Do cooks/chefs get offended..?

Question

when you add salt, pepper, hot sauce, or any other types of seasonings to something they've just cooked?

Answer 1

Only if you don't taste it first! ...  Many people automatically add salt before tasting, and that's like saying someone doesn't know how to season their food correctly.  How do you know it needs salt, if you haven't tasted it?   But, everyone's tastes are different; so if you taste it first, THEN add salt (etc), that would not be rude......

Answer 2

A cook might get offended if you didn't even bother to taste a dish first but just loaded on the seasonings. The implication is that from your point of view, they are seasoning-impaired (while of course from their point of view, you are). If they are watching you, waiting for your reaction, I wouldn't add anything at all until a little later in the meal, if then.

If you are in a restaurant, that's different. The customer is always right. But the waiter might be "offended" in a high-class establishment. Try not to ask for ketchup.

Answer 3

When I was a cook, I didn't.  It's your meal; you bought it.  Enjoy.  Besides, not everyone has the same taste buds.  You might require more salt to bring out the flavor of the meal.  

When I cook at home, I try to be mindful that not everyone likes the same degree of heat and salt that I do, so I season accordingly.  Many times, though, when a dish is prepared properly, and it's a good recipe, additional seasoning shouldn't be necessary.  

Answer 4

A lot of the top restaurants in London don't have seasoning on the table as they have cooked and seasoned the food perfectly and it really doesn't need anything else.

As the chef is in the kitchen they won't actually see what you are doing but I imagine they'd be annoyed if someone asked for ketchup!