Do you have different table manners when you are at home and restaurant??
By easy888
@easy888 (10405)
Australia
April 20, 2007 7:18am CST
How do you desribe your table manners??DO you think you can eat properly with knife and fork? Do you eat in a gentle way when you are eating at home alone? Will you use a fork or knife whem you are eating chicken or pizza at home? WIll it be different if you are eating with your friends or in a restaurant? Will you use the napkins or serviette in the restaurant or will you just eat in the same way when you are at home.
Will you avoid some kinds of food if you are on a first date with your crush,like food that do not need a cutlery to eat? Have you ever seen any person who have awful eating manner which make you scare?
'Last week, one of my asian friend invited me to her home,there were few other friends there,she cooked alot of seafood like crabs,lobsters,osysters. She had prepared one of her favourite dish -chilli crabs. I do not like to eat crabs, not because of the taste, but because it always make my hands messy in doing this,when I am eating crabs in a restaurant, I will use forks,but my friend asked me not to be genteel when I was eating chilli crabs or it would not be delicious.lol.
They just use their bare hands to eat the crabs, they even lick their fingers to taste the chili sauce.lol. I could hear the noise when the slurp the crabs into their mouths. I could not imagine women could also eat in this way, but I am wondering will the ydo the same in the public area where there are other strangers?'
24 people like this
83 responses
@disvachic (10117)
• United States
20 Apr 07
AT home I am not sloppy but it seems different though.Seem like I eat a little faster.I love crabs and I eat them at home all the time during the summer.I never had the dish your friend ate.I dont think I could eat that in a restauraunt because I know it would be sloppy.
2 people like this
@feliniti (875)
•
21 Apr 07
I'm sure I have pretty good table manners at home, but I do like to put on the extra effort when I go out for a meal, no watching TV at the same time either lol. For sure I do tend to be more conscious of etiquette and good manners when I eat in a Restaurant.
1 person likes this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
20 Apr 07
I normally have quite good table manners, be it at home or outside. One thing though, you *must* eat crabs with your hands. You can't do it with a fork. It is not that either is good manner but it's just not convenient.
For your information, table manners really extend to only "western dining". For eastern cuisines that involve chopsticks and spoons, we do not really have any manner so to speak. Definitely nothing as fanciful as "western meals".
2 people like this
@easy888 (10405)
• Australia
20 Apr 07
You are right,wizard,I think you should have much more experience in eating chilli crabs, my friend is from singapre as well,she told me everyone is eating chilli crab like that we should not eat it gentelly.
I think we may not enjoy our meal of we concern too much in keeping a good table manner, may be I will try more eastern cusines and learn their cultures.
@nihad_aslani (59)
• United States
21 Apr 07
Well since we don't eat at the table at home my table manners are tons different. I don't think I eat in a gentle way at home. No one is watching me so I don't care. Definitely won't use a fork while eating chicken or pizza at home. I wouldn't use a fork for eating a pizza anyways. Although I know many people that do that. Yes it will be much different in a restaurant or with friends. I will use napkins at the restaurant. I would probably not avoid some foods on a first date. I have seen some people that eat awful at a restaurant. It didn't scare me though. That would be nasty to hear them slurp the crabs.
2 people like this
@jlara_gtr34 (3491)
• Philippines
21 Apr 07
yes i do.l at home when i eat, i put my right leg on top of the chair so that i can put my elbow on it. of course, when im eating outside my house, id have to sit properly and act like a proper lady.
2 people like this
@letzap519 (408)
• Philippines
21 Apr 07
i don;t have different table manners when i'm in a restaurant compared when i'm at home but one thing is for sure... i eat a lot when i'm at home coz at home you can eat as much as what you want w/o paying hehehe....
2 people like this
@toonatoons (3737)
• Philippines
20 Apr 07
actually, yes. at home, i can cross my legs when i eat (which makes me really comfortable), and this i can not do when i'm eating out.
1 person likes this
@arkaf61 (10881)
• Canada
20 Apr 07
MY table manners are usually just the same both at home or out. MY mom made sure of it LOL
I use the knife and fork and all the appropriate utensils even if I am alone, I guess mom's training worked way too well hehe
HOwever there are foods that even in a restaurant can be eat using your hands, and I certainly do that.
I love seafood, and the way we eat it we really need to use our hands and I am not shy when it comes to eat it... hands and all.
Usually in a restaurant they will bring bowls with water and lemon for us to clean our fingers after eating.
@thefuture (1749)
• Nigeria
20 Apr 07
I can eat with knife and for, but not properly, cos I am not used to it. I eat in a gentle way when I eat at home and even outside home, but at home when I am in haste and I think I need to eat the food, I do eat fast. I can't eat with my bare hands in public place.
@sanyah1988 (306)
• United States
21 Apr 07
I never say my grace at a restaurant at all I do not know why I never do it intentional and I am not afraid of the stares but I just pause for a minute or two that's it
2 people like this
@charlestchan (1415)
• Malaysia
20 Apr 07
erm. .actually it's the same for me.. eating at home or at restaurant.. while table manner is important, i still think it actually depends on what you're eating at that moment.. you won't be eating rice and chiken with fork and knife.. would ya ? :) .. sometimes i use hand to eat.. it's normal in my country.. don't say it's gross please :D.. erm... if i'm eating crabs.. i'll just use my hand.. and tear it like barbarian do.. haha.. amazing isn't it? so.. are you afraid to bring me to the restaurant now? .. i do know table manners.. it's just depends on the current situation.. so. .don't be afraid.. haha
2 people like this
@spiritwolf52 (2300)
•
21 Apr 07
My table manners are the same no matter where I eat. I was raised with proper manners. I take my time when I eat. That way I get to really enjoy my meal and savor every bite. If have seen people eating with their fingers and it wasn't finger food. That is a bit hard to watch without wanting to correct them.
@hcromer (2710)
• United States
23 Apr 07
When I am in my home I have no table manners, in fact we don't even eat at the table, my boyfriend and I usually just eat on the couch in the living room. When I am eating out in restaurants I usually put my napkin in my lap and try to eat like a proper human being.
1 person likes this
@lols189 (4742)
•
23 Apr 07
i never eat with my hands in my house or at restaurants. using my hands to eat makes me feel so embaressed and it feels like people are looking at me when i used to do this a few years back. everywhere i eat now, i have a knife and fork and i eat slowly
1 person likes this
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
22 Apr 07
At home, I often eat alone, hence table manners does not apply. However, this does not mean I globble up my food in gulps and unsightly. I still eat properly but I do not eat at the table. It will be in front of my computer or tv and it will be buffet style. Everything on one plate, and I may also dirty my hands if I want to.
At restaurant, the setting is different. I just obey the rules of the game and eat properly. I try not dirty my fingers though. Most of the times, I can handle well with a knife, fork and spoon. If I think I cannot manage, I will just give it a miss and not order the food.
1 person likes this
@scorpiostar (971)
• Lithuania
22 Apr 07
sure in official place i would use all flatware which are required.
But at home...I always serve table with knife and fork, even know, that especially mu kid will not use both , especially when eat pizza or chicken :)
What about crabs - i don't like sea product much so can't agree or argue:) But I think in different enviroments and situations i would variate. And sure will not require for fork or knife when we take our dish in walking tour:)
1 person likes this
@edgar1868 (204)
• Philippines
21 Apr 07
You are very right. We do need to observe proper etiquette when the situation calls for us to do so. Or in some cases, most people just wanted to observe proper decorum all the time. Some people would say it depends on whether I am in the house or in public places. In my opinion, there is no right or wrong answer. All of these are right. But there's one thing that I would like to add. Eating cannot always be associated with table manners. Alongside with this, we need to understand be more considerate with the norms of other people,culture or practice. What is gross and awful to you in a certain situation might be very acceptable to the majority. I experienced having lunch with arabians in the dessert. They eat lamb meat with their bare hands and all of us did it their way too. Its a great meal indeed!
