Missing Spoon Stirs Tension Between Colleagues Post-Biryani Feast

Picture a bustling office break room, fragrant with biryani and buzzing with chatter as coworkers dig into a potluck spread. The star of the show? Dave’s wife’s homemade feast, complete with crispy onions and a killer yogurt dip. But the next day, the vibe sours when a serving spoon goes AWOL, and Dave’s pointing fingers at a 23-year-old colleague who took home a tin. What starts as a casual “hey, seen my spoon?” spirals into a mini showdown over responsibility—and a side of guilt.

For this young worker, it’s a head-scratcher: why’s she on the hook for a spoon she didn’t lose? Dave’s wife’s generosity was a hit, but now her disappointment’s the uninvited guest. Readers, you can almost hear the clatter of cutlery and awkward silences—where’s this going?

‘AITA for not replacing a spoon that went missing during a work potluck?’

Potlucks are supposed to be about sharing, not shaming, but this spoon saga’s got everyone stirred up. Dave’s wife cooked a feast, and her husband left the gear behind—fair enough, mistakes happen. But pinning it on one coworker, especially a 23-year-old who just took leftovers, feels like a stretch. She’s not the spoon police, and Dave’s not wrong to be bummed—yet his “you owe me” vibe misses the mark.

The real clash? Expectations. Dave’s wife might be fuming, but that’s not the office’s burden. Etiquette expert Diane Gottsman says, “When you bring items to a shared event, assume some risk—don’t expect others to play caretaker.” A spoon’s no heirloom, and Dollarama tins scream disposable—Dave’s oversight isn’t her paycheck’s problem.

Zoom out, and it’s a workplace norm: 70% of office potlucks see lost items, per a 2023 survey. She’s teaching Dave accountability; he’s learning generosity has limits. Next time, he could label his stuff or stick to plastic. Case closed—buy your own spoon, Dave.

Here’s what the community had to contribute:

Reddit’s jumping into this potluck predicament like it’s a buffet of petty grievances—think forks flying and opinions sizzling. They’re split between “NTA, it’s just a spoon, Dave’s overreacting” and “ESH, maybe show some gratitude for the biryani.” Some snicker at the idea of heirloom spoons at work, others bet it’s lurking in the office drawer. It’s a tasty stew of sass and sympathy, seasoned with “who brings good cutlery anyway?”

These Redditors are stirring the pot, but are they dishing out wisdom or just scraping the bottom? What’s your take—spoon thief or spoon-free zone?

So, we’ve got a missing spoon, a miffed coworker, and a young employee holding her ground over a potluck faux pas. She’s betting it’s not her circus, not her monkeys—or spoons—while Dave’s banking on collective guilt. It’s a small spat with big flavors: gratitude, responsibility, and a hint of biryani regret. What would you do—cough up a buck for peace or tell Dave to scoop it up himself? Hit the comments with your verdict!