I am kind of ashamed to admit that I kind of hate leftovers.  There are some things I will save and eat the next day but for the most part I don’t want to be eating something that I ate yesterday.  I feel ashamed about this because it’s really better for the planet and for my wallet if I use up all that I can of a certain dish and don’t waste food.  But as my mom could tell you, I’ve never been good at forcing myself to eat something I don’t want to eat.

My personal problems with leftovers aside, it seems that they’re some larger cultural issues attached to leftovers these days.  The New York Times has an interesting piece up about leftover etiquette, especially when it comes to food brought to larger group gatherings.   My favorite bit the article concerns Annabelle Gurwitch:

“Gurwitch, a host of the eco-living show “Wa$ted” on the cable network Planet Green, got a call from a neighbor in early May asking for the rest of the Irish cheese from Costco that the neighbor had left at the Gurwitches’ house in Los Angeles four nights earlier. So the next morning Ms. Gurwitch’s husband drove to the neighbor’s house, dutifully returning custody of the eight ounces of cheese.”

‘I did feel odd giving it back,’ Ms. Gurwitch said. ‘I felt like it was ours now.’ But revenge was soon hers: a week later, dining at the cheese-revoking neighbor’s house, Ms. Gurwitch absconded with a loaf of bread that she hadn’t even brought.”

I am always amazed at how some people get territorial over food (although I know that I am often territorial about mine). The article goes on to examine different cultural leftover practices and to look at the evolution of leftover containers and devices.

In a day and age where cooking for ones self and sharing food with others is becoming super important (to me at least) it is really interesting to consider how we deal with what happens after the meal is over and some food remains.  I suppose I try to abide by a philosophy of share and share alike, or take some for yourself but not all.

I think in general that attitude is one that works.

*photo by Muffet (CC)