Tasters etiquette at a fest

But John you have a habit of getting little guys to run off bigger guys (really big guys ) for table space :laugh: :laugh: but it does put the taster at the front of the line :laugh:

Andy, the Hilton is only a couple blocks north of the Crowne. You can walk down the beach to get there.

Yeah, then at the afterparty, someone spills wine all over your foot!

Or if you are poor Egret, you will have your brand new fresh cocktail spilled all over the wonderful ham!

Staci, I wish you were coming to FL this year.

And that was just to protect her from fellow eggheads!

I've only been to Seattle's fest and to Atlanta, but only noticed 'pushy' eaters in Atlanta. In Seattle people are very well-mannered. I think it's due to the sheer number of people in Atlanta. You have to be pushy to get to the good stuff there!

One thing I've done as a cook is to lay a clean dish towel across food that is not ready to be served. It may not deter all the determined ones, but it deters many. And I learned early on not to cut food directly in front of people who may thrust their hands in quickly to grab a bite.

Maybe there should be a 'taster's etiquette' board at the entrance to eggfests.

Wow. Good post. Amazing how peoples' manners can disappear when they are hungry. I think some of the biggest food snatchers are not following the forum though, but all Eggfest attendees should read what you wrote!

We made some shrimp skewers at a fest....Squeeze spent an hour cleaning, shelling, deveining. Beautiful 6 or 8 shrimps on a double skewer. Was pulling them off so I could get ready to serve and I turned around and they was gone. Entire skewers full. Never even got to tell them what rub was on it.

When yall come back north?
Chris

all for free, of course

Anybody who thinks that was a rant has never been a cook at a fest.

I'd also add that it never hurts for a taster to keep a good plate (plastic or high quality paper) available along with that fork or spoon. I usually have something to serve on but more often than not, I run out.

I had a bunch of raw pork sates taken in Florida.

You? :ohmy:

DON'T EVER cut tri-tip with a sharp knife in front of a hungry crowd. :S

Last year was our first fest ever, and of course as tasters. We're going to cook this year, and really looking forward to it.

While I was polite, I must confess that I ASSumed the cooks were paid. At the time, I had no idea cooks had to PAY to serve food to the tasters.

Perhaps it would be nice to share that bit of information with people some how?

Obviously the regular forum members and the seasoned Eggheads know the ropes, but there has to be a way to educate the noobs. I learned SO MUCH from that first Eggfest, and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. To anyone considering going--GO! It's so much fun, and so educational. Thank you again to all the cooks!

I think your idea is the BEST thing in this thread! A sign with some basic rules of courtesy right at the entrance will do wonders for the thoughtless tasters. At least some of them!

When you register for the eggfest, it usually says right on the registration form that cooks get in free because they are cooking and paying for their own ingredients.

At the smaller fests, if there are announcements, I'm assuming cooks are thanked and some mention is made of their contributions at that time. If not, it would be nice to suggest that to the organizers.