Etiquette of Offering Someone A Bite of Your Dish
Aug 7, 2016 | 11:04 am
#1
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Etiquette of Offering Someone A Bite of Your Dish
It's a big world, so I'm really just focused on the United States perspective for the moment. (Not an entirely familiar culture for me.)
You're out to lunch. Your companion says "that looks delicious". What now?
For a spouse or significant other - even on a first date - I'd shove my plate over and offer a bite. (No, I don't "feed" even a spouse, but that's just me.)
What if it's just a friend? What if it's a co-worker at a casual lunch? Your boss?
Somewhere in there, it ceases to feel "right". Your thoughts?
You're out to lunch. Your companion says "that looks delicious". What now?
For a spouse or significant other - even on a first date - I'd shove my plate over and offer a bite. (No, I don't "feed" even a spouse, but that's just me.)
What if it's just a friend? What if it's a co-worker at a casual lunch? Your boss?
Somewhere in there, it ceases to feel "right". Your thoughts?
Aug 7, 2016 | 11:14 am
#2
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 3,438
It's a big world, so I'm really just focused on the United States perspective for the moment. (Not an entirely familiar culture for me.)
You're out to lunch. Your companion says "that looks delicious". What now?
For a spouse or significant other - even on a first date - I'd shove my plate over and offer a bite. (No, I don't "feed" even a spouse, but that's just me.)
What if it's just a friend? What if it's a co-worker at a casual lunch? Your boss?
Somewhere in there, it ceases to feel "right". Your thoughts?
You're out to lunch. Your companion says "that looks delicious". What now?
For a spouse or significant other - even on a first date - I'd shove my plate over and offer a bite. (No, I don't "feed" even a spouse, but that's just me.)
What if it's just a friend? What if it's a co-worker at a casual lunch? Your boss?
Somewhere in there, it ceases to feel "right". Your thoughts?
Aug 7, 2016 | 12:28 pm
#3
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Another option is to slice off or scoop up a mouthful or so and ask, would you like to try it? If (and only if) they say yes, you place the sample on the edge of their plate. This, I think, is polite with anyone from a spouse to a date to a coworker to a a boss, and not as intrusive as pushing your plate toward them.
Aug 7, 2016 | 6:23 pm
#4
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I say something to the effect of "If you want a bite, let me know" - but I've never had anyone outside of my wife take me up on the offer. 
Aug 7, 2016 | 9:01 pm
#5
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It's a big world, so I'm really just focused on the United States perspective for the moment. (Not an entirely familiar culture for me.)
You're out to lunch. Your companion says "that looks delicious". What now?
For a spouse or significant other - even on a first date - I'd shove my plate over and offer a bite. (No, I don't "feed" even a spouse, but that's just me.)
What if it's just a friend? What if it's a co-worker at a casual lunch? Your boss?
Somewhere in there, it ceases to feel "right". Your thoughts?
You're out to lunch. Your companion says "that looks delicious". What now?
For a spouse or significant other - even on a first date - I'd shove my plate over and offer a bite. (No, I don't "feed" even a spouse, but that's just me.)
What if it's just a friend? What if it's a co-worker at a casual lunch? Your boss?
Somewhere in there, it ceases to feel "right". Your thoughts?
Although, if you ARE at a formal business dinner with folks you aren't closest, I would wait to get a "sense of the table" before sharing. (Or at least wait to sneak it behind the CEO's gaze.)
Aug 8, 2016 | 4:40 pm
#6
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Aug 9, 2016 | 8:54 pm
#7
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"Send over your bread plate and I'll give you a sample."
In over forty ears of doing this, the only people who have
demurred (after that kind of overture) have been my relatives
(a largely conventional lot) and the occasional FTer - seriously.
In over forty ears of doing this, the only people who have
demurred (after that kind of overture) have been my relatives
(a largely conventional lot) and the occasional FTer - seriously.
Aug 10, 2016 | 8:17 pm
#9
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The thing that has started happening to me more recently though is people offering to share sips of wine / beer when at a happy hour (work people - with friends/family don't really care). Not talking bud light / coors light, but more with the explosion of craft beer being at a place with 50 different types of beer so most are new to people. I think because you have to share the glass (and can't just put it on a plate) it's little bit weirder for me.
I always offer but sometimes I feel bad when others offer and I take them up on it (as if they are just asking as a courtesy).
Aug 11, 2016 | 6:47 am
#10
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What's the problem with sharing? Slice/cut/scoop a small portion and offer it to your dining companion.
And I don't equate "that's looks delicious" with "I have to offer you some". Maybe I ask "would you like some" or maybe I say "I hope so. I was very excited about it when I ordered it."
But I don't see the problem with sharing. We're not talking using the same utensils, the same straw, or sharing the same burger/sandwich. If the utensils are clean and I can easily extract a sample, what's wrong with sharing?
And I don't equate "that's looks delicious" with "I have to offer you some". Maybe I ask "would you like some" or maybe I say "I hope so. I was very excited about it when I ordered it."
But I don't see the problem with sharing. We're not talking using the same utensils, the same straw, or sharing the same burger/sandwich. If the utensils are clean and I can easily extract a sample, what's wrong with sharing?
Aug 11, 2016 | 7:33 pm
#11
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Aug 14, 2016 | 6:46 pm
#12
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the problem is some people do not share, even when 'contamination' is not an issue
so for all of us who do the sharing, and whatnot, they give us the 'you're weird' etc
disagree, it can be a norm thing, some never experienced it, etc, but i see your point
so for all of us who do the sharing, and whatnot, they give us the 'you're weird' etc
disagree, it can be a norm thing, some never experienced it, etc, but i see your point
Aug 15, 2016 | 9:58 am
#13
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Were I dining alone I would have offered up some of my food today. Four of us were at Nopi and at the table next to us was a woman and her mother. We were oohing and aahing over our lamb sweetbreads and the lady (who was seated very close to us) kept looking at our food and finally asked what we were having. If it weren't for the fact that we were all four sharing the same portion and there obviously wasn't going to be enough even for us, I would have gladly offered a bite. I'm certain she would have taken it.
Aug 15, 2016 | 2:43 pm
#14
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Say (the louder the better): Hey this IS delicious and I can't wait to eat what's leftover from the doggie bag!
And, of course, that's said with your mouth open and full of that deliciousness.
They''ll back off.
And, of course, that's said with your mouth open and full of that deliciousness.
They''ll back off.
Aug 15, 2016 | 5:18 pm
#15
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I'll usually put some on my bread plate (or theirs) and send it over. Other times I'll put a small bite on the edge of their plate. With my wife we usually just swap forks and give each other a bite.