Soup etiquette tips and techniques can help us dine with confidence and grace.
Certainly, no one wants undue attention prompted by awkward table manners. And no one wants to walk around with a soup stain on her shirt. Ugh.
How to Prevent Drips
Did you know the recommended way to eat your soup is to first spoon it away from you?
What?
At first, this sounds counterproductive. At least, it did to me. Why would you first move the spoon away from your intended target? But with a little practice, it makes sense as you notice the drips down your chin and on your shirt are greatly minimized.
This is how it works. Touch the underside of the spoon against the farthest edge of your bowl before bringing it to your mouth.
Yes, this slows down the pace of the meal, but it also offers more opportunities for pleasant conversation. Now that’s a nice bonus!
On the other hand, if you’re in a hurry, following soup-eating etiquette probably won’t serve you because it slows down the meal.
Seven Soup Etiquette Tips to Help You Dine with Confidence and Grace
Here are seven soup etiquette tips to help you eat soup gracefully.
1. Place your napkin in your lap when you first sit in your chair. Open it discreetly under the table without attracting attention. That also means don’t shake it in the air like a magician. Voila!
2. Sit up straight without leaning low over your bowl. Leaning over your bowl may seem logical since you’re trying to avoid drips, but it’s not a good look. Good posture is the goal, even when eating soup in a restaurant.
3. Pick up your spoon by the handle and hold it more like a pencil than a hammer. (See the photo above.) Starting near the center of the bowl, skim your spoon near the surface of the soup. Be sure to underfill it.
First, proper soup etiquette suggests you move your spoon away from you and gently touch the underside against the far edge of the bowl. And if there is any soup still remaining on your spoon, it will have a chance to drip back into your bowl before you take a sip.
4. Yes, now. Now you get to taste the soup. Sip it from the side of your spoon instead of eating from its end. Yum!
5. If your soup is too hot to eat, don’t blow on it. Politely and patiently wait for it to cool.
6. When you aren’t using your spoon, place it on the plate beneath your bowl. Keeping the table clean and free of used utensils will make everyone happy.
7. Leave your napkin on your lap until everyone at your table has finished eating and is leaving the table. You can loosely fold it and place it to the left of your plate.
Following these soup-eating etiquette tips and techniques can help ensure that the way you spoon your soup and use your napkin fits the occasion.
