. I've also been lurking for a while and thought I'd finally pop my head in and say hello.

I applaud your restrained call for civility! Thank you. I don't know if it would be useful to place a real garbage can and ashtray somewhere so people could rid themselves of their butts and unmentionables before entering (perhaps you have already done so). One way to eliminate the creamer problem is to provide a little pot of cream only with an order of coffee or tea, and not rely on those little plastic vessels that are so tempting to children. Best of luck in your endeavors to improve our social graces; they are appreciated.

And if you're at a nice party and there are servers walking around with trays of hors d'ouerves? For the love of all that is holy, DO NOT put your used toothpick or shrimp tail back on the tray with the uneaten food. I'm a catering waitress and I get that all that time. Drives me batty. I don't know how you stay so nice to your customers. :)

Ok, now what about those PARENTS FROM HELL who let their KIDS FROM HELL open up or even play with the sugar packets that I have to come behind them and use! That PISSES me off! Bring your kids some toys, some goldfish crackers, or better yet, if they can't behave, LEAVE THEM AT HOME!!!!!(yes, I have 2 kids)

I have to say the planter post made me laugh...and hard! I had to remove the planters from the my store front because people were peeing in them....yes, peeing in them. Totally disgusting.

and let's not forget the coffee shop patrons who empty the condiment bar of sugars and other sweeteners with their small cup of coffee. They must be stocking their own shop with my supply of raw sugar packets, Equal, Splenda and Sweet'n Low.

Guests are wonderful!

Nice to commiserate anyway.

I must admit something that I do after saw a supervisor directing a new employee how to fill the "sugar, etc." dish. I understand grouping them by product (sugar, splenda, s&l, NS, Equal), but this supervisor required that the products themselves be put in a specific order. So, if I am in a mood, I do sometimes rearrange the "order" of the products -- they are still grouped (I don't mix them up) but when I saw that happen it boggled my mind. That was much too AR