A new book has been published by Maria Boucher, director of the Austrian Higher School of Etiquette and a real guru in everything related to the rules of conduct in society.
“Elegance in one room. Etiquette for Women ”is the title of this book. Yes, a real lady can be anywhere: even on board a cruise yacht on the pier in Saint-Tropez, even in a modest apartment on the outskirts of Moscow. After all, the main thing is not where you live, but who you feel yourself at the same time. With the permission of the author, we are publishing an excerpt from this book – the chapter “What you can eat with your hands.”
Director of the Austrian Higher School of Etiquette.
Bread
The bread can be eaten before the main courses are brought, but you need to take it with your left hand, breaking off and butter only the piece that you are going to put in your mouth. Cut the bun in half, spread it all with butter, pepper and salt in a restaurant, although it certainly tastes better.
Cake
This close relative of bread is also allowed to be eaten with your hands, only if it is not very large and not sticky. Otherwise, I advise you to use a knife and a dessert fork.
Pizza
Pizza is homemade Italian food, and, therefore, it will not be entirely appropriate to wield cutlery here. Get the most out of this dish by putting it in your mouth with your hands.
Sandwiches
Sandwiches served with tea are eaten by hand. Layered sandwiches can be cut into four pieces with a knife and fork and then eaten with your hands. Only open sandwiches must be eaten with a knife and fork.
French fries
French fries are rarely seen at protocol receptions, as are green peas (which I am often asked about), so if you eat them at home or in a casual setting, you can do it with your hands.
Sushi
How many of you managed to eat whole sushi without covering your mouth with your hand? That’s it. Therefore, sushi can be eaten with your hands. If you are taking a bite, then it is not customary to put sushi back on the plate. In general, I do not recommend ordering this particular dish at serious meetings and business negotiations.
Mussels
If you are dining at a dock restaurant, then it is perfectly acceptable to use an empty shell as a natural tong. Take the half-open shell in your left hand and, like with tweezers, remove the pulp from there with an empty shell in your right hand. As they say, “mussels are the food of the gods.”
Shrimp with tails
Unpeeled shrimp are generally only served informally. So take the shrimp by the tail, dip it in the sauce, bite off the edible portion, and place the tail on a plate under the shrimp bowl. If the shrimp is served without tails, eat them with a seafood fork.
Hard boiled eggs
A hard-boiled egg is completely peeled and eaten in hand (the egg is not cut with a knife). However, I have also seen this recommendation: cut a hard-boiled egg in half and eat with a fork, dividing it into pieces. This raises the question: how to make it more elegant?
Artichokes
Tear off the leaf, then dip the soft end in the sauce and drag the leaf between your teeth to remove the edible portion. Place the rest of the sheet on the edge of the plate. Hold the core with a fork and scrape off the thorns with a knife. Cut the core into pieces that can be eaten in one go and dip each in the sauce.
Apricots and plums
Divide them in half (they take out the bone with your hands) and eat with the other half in your hand.
Bacon
If the bacon is very crispy and served informally, then it is okay to eat it with your hands. But, if not very crispy, eat it with a knife and fork.