They were all British, but I've been hearing this line from Irish family and friends too, for as long as I can remember, and it drives me up the walls. What's behind this obsession with writing off good cooking with a quip about not poisoning the people being fed? I've never come across anything close to this amongst any of the other nationalities that have passed through my kitchen. Sure, you might get the odd quip about needing a breathalyser after a particularly alcoholic dessert, or a reference to borrowing the chainsaw to carve a piece of meat - but these'd be when things are wrong with the food, not when it's right.
Anyone else get wound up like this ... ?
