How to eat some dishes properly

When Umbert goes to the restaurant with his friends, they like to discover new dishes and try any new experiences.

For example, he likes to go to The Ritz, and meet the famous chefs from the Escoffier School. This is his favorite place in Paris.

However, sometimes some dishes require different utensils, especially in France.

Here is the list to know How to eat some dishes properly.

“Whoever does not eat at the table eats in the barn,” French proverb.

* Soup: only with a spoon. You can now finish the plate by leaning backward and slightly to the right (for right-handed) or left (left-handed).

* Asparagus: you can eat them either with your fingers in an intimate dinner, either cut with its fork, leaving in the plate the harder part. If the asparagus are skinny: they can be folded in the middle with a knife and put in the mouth with a fork.

* Artichoke: use two fingers to dip the leaves in the vinaigrette sauce. Use your fork and knife to eat the heart.

* Salad: the salad should not be cut with a knife. Take your fork to fold the large leaves. The host must serve chopped leaves to avoid this problem.

* Caviar: serve the caviar with the little spoon, then spread it on the toast or blinis. You can use your fork and knife, or your fingers, to eat the blinis.

* Oysters: the oysters are eaten with elegance. It is necessary to take the shell in the left hand, to unhook the flesh with the oyster fork, and to suck it with the water from the shell without making noise.

* Mussels: hold the shell in the palm of your hand and use an empty shell as a plier to detach the flesh.

* Lobsters: the claws are cracked with a nutcracker. Take the meat with a seafood fork. If the piece is big, you can use a knife to cut it into small pieces.

* Sushis: you need some chopsticks. Please pick up the Sushis, so it doesn’t break into pieces. Dip it into the soy sauce, eat part of it, then let the chopsticks on the table side by side. The best is to practice before with someone who will teach you. Advice from one of Umbert friend who is a well-known chef in Tokyo: “don’t put to much perfume before going to a sushi place, because the strong smell may modify the sushi taste and your experience.”

* Foie gras: do not spread it. In France, it is eaten with a fork, with a piece of toast. In England, cut a piece and place it delicately on a piece of bread.

* Escargots: hold the shell in tongs, use a snail held and remove the snail from the shell. Use the fork to dip the bread in the garlic butter.

* Omelet: the omelet is cut and eaten only with the fork.

* Spaghetti: never cut with a knife. Wrap them around a fork.

* Fishes: for the soft fishes use the fish cutlery. Split the fish with the fish knife from head to tail and lift the nets if the flesh is hard to use the cutlery especially the knife.

* Poultries: detach the flesh with the knife and fork. Never use your fingers. Do not suck the bones. When can you use your fingers exceptionally? With ortolans, quail wings, wings of young pigeons, frog legs. Caution: provide a finger rinse (warm water with a lemon slice or mint leaf).

* Steak tartare: it is eaten with the fork and the knife, the pieces are cut just before eating. The tartare in France cannot be consumed with mayonnaise.

* Sandwiches: tea sandwiches are eaten with the fingers. For the other ones, even club-sandwich, you can use a fork if they are not cut already.

* Tacos: you can use your fingers.

* French fries: do not use your fingers. Prick them with a fork.

* Cheese: present it, it is possible to leave the label. Warning: the

* Camembert never stays in its box as pretty as it is. Cut it if it is round into sections.