DEAR MISS MANNERS: I have several friends who come to my house repeatedly for visits of two to four days, and are very picky about what they like and don’t like, food-wise.
One only likes Greek yogurt for breakfast, and another can’t stand Greek yogurt (they are both at my house for the same visit). One complains every time we go out that there is something wrong with the food, or there is something she doesn’t like: She has complained about the smell of the restaurant when walking in, the attitude of the waitress, and on and on.
I know having both kinds of yogurt available is easy, but I am exhausted by these friends and all their pickiness.
GENTLE READER: “I never seem to be able to please you all when it comes to meals, either at my house or going to restaurants. I wonder if you could confer before our next visit and work out what sort of food would appeal to all.”
Miss Manners warns that dinner might then be the entrails from the bloody battle that ensues, but at least you will have extracted yourself from the problem -- and cannot be blamed for its seemingly impossible solution.