Etiquette Tuesday: Far Reaching
©JohnnaKnowsGoodFood
During Thanksgiving Etiquette I discussed the bad manners associated with reaching across the table for a dish versus waiting for someone to pass the plate around the table. This Etiquette Tuesday, I discuss the general rudeness associated with reaching over to your neighbor’s plate. Thanks to Mango & Tomato for this weeks Etiquette Tip: keep your hands to yourself. It happens, we all get plate envy from time to time and want to try what’s on the other person’s plate but permission should precede your fork going across your neighbor’s plate.
There are exceptions to this rule, of course, when the two parties are a couple, friends who typically engage in this behavior when dining or the like. This rule only applies when you’re out with someone that you do not know that well or have not established that comfort level with to simply reach over and take your share of their pie. The simple answer here is to ask. Ask if the person will allow you take a bite of their steak. What if they are starving and intend to consume every bit of what’s on their plate? What if they know you just got over a cold and do not want to share the germs? Whatever the reason, that is why it is on their plate…it belongs to them.
Be courteous and mindful of this tip especially as we enter flu, cold and every other ailment season…who knows if this could simply keep you from buying a bottle of NyQuil this year.
Category: Etiquette Tuesday
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
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