You both handled it fine

Casadena

Dear Prudence,

I have a delightfully low-stakes etiquette question! A while ago, my partner and I had another couple over for dinner. One of the guests apparently didn’t like part of the meal—I discovered the remains in the kitchen sink while cleaning up afterward. I wasn’t offended (sometimes certain things just don’t work with one’s palate), but I did feel bad that they may have not had enough to eat. I didn’t say anything, because I didn’t want to make things awkward (they probably would have apologized for not liking it, which wasn’t my intention at all) and put them on the spot. Was this the right thing to do? Should I have offered them something else or handled this differently? We had a big meal even without the offending dish, plus dessert. Plus, we’re friends with this couple, but maybe not “speak openly and bluntly” close.

downtondiva

Neither of you did anything wrong. I would just not make that dish again when having this couple over for dinner. 

STARMOON44

No one did anything wrong. When a guest doesn’t eat something and courteously says nothing about it, you repay that courtesy by not noticing it. 

banana468

Nope - sounds like you both handled it fine.   Maybe it's the dish and maybe it's your cooking.   

short+sassy

What a refreshing Prudie letter, lol.  The guest did the polite thing by discreetly disposing of a dish they did not care for.  The host also did the polite thing of not adding awkwardness by saying something/apologizing to the guest.

Sounds like, overall, it was a lovely dinner with plenty of things to eat anyway.  Pretending not to notice and not saying anything was the right call.  

CharmedPam

i’m just surprised the guest didn’t just say they were full and left the food there?  It’s strange to dispose of it. As a bariatric patient myself, I can only eat so much, so I know I eat less than others. I’d never hide it. I’d just say I was full.  Also. Why the sink and not the garbage can?