In formal dining, how do you indicate you're done to servers/hosts?

[Sqwertz]

I was raised with manners and in plenty of fine dining restaurants
and events, but I was never taught any of this bullshit signals
with knives and forks in certain directions and orientations on
the plate. Only the napkin gracefully on the table next to plate
(you know, the one that was on your lap - always cloth. I hated
those things).

And if you wanted a doggy bag, you assembled and stacked anything
neatly into the center of your plate - including any rolls from
the basket (but never half-eaten) and any other accoutrements and
side dishes. And it would magically re-appear packed up when the
bill was presented or satisfied. This was before "Doggy Bag"
meant they bring you a container and you pack it up yourself.

If you look this up now you will see there are "Continental" and
"American" methods to indicate you're done, none of which agree.
Some of which are so incredibly anal such as placing your fork at
the 4:20 O'clock position(*) and knife "facing down" (huh?) at
8:40 O'clock on the plate. And some are without pictures and the
descriptions are at least ambiguous. None mention napkins,
stacking/assembling, doggy bags...

Or the ultimate signal that you're done: LICKING THE PLATE. The
universal signal that "You're done" and is a compliment to the
chef.

I think a bunch of bloggers just made this shit up for page hits
and to be snobbish and seem worldly. MY ASS! Are there really
such new-fangled signals or are we just being fed a bunch of
bullshit? How do/did YOU know them?

Anyway...

Dinner was 1" thick bone-in pork loin chops - chile, garlic,
cumin, and lime seasoned - grilled over semi-green mesquite and
lump:

https://i.postimg.cc/JhkWWcpM/Chile-Lime-Cumin-Garlic-Pork-Chops.jpg

With savory roasted carrots and air-fried flat-tots (sprayed with
oil first). Served al fresco (naked) on the second floor back
balcony during twilight.

https://i.postimg.cc/8zsSZVWF/Porkchop-in-the-Twighliight.jpg

Money shot of all three:

https://i.postimg.cc/9QSjSNtL/Pork-Chop-Money-Shot.jpg

Signal for Doggy Bag:

https://i.postimg.cc/TYtxjPyM/Doggy-Bag.jpg

The Universal Signal - A Licked Plate:

https://i.postimg.cc/TYdGWb3J/Licked-Plate.jpg

-sw

(*) One of many I read, all different:
https://cliseetiquette.com/waiter-eating-word/

[Ed Pawlowski]

On 7/2/2023 11:00 PM, Sqwertz wrote:
> I was raised with manners and in plenty of fine dining restaurants
> and events, but I was never taught any of this bullshit signals
> with knives and forks in certain directions and orientations on
> the plate. Only the napkin gracefully on the table next to plate
> (you know, the one that was on your lap - always cloth. I hated
> those things).

You get paper at my house. Cloth is OK but at times they don'e seem to
want to sit on your lap.

>
> And if you wanted a doggy bag, you assembled and stacked anything
> neatly into the center of your plate - including any rolls from
> the basket (but never half-eaten) and any other accoutrements and
> side dishes. And it would magically re-appear packed up when the
> bill was presented or satisfied. This was before "Doggy Bag"
> meant they bring you a container and you pack it up yourself.

An attentive server will see you are done eating and if there is much
left, asks if you want a container.

>

>
> Dinner was 1" thick bone-in pork loin chops - chile, garlic,
> cumin, and lime seasoned - grilled over semi-green mesquite and
> lump:
>
> https://i.postimg.cc/JhkWWcpM/Chile-Lime-Cumin-Garlic-Pork-Chops.jpg
>
> With savory roasted carrots and air-fried flat-tots (sprayed with
> oil first). Served al fresco (naked) on the second floor back
> balcony during twilight.
>
> https://i.postimg.cc/8zsSZVWF/Porkchop-in-the-Twighliight.jpg
>

Looks very inviting.

[itsjoan...@webtv.net]

On Sunday, July 2, 2023 at 10:00:12 PM UTC-5, Sqwertz wrote:
>
> I was raised with manners and in plenty of fine dining restaurants
> and events, but I was never taught any of this bullshit signals
> with knives and forks in certain directions and orientations on
> the plate. Only the napkin gracefully on the table next to plate
> (you know, the one that was on your lap - always cloth. I hated
> those things).
>

Supposedly, knife and fork laid across your plate is to denote you are
finished eating.   But I'm sure there are many clueless waiters/waitresses
who haven't any idea what this means.   And yes, the napkin folded
next to your plate is another signal.

[Hank Rogers]

If these polite signals don’t work, try loud belching or farting which
always works.

[Sqwertz]

On Mon, 3 Jul 2023 00:01:32 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:

> On 7/2/2023 11:00 PM, Sqwertz wrote:

>> And if you wanted a doggy bag, you assembled and stacked anything
>> neatly into the center of your plate - including any rolls from
>> the basket (but never half-eaten) and any other accoutrements and
>> side dishes. And it would magically re-appear packed up when the
>> bill was presented or satisfied. This was before "Doggy Bag"
>> meant they bring you a container and you pack it up yourself.
>
> An attentive server will see you are done eating and if there is much
> left, asks if you want a container.

That is now. Back then they used to take the food and package it
for you and re-deliver to the table. Nowadays in fancy restaurants
it's low-class to have your waiter being seen bringing a styrofoam
container to your table for you to package your leftovers.
Supposedly food is not allowed to re-enter the back house once
served. So they say.

Of course with these bullshit "tasting portions" nowadays there
can't possibly be "leftovers" - you only got 6 bites in 7 courses
each a half an hour apart.

Anyway, the idea of signals was to extremely minimize verbal
communcation between staff and table after meals were served and
before the call for drinks or desserts. Is what I always
understood. At most, staff would silently roll their index
fingers at you once which meant doggy bag, and you just as
silently nod or shake your head as they cleared the plates.

Never heard of utensils in certain directions. I think
Japanese-o-Philes made this shit up from chopstick customs.

>> Dinner was 1" thick bone-in pork loin chops - chile, garlic,
>> cumin, and lime seasoned - grilled over semi-green mesquite and
>> lump:
>

> Looks very inviting.

Yeah, but you haven't dined with us al fresco. It can be awkward
for some.

-sw

[Sqwertz]

On Sun, 2 Jul 2023 21:19:13 -0700 (PDT), itsjoan...@webtv.net
wrote:

But that is WAAAAY to simple. Look up the myriad of positions you
should set those utensils on the plate.

https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+signal+waiters++you%27re+finished+eating+plate

If I'm still eating, I've got a fork in one clenched fist and the
knife in the other. Or else I'm licking the plate using both
hands.


-sw

[Thomas]

I flash a bank card and put it on the table. When they bring the receipt I add the tip and sign it.

[Mike Duffy]

On 2023-07-03, Hank Rogers wrote:

> If these polite signals don’t work, try loud
> belching or farting which always works.

You need to take cultural awareness training, Hank.
In some cultures, than means that the grub was excellent.

To avoid being labelled 'racist' I will not mention
specific cultures or geographical localizations.

[Hank Rogers]

Mike Duffy wrote:
> On 2023-07-03, Hank Rogers wrote:
>
>> If these polite signals don’t work, try loud
>> belching or farting which always works.
>
> You need to take cultural awareness training, Hank.
> In some cultures, than means that the grub was excellent.
>

I knew that, but I failed to mention the practice kills two
birds with one stone.

[GM]

Is that what they do at The Unca Tojo Manse...???

--
GM

[songbird]

Sqwertz wrote:
...

> That is now. Back then they used to take the food and package it
> for you and re-deliver to the table. Nowadays in fancy restaurants
> it's low-class to have your waiter being seen bringing a styrofoam
> container to your table for you to package your leftovers.
> Supposedly food is not allowed to re-enter the back house once
> served. So they say.

if it is important they'll have a station someplace for
it to be done.

personally i do not want food i've saved to go away from
my view because i don't want someone putting stuff in my
food or messing around. i much prefer to do it myself and
don't give a rip what other's may think having to see a
food container and a bag or whatever.


songbird

[Hank Rogers]

I don't blame you. I remember back when Popeye had people put
all kinds of shit in his food (like rat turds, etc), or
mishandled it in some gross way, (like sweeping it off the floor).

[Cindy Hamilton]

We were talking about fine dining. When was the last time you
were in a restaurant that had a sommelier?

--
Cindy Hamilton

[Thomas]

Fine dining would be where there is no price list and if you need to ask you cannot afford it.

[Mike Duffy]

Three, Hank. It implies that the guest
feels completely at home.

But to be sure, the guest needs to do
it as soon as possible after arrving
and maybe during the meal as well.

[Bruce]

On Mon, 3 Jul 2023 14:26:15 -0700 (PDT), Thomas <cano...@gmail.com>
wrote:

So does that rule out McDonald's?

[Mike Duffy]

On 2023-07-03, Hank Rogers wrote:

> I don't blame you. I remember back when Popeye
> had people put all kinds of shit in his food

I hope Bryan doesn't try out for burger flipping
anywhre to supplement his retirement income.

Who would want Bryan in charge of their mayo
after all the stuff he has posted here?

[songbird]

Cindy Hamilton wrote:
...

> We were talking about fine dining. When was the last time you
> were in a restaurant that had a sommelier?

maybe 1978ish. a one-time thing. interesting
experience and good food, but pretty much wasted
on me.


songbird

[Sqwertz]

On Mon, 3 Jul 2023 15:23:20 -0400, songbird wrote:

> personally i do not want food i've saved to go away from
> my view because i don't want someone putting stuff in my
> food or messing around.

What about before it came into your view?

-sw

[Bruce]

f I get three "bonus holes" during an orgy do I get the jackpot?

[Bruce]

Modern journalism is very transparent in its bias

[Thomas]

Depends on whether you are the pitcher or catcher.

[Bruce]

On Tue, 4 Jul 2023 04:27:15 -0700 (PDT), Thomas <cano...@gmail.com>
wrote:

I don't know what youse are talking about, but that was Greg Sorrow.

[songbird]

in my life i've rarely found strange things in my
food so i don't worry about it, but stuff does
happen at times (usually it is bits of plastic from
packaging or wrappers, but once in a while it is
bits of bone or shells from nuts or hard stems from
plants or perhaps pits - the other day i ate
something and it crunched but i was unable to find
it so my digestive system had to deal with it - no
idea what it was, could have been a bit of sand or
a stone or shell).

the other consideration is that these days we
rarely eat out (only a few places we trust to not
put spices or ingredients in their foods that Mom
cannot tolerate - almost every restaurant will have
black pepper residue on their grills or pans and
that is enough to cause blisters for Mom so it's
not worth the risk for her...).


songbird

[Mike Duffy]

On 2023-07-04, Bruce wrote:

> I don't know what youse are talking about, but that was Greg Sorrow.

People with slrn score-files can tell because the score drops.

Of course, the total is down-scored because of the name 'Bruce',
but Greg uses GG and a gmail address as well when he forges you.

[GM]

Miss Bwuthie squeals and cries like a lil' girl when she gets "a taste" of her own "trolling medicine"...

Lol...!!!

--
GM

[Bruce]

On Tue, 04 Jul 2023 12:54:21 GMT, Mike Duffy <mxd...@bell.net> wrote:

>On 2023-07-04, Bruce wrote:
>
>> I don't know what youse are talking about, but that was Greg Sorrow.
>
>People with slrn score-files can tell because the score drops.
>
>Of course, the total is down-scored because of the name 'Bruce',

I thought that would make the score go up.

>but Greg uses GG and a gmail address as well when he forges you.

He must have been bored, as he said himself.

[K_Wills]

In article <ebe837c2-64d1-43de...@googlegroups.com>, gregorymorr...@gmail.com says...

You resemble that fat guy from the movie Deliverance, can
you squeal like him too, lardass?

https://imgur.com/a/BbBLI LOL

[dsi1]

If you had GG, you'd be able to tell from the avatar or by the color if there is no avatar.

[Bruce]

On Tue, 4 Jul 2023 10:45:24 -0700 (PDT), dsi1 <dsi...@hawaiiantel.net>
wrote:

Are you saying that GG users can tell a forger? I always thought they
couldn't.

[dsi1]

Indeed.

[John Kuthe]

YUM! Plate Licking GOOD! :-)

John Kuthe, RN, BSN