I've pretended to enjoy some really bad food before from friends or partners. Friends most often who are just trying to be nice but I'm a cook professionally and can usually give constructive criticism without hurting feelings too bad cause i'll also absolutely teach techniques. I don't try to fundamentally alter the meal, just tips and tricks for maximizing it. Usually in any group of more than me and there's cooking going on, I just handle it myself. I'm really really good and will be running circles around any non professional to the prep and cook timing will be thrown off and also if i make a meal for people i like i wanna be responsible for every single detail out of pride. Generally people are happy to learn neat food things that make their lives easier going forward. I'd never do so in a big group setting or anything so inappropriate, the being a pro and generally having cooked for the other person several times first i do enter the discussion as someone who does know what they're talking about.