Etiquette tip: Bread

It seems straightforward enough, but then its so easy to get wrong.  How do you tackle the dinner bread?

In most formal dining settings, you will find a small bread plate at the dining table set to your left with a non-serrated butter knife placed neatly on the top.  Think of where you found your knife placed to be its default position - you should not move it or place it anywhere else but in its default position unless you are using it.

That's right, the butter knife is non-serrated -  It is not for cutting or slicing bread but is provided simply for the purposes of spreading butter.  If you have not been provided with a butter knife, you would usually find a small dish of olive oil (at times with balsamic vinegar) on the table near you.  Break a small bite-sized piece of the bread, spread your desired amount of butter on it and return the knife to its default position before eating, or dip it in the olive 
oil.  

Never bite straight into the bread, even if you are a male.

Next is when the most common mistake is made (and I witness it more often than not) - Do not lick your fingers clean!  Big no no!  Wipe your hands clean with your napkin.

What if you are provided bread but no bread plate?  What if you are not provided with bread at all?  These will be covered in a future post!

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Etiquette tip: Spoon, or no spoon?

So sometimes you see a spoon, and sometimes you don't.  What exactly is the right way to eat your pasta?

For a long time, I thought the right way to eat pasta is with a fork and spoon.  You would separate a small amount of pasta with a fork, then twirl it into a neat bundle on the spoon and then eat it.  Classy and mess-free, but a true etiquette faux pas - In Italy, your waiter might even display a look of disbelief if you asked for a spoon.

According to Italians, "spoons are for children, amateurs and people with bad manners in general". *  They are trained at young age to eat their pasta by twirling it on the bottom curve of the serving bowl then placing it straight to the mouth.  If it gets messy, it would usually mean that there is too much pasta on your fork - try taking a smaller portion for your next bite.

However despite the above, it is also accepted norm in some communities for a spoon to be set out on your table for eating pasta.  To ask for the spoon to be taken away is also considered rude, so politely leave it to the side.

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* The New York Times: The spoon or no spoon question, or how to eat pasta like an expert

Etiquette tip: Chinese and teapots

Teapots are commonly seen in Chinese cuisine, particularly at yum cha. Be aware not to have the spout of the teapot pointing at anyone as that is seen equivalent to using your finger to point directly at someone and can be considered intimidating and impolite.

Try to point the spout outside of the table, or where nobody is seated.

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