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Dining Etiquette Question: Regarding the Use of Bibs

post #1 of 20
3/9/09 at 7:00pm
Thread Starter 
Some serious questions regarding bibs and dining etiquette:

When is it ok for one to use his napkin as a bib? Is it a faux pas at finer dining establishments? Is it only reserved for steakhouses during lunchtime? Or is it only acceptable to do at Red Lobster?
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post #2 of 20
3/9/09 at 7:39pm
If the course requires a bib, your host or the restaurant will provide it for you. Otherwise, I would refrain using the napkin as a bib.
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post #3 of 20
3/9/09 at 7:43pm
that is why your $225 grenadine 7-fold tie is there. to protect your $15 van heusen white shirt from sploshes
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post #4 of 20
3/9/09 at 9:01pm
Your napkin goes on your lap. Anything else - tucked into your collar, on your head, is strictly for children. Only a very few "special" foods require anything else and as Maharlika you will probably be provided with something specific.

If you are seriously worried about getting some food on your clothes
1) sit up straight and close in to the table so you don't have the food in transit for so long between plate and mouth.

2) You are either eating to fast or you are rubbish with your cutlery you shouldn't be spilling your food on yourself, either slow down or practise.
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post #5 of 20
3/9/09 at 9:21pm
bibs are almost completely unnecessary, provided:
A. you dont eat like a 4 year old -or-
B. your mother doesnt ask you to "show her how the piggies eat"
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post #6 of 20
3/10/09 at 2:24am
Unless you're also given a mallet to whack those crabs, I think wearing napkins as bibs is not acceptable.
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post #7 of 20
3/10/09 at 6:21am
Quote:
Originally Posted by sho'nuff View Post
that is why your $225 grenadine 7-fold tie is there. to protect your $15 van heusen white shirt from sploshes

Funny
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post #8 of 20
3/10/09 at 10:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by acidicboy View Post
Unless you're also given a mallet to whack those crabs, I think wearing napkins as bibs is not acceptable.

+1. Only when eating with a mallet is a bib allowed. Otherwise, all you have to do is stop slurping.
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post #9 of 20
3/10/09 at 2:59pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Davidko19 View Post
bibs are almost completely unnecessary, provided:
A. you dont eat like a 4 year old -or-
B. your mother doesnt ask you to "show her how the piggies eat"

Your mother does that too!?
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post #10 of 20
5/14/09 at 10:45pm
Thread Starter 
What if you're eating pho/noodles and broth where is is "polite" to slurp?

I'm about to go out and get something like that, and don't want to get my MTM Borrelli shirt all f'ed. Although I believe that the place I'm going to, Asians won't give two shits what I use my napkin for as long as I don't wipe my ass with it.
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post #11 of 20
5/15/09 at 11:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheessus View Post
What if you're eating pho/noodles and broth where is is "polite" to slurp?

I'm about to go out and get something like that, and don't want to get my MTM Borrelli shirt all f'ed. Although I believe that the place I'm going to, Asians won't give two shits what I use my napkin for as long as I don't wipe my ass with it.

In Asian cultures (as far as I know) slurping is not a faux pas. I mean look at those soup spoons--they're designed for slurping.
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post #12 of 20
5/15/09 at 11:55am


I'm sure some of the tailors on the forum could provide you a bespoke version.
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post #13 of 20
5/15/09 at 12:17pm
here's what I do, I picked it up from somebody in italy (who really was a peasant, but he was an italian peasant) - I eat with my dominant hand. I take a napkin in my other hand. I hold the napkin by one corner, folded over my hand, so that at the edge of my hand it is already about as thick as the exposed part of my shirt (between the suit lapels). as I pick up food with my fork, I hold my other hand next to my neck, covering my tie and shirt with the napkin. as the fork goes down, so does the napkin.

I usually only do this with food that could be messy -pasta and so on.
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post #14 of 20
5/15/09 at 12:28pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheessus View Post
Some serious questions regarding bibs and dining etiquette:

When is it ok for one to use his napkin as a bib? Is it a faux pas at finer dining establishments? Is it only reserved for steakhouses during lunchtime? Or is it only acceptable to do at Red Lobster?


Obviously in higher class restaurants you'd look a bit strange doing that, even if you ordered ribs, I would think you wouldn't want to be hand eating them, right?
If the restaurant gives you one included with your meal then no worries.
Otherwise fold it on your lap and wipe your face as you need to do it.
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post #15 of 20
5/15/09 at 8:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by cheessus View Post
Some serious questions regarding bibs and dining etiquette:

When is it ok for one to use his napkin as a bib? Never
Is it a faux pas at finer dining establishments? Yes
Is it only reserved for steakhouses during lunchtime? Don't do it
Or is it only acceptable to do at Red Lobster? Why are you eating at Red Lobster? There must be another option

I don't like bibs even when the restaurant (e.g., a crab shack) offers them. If the food is likely to be that messy, I dress casually and don't care whether my clothes somehow get soiled. When at a formal restaurant, if I'm worried about messing up my clothes (e.g., dining with a potential client), I avoid the foods-that-come-with-a-bib.
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