Let’s talk soup – 10 etiquette tips for dining on soup

Good table manners include proper soup etiquette. The weather may be turning cold with a chill is in the air, or warm, making you long for gazpacho. Either way, manners are always in season. Let’s talk soup with 10 etiquette tips for dining on soup. At a business lunch or at home with the family,  your table manners are on point using these soup tips:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1. Hot Soup. If soup is too hot, stir it, do not blow on the soup. Gently stir in the middle of the bowl or cup.
2. Crackers in Soup. Do not put crackers in your soup during a formal meal.
3. Passing Salt and Pepper. When asked to pass the salt, pass both the salt and pepper.
4. Use the larger spoon, and eat from the side of the spoon. The proper spoon to use is the larger soup spoon, placed on the far right, and is usually recognizable by its wide, round bowl. Eat the soup from the side of the spoon, not the front (tapered end).
5. When soup is served in a cup or round bowl with a plate under it, place your spoon on the underplate between sips and when you’re finished. The soup spoon doesn’t go back in smaller bowls because it’s too easy to knock it out of the bowl accidentally and send it flying.
6. Leaving a Spoon in Your Cup or Bowl. Don’t leave your spoon in your cup, soup bowl, or stemmed glass. Rest the spoon on the saucer or soup plate between bites or when finished.
7. Eat Slowly. Savor the meal and eat slowly; it encourages conversation. Remember it is not about the food, but rather the camaraderie.
8. Eating Soup. Spoon soup away from you towards the center of the soup bowl. This allows you to skim the soup off the top  allowing it to cool slightly. Additionally and most importantly, this allows for the use of the far rim of the bowl to eliminate drips or excessive soup off the bottom of the spoon. Keep this little saying in mind: “Like ships that go out to sea, I spoon my soup away from me.”  Use the memory reminder to help trigger your reminder of this important tip or use as a learning lesson with children.Eat without noise.
9. No slurping. Enough said.
10. To get to the last drops of soup-  While it is “proper etiquette” to tip your soup bowl away from you, don’t do it. It is an accident waiting to happen.

Bonus tip: You don’t want to blow on your soup, or any food, to cool it. It sends the signal that you’re impatient. Allow your food to cool on its own.

Whether cold or warm enjoy soup as part of the dining experience. With these simple tips you can dine with ease.

You are worth the investment!