Is dissing a free sample a food court faux pas?

June 24th, 2009, 9:09 am · 12 Comments · posted by Niyaz Pirani

foodcourt

I’ve been sick for the better part of five days and I spent my weekend holed up in my apartment switching between “Family Guy” and “Gilmore Girls” episodes. I can justify the “Gilmore” marathon because it’s on Time Mag’s list of “The 100 Best TV Shows of All-TIME” (or at least I’ve convinced myself it’s okay because of that).

I finally started to feel better Tuesday so Fiancee Nadia suggested that we go to Laguna Hills Mall (not the mall pictured above) and pick up a couple of books for our newly established “Beary Awesome Book Club” where monthly we’ll each pick a book, then switch, then discuss. She bought “The Chocolate Lover’s Club - A Novel” by Carole Matthews and I picked up “Pygmy” by Chuck Palahniuk.

We then took a trip to the food court, where we got an indroduction to Filipino mall food at the new Pinoy Pam’s Best. It was there that I saw an incident that made me wonder: “Is it a food court faux pas to diss a free sample?”

I’ll start with the Filipino place, which replaced a Japanese place next to the Chinese place in the food court (I’m observant, I know). It’s called Pinoy Pam’s Best and may be the only mall restaurant in Orange County where you can order pancit and lumpia. As always, correct me if I’m wrong.

Nadia settled on a two-item combo ($5.69) of grilled pork skewers and pork sausage with chicken and shrimp pancit.

pinoy

Nadia was bummed the food was barely room temperature and not very fresh. She said the noodles were dried out and the skewers were cold and tough. I’ve had fresh and tasty food at a food court before, so it’s not a stretch to think she should have expected quality.

As Nadia ate, I waited for my Sbarro bread sticks to warm up and watched as a pregnant woman asked the man she was with try a sample of the orange chicken from said Chinese restaurant. “Tell me if it’s good,” she said. He took a bite and with shook his head while replying “No.”

The people behind the counter looked hurt. The pair still ordered from the Chinese restaurant, but it leads me to wonder what the proper reaction should be when a free sample just ain’t right? Should you let the person handing out the sample know that the product is subpar? Or do you feign interest and say you’ll keep looking but could very well return for an actual meal?

I’d do the latter, as I’m apt to complain about a place’s food from the comfort of my blog, but what do you think? What are your experiences with food court dining?

Is it wrong to ask for seconds? What’s the procedure at a place like Costco where you’re, in a way, paying for that sample?

And where can I find good Filipino? So many questions …

Pinoy Pam’s Best at Laguna Hills Mall
5 Freeway and El Toro Road
Laguna Hills
949-292-7695

Need more food court fare?

Oodles of orange noodles at the mall

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Jan in FV says:

June 24, 2009 at 10:42 am

I make a yummy noise and smile when given a free sample. Since taste is individual, what I might find palatable could be awful for someone else. And if the offered sample is subpar, I just will walk away…..

As for filipino, here is a rec for a restaurant in Fountain Valley. It’s a small restaurant located in a corner strip mall featuring a 7-11 on the corner of Euclid and Warner.

Kapamilya Restaurant
10964 Warner Avenue
Fountain Valley, CA 92708
(714) 593-6212‎

Elmo reviewed it a few years ago and I patronize cause they advertise in my church bulletin

Home Boy Erik says:

June 24, 2009 at 12:46 pm

I just smile and say thank you. I doesn’t matter if it tastes good or bad, and if its bad I just move on to something else.

jwillson says:

June 24, 2009 at 1:20 pm

Not to be off topic (but you did bring it up), I just finished Pygmy a couple of weeks ago and found it to be the least interesting of Palahniuk’s novels.

I thought it was bogged down by his continued use of broken English. The novel is actually a series of reports by a third-world terrorist with a poor command of English.

I am a big fan his other books, so this one proved to be quite a disappointment.

I am currently reading a very nice biography of Henry VIII by Alison Weir.

Niyaz Pirani says:

June 24, 2009 at 2:52 pm

you know, i started reading it and was so tripped up by the writing style that i’m thinking of taking it back today and getting something else. i would read the words, but wasn’t retaining any of what i was reading, because it requires so much concentration to get through.
- jwillson says:
  
  June 24, 2009 at 3:57 pm
  
  I have to admit that I started skimming about two-thirds of the way through and skipped the chapters about his training. He has written so many better books, I was shocked and how disappointed I was.
  
  Pick up the newest Chabon novel. The Coen Brothers are making it into a movie which will probably be almost as good as the book.
  
  We need to have lunch.
  - Alzaetia says:
    
    June 25, 2009 at 10:25 am
    
    I’m so glad you guys talked about the book! I became curious as soon as it was mentioned. I think I’ll give it a pass…

Ellyn says:

June 24, 2009 at 3:18 pm

Too many questions you ask, npirani.

Chris W. says:

June 24, 2009 at 9:25 pm

I believe that it ever hurts to be polite, even if you really don’t like something. They’re offering samples in the hopes of generating interest in their product, not to fish for insults.

June 24, 2009 at 9:26 pm

Whoops, that should read, “never hurts”, not, “ever hurts”

FoodieInDisguise says:

July 1, 2009 at 1:19 pm

As for the food samples I generally say no thank you and walk away. There generally isn’t anything in a food court that I probably haven’t eaten somewhere else - so i generally have no need to taste anything. I go to a food court knowing that its not the highest quality food and not to expect it.

As for Pam’s Best Pinoy, I first reviewed it a month or two ago on my blog. Many local Filipinos still flock there for lunch and dinner and if you look at the lines at the other restaurants, hers continue to show presence. Yes, its not the best-best food you can get, but for the price and considering its a food court, it’s not that bad. She’s not used to cooking food fresh and on the spot as she often does catering. I think they’re still learning the ropes of a walk-up eatery in my opinion.

I’d say go back and try again, hopefully your experience will be better. I’m going to try out the Kapamilya Restaurant in Fountain Valley.

OakleyOC says:

July 26, 2009 at 1:25 am

My wife and I live in South Orange County and there isn’t a multitude of places that serves freshly-cooked Filipino food to choose from. First off…we are AND will continue to be regulars at Pinoy Pam’s Best!

This was a pleasant surprise, tucked in the food court of Laguna Hills Mall. Our first encounter was at lunch time on a weekend, sampling the lecho kawali and marinated bangus with steamed rice. VERY nicely-prepared!!! To top it off we had turon saging … WOW! This was a great first time experience with Pam’s, especially in the middle of a weekday lunch hour! I want to point out that there was a line waiting for Pam’s, so that was a great indication that this may be to our liking!

Our biggest critics, our two boys, joined us that Saturday. MY GOODNESS … fresh lechon! They were slicing it off the roast pig right there! We decided to buy an assortment of entrees, but I chose a $5 tray of lechon … and finished most of it by myself (and the serving size was plentiful!).

We’ve since come back a third time to Pam’s and continue to have nothing but positive experiences from sampling Pinoy Pam’s Best! We’ve met “Tita Pam” and she’s right in the thick of everything … Keep up the good work, “Tita Pam!”

OakleyOC on Twitter

Niyaz Pirani says:

July 26, 2009 at 2:31 pm

maybe a weeknight isn’t the best time to go. i’ll have to stop by again. thanks for the comment oakley.

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