Etiquette Tuesday: Spit It Out
This week’s Etiquette Tip is speaking the obvious: No spitting the food back into your napkin! We did not think we needed to say this until we went out with someone above the age of five and they spit food back into their napkin in a public setting. Let us start by saying food that tastes bad is less than appealing and probably looks better on an old napkin than on your palate. This does not, however, give anyone room to spit the food out. Some people cannot stand the taste of certain things but spitting it out is not the right approach…well, that is, in front of people.
There is always an exception to a rule and here that exception is when you are alone. When you are alone, do what you please. When in the company of others, just suck it up. What’s the worst that could happen?? You could have a terrible aftertaste?? You will make the worst frown face?? The last and most important question to consider before doing the unthinkable at a posh dinner party is: Would it kill you or make you uncontrollably sick?? If the answer is no, suck it up and find away to wash out or disguise the terrible taste immediately. If the answer is yes, kindly keep you mouth shut, move away from the group and discreetly swipe the food out of your mouth with a napkin.
Discretion is really the key here. We understand some tastes deserve to be spit out before they even enter the body but it is called couth. Couth (*as it is applied here) is maintaining a mature and cultured perspective when entering any situation that involves strangers in formal settings. Remember you do not have to take another bite…but can you just take this one for the team??…
There is always an exception to a rule and here that exception is when you are alone. When you are alone, do what you please. When in the company of others, just suck it up. What’s the worst that could happen?? You could have a terrible aftertaste?? You will make the worst frown face?? The last and most important question to consider before doing the unthinkable at a posh dinner party is: Would it kill you or make you uncontrollably sick?? If the answer is no, suck it up and find away to wash out or disguise the terrible taste immediately. If the answer is yes, kindly keep you mouth shut, move away from the group and discreetly swipe the food out of your mouth with a napkin.
Discretion is really the key here. We understand some tastes deserve to be spit out before they even enter the body but it is called couth. Couth (*as it is applied here) is maintaining a mature and cultured perspective when entering any situation that involves strangers in formal settings. Remember you do not have to take another bite…but can you just take this one for the team??…
Category: Food.Fun.Stuff.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
