Condiments and spices.

[Susan4269]

I would like to have a few items available for guests.  I once had a complaint that the coffee was expired, and I pulled everything out.  Sometimes guest leave things in the refrigerator like mustard, mayo, BBQ sauce, relish.  Can I leave those for future guests?  Put a disclaimer in my ‘speech’ to use at your own risk?

I used to have a box of sugar, Truvia, Creamora, individually wrapped herb teas, Starbucks coffee, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and pepper.  I would like to do this again and add thyme, rosemary, Italian herbs, and a meat seasoning powder.  

My last guest left a spreadable butter that had been used.  Can I leave it for others to decide if they want to use it?

Thank you for your feedback.

[Sarah977]

@Susan4269  Things like coffee, tea, and the fixings for those, cooking oil, spices, salt and pepper, individually packaged snacks like granola bars, etc, are fine to leave. It's nice to top the containers up between guests, so they get the impression it's fresh for them.

Partial containers of mayo, mustard, jam, butter, etc, are generally a turn-off for guests and make it seem like you didn't bother to clean out the fridge between guests.

No one knows whether the last guests stuck a knife in there they had licked off, or whether it had been left out on the counter unrefrigerated for hours - it's a health hazard as well as aesthetically displeasing.

I know it's quite upsetting to many of us to have to toss what seems like perfectly good food, so either use it yourself, or donate to a local homeless camp or shelter or some poor college student you might know. Young men will eat almost anything 🙂

[M199]

@Susan4269, @Sarah977 

We have an open to the public wholesale

company that supplies for the diner businesses bulk...

Mustard, relish, ketchup, salt, pepper, peanut butter, honey, strawberry jam, hot chocolate, oatmeal.  All packaged for individual use, just likea restaurant. I've made them available nicely sorted in a bamboo cutlery tray (pic on my listing).  I also leave coffee, tea, powder creamer, spices, canola and olive oil.  Most guests love the presentation and availability, but about 80% don't use it.   I'm weighing if it's worth it for next year.

With all this pandemic stuff, I would not leave anything used or open from a guest and/or short term perishable. I do think most guests appreciate that we have tried to provide basics in an almost contactless way.