How to present “unusual” dishes to the masses, aka co-workers

Question

I brought braised tongue for tacos and some home made tortillas, salsa fresca, queso fresco, pickled jalapenos, fresh cilantro in to work to share (had wayyyy to much for just the two of us to eat)
My San Antonio extended family calls the meat ‘barbacoa’ so that’s how I’ve always referred to it, though I think that may be up to interpretation.
The recipe I use is close to this one
http://thelatinkitchen.com/blogs/kitchen/try-it-tonight-beef-tongue-barbacoa-tacos
though I add onion, garlic, cumin and bay leaves
Anyway… I presented the dish as barbacoa and really, everyone raved
Someone asked me what cut of beef I used… I was hesitant, because of how people react to offal. So I told her and she was quite upset
I said, you liked it right? 
Yes, but really? 
I should have kept my mouth shut

Should I have presented “tacos de lengua” (the meat is shredded, not sliced) ?
Should I have said “I brought braised tongue tacos”?

Answer

I think you should have told people up-front what the meat was. You know your co-workers, so you probably knew some of them would be grossed out. If people are squeamish and want to avoid certain foods, be honest, let them be squeamish, and try not to judge. I know you came at this with good intentions, but it never works to try to trick people into doing what you think is good for them, and, even if you didn't mean to, that's what you ended up doing. I eat everything, but I can understand your co-worker's reaction: feeling deceived or duped into doing something you wouldn't have if you'd been given more information is a really bad feeling. If you'd been open about what the meat was to begin with, your offended co-worker might not have tried it this time, but she might have tried it some time down the road because she'd heard from others how great it was. Now, probably not.

Answer

Her loss. If it was that important to her to know what cut it was, she should have asked before she ate it. You didn't trick her, you didn't lie to her, and your generosity is being paid with with misplaced hostility.

Answer

Can I work there too? I'd love me some tacos de lengua. That said, I'd probably have presented tacos de lengua instead of barbacoa in the interest of full disclosure.

Answer

Your mistake was to bring tongue to work in the first place. There is no way you can win over everyone. I have learned, through many years of working in offices, that you are pretty much bound to offend someone unless you bring non-offensive fruit salad or chicken wings. Just give in and don't do that anymore.

Answer

You never can tell what going to freak people out. Several years ago we had a Chinese couple living with us for a while and when I made braised tongue (a la my mother's recipe) they wouldn't touch it. I did not expect that reaction, having been to China and knowing how diverse their diet can be. I learned my lesson and would never serve tongue to anyone who I don't already know will enjoy it.

Answer

You should have just said penis.

Answer

Lengua would probably have been the most appropriate "barbacoa" is too generic. Those familar with ordering lengua tacos elsewhere would have tried it and who knows if others would have. 
Obviously she loved the tacos and was trying to figure out why yours tasted so good! It's unfair that she is /was overly upset- not like you gave a vegetarian a foie gras sandwich here.

Answer

What was the occasion? A covered dish where everyone brought something and I can choose a little of this or a little of that? Was it just luck of the timing that you shared your leftovers? "Help yourself to what cgarner brought in..." If I brought my lunch, I could try whatever you're sharing, or dig into my own lunch. Sometimes I feel adventurous, sometimes not. I am not the most adventurous Chowhound around this place, and I think that's OK. I would want to know in advance that its "tongue." Be clear, be honest, give me the right of refusal. Don't sneak in some broaden-my-horizons experience without letting me in on the whole deal. What are you actually serving me??? (I am not a big fan of tacos to start with, so I would be a little hesitant anyway. Do I smell garlic? Thanks but no thanks, etc.). 
 "I should have kept my mouth shut??" No, not at all- you should have been more open much earlier in the whole experience. You know, if it went over well (with full disclosure!!!) the hesitant colleagues around the edges might hear all the positive buzz from others and be more curious and "adventurous" when you brought it in again a month later!

Answer

Having grown up in a culture where offal is common I say "pbbllllttt" to those who have a mental block on eating offal and other unusual foods. There are plenty of things I am hesitant to eat, but once I taste it and can get over my psychological barrier, it's not an issue -- especially if I really enjoyed it!

It's one thing if you "trick" someone into eating something that is taboo for cultural/religious/health reasons or is quite offensive taste-wise - but its another when the food was acknowledged to be tasty and enjoyable. Tongue is just a muscle, same as any other cut of meat, and probably one of the least unusual in the pantheon of offal IMO.

I wouldn't hesitate to bring it to an office, knowing full well it wouldn't be everyone's thing, but I probably would have labelled it so people knew what it was.

Answer

That was kind of you to share your meal (it sounds delicious, by the way) and you were right to disclose the ingredients. 

I've found that at work, you have those who will eat any and everything because it's free, those who eat nothing because of allergies, and everyone in between. You won't please everyone.

Answer

Speaking from personal experience, simply be upfront about the ingredients and let your coworkers make an informed choice about whether to try. A former coworker of mine brought bear meat chili into a work potluck, but she deliberately withheld that information and let people think it was ground beef until everyone was done eating. Her personal agenda was not about helping people explore new tastes. She was actually trying to prove a point about game meat, but she went about it all wrong and got pretty malicious trying to stomp everyone into getting in line with her "right" point-of-view. To reinforce what ninrn wrote, yes, we all felt deceived. A lot of coworkers lost trust in her that day.

Answer

I agree with most of the others. You should have told people what it was. Grown ups should decide what they want to eat (or not) based on accurate information. I am fairly thoughtful about what I eat and want to know what is in my food. There could be quite a few reasons people wouldn't eat tongue if given a choice ...and it isn't about the taste... and it isn't your business.

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How to present “unusual” dishes to the masses, aka co-workers

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