First date food fails

First dates can be awkward at the best of times, but dining can raise the stakes. Of course, you can eat whatever you like and be whoever you are, but you might want to pay attention to the first-date food hazards that have tripped up others.

You might think spaghetti is a classic, classy choice, but trust us, all that slurping and twirling can result in disaster. Tomato sauces in particular are known to splatter clothes, your face or even your date. “He’s French and handsome and I’m flirting like hell whilst trying to elegantly eat spaghetti,” remembers Vicky Saynor, an entrepreneur. “He’s watching me intently (I think), [then] he then leans over and in his deep French accent whispers…‘Vicky, you have food in your teeth’.”

What to do? “The best way to deal with it is simply to laugh it off,” says dating guru James Preece, adding “Little things like this can lighten the mood and take the pressure off anyway, meaning there is more chance of making a connection.” Shorter pasta, gnocchi or risotto might be a good alternative to spaghetti though, and it could be wise to take regular sips of water to dislodge any lost food in your gnashers!

There’s ‘saucy’ hair, then there’s saucy hair

There’s a reason ribs often come with bibs and serviettes, but it can get worse than dripping juice on your shirt. “I ordered a rack of ribs on a first date and, when ordering drinks for me and my date later that night, I was told by staff I had BBQ sauce in my hair,” says Emma Kierman, owner of a jewellery business.

“It’s wise to choose foods you can eat easily,” says Preece. “If they require too much effort, then your conversation will be interrupted, [although] getting a little messy isn’t a big deal if you’re both eating the same thing, [as] shared experiences will bring you closer together.”

While it’s tempting to try something new on a first date, opting for familiar ingredients could help mitigate against adverse reactions. “I went on a date with a German exchange boy, and after a romantic canal boat ride, which made me feel mildly nauseous, we decided to go for a cosy dinner for two. It was a momentous day for me – not only did I discover I was gay, I also discovered I was allergic to blue cheese, in explosive fashion," says journalist El Hunt. “I vomited a lot and never saw him again,” she says.

You might want to check out reviews of the restaurant you’re going to before heading out too, as food poisoning on a first date isn’t ideal. “I was at dinner with a date who went to the bathroom and never returned,” recalls dating app founder, Tina Wilson. “I paid the cheque and left, leaving a message on their phone about being a cheap coward with poor manners", however, “turns out he had collapsed in the bathroom with food poisoning,” she says.

Seductively offering to share your food with your date is an age-old flirty routine. But it can go wrong in many ways! “I went on a date with my now husband, for a pizza, and tried to be all seductive and feed him – but I fell off my chair,” says craft kit and loose-leaf tea entrepreneur Tasnime Rotherham. You might even accidentally drop your dinner in their lap, and although this can be a good joke if the relationship continues, they may not see the funny side!

All’s well that ends well

Many of the people who gave their stories ended up marrying their date, so food fails are not the be all and end all. Who knows, you might even be telling them together for years to come!

Images used are from stock libraries