How should you safely eat soup, or a croissant, or curry? To Prevent Stains! Aprons, Bibs and Scarves Post 604

Traditionally in the UK you eat soup by tilting the plate away from you. The reason is to prevent soup being scooped up and dripped onto your clothes. Very sensible. 

Out at a restaurant, last night I heard a commotion when other people knocked over drinking glasses and got liquid on a lady's dress, her chair, and her bag on the floor. The important thing is to avoid getting stains on your clothes. Or your bag. Or the tablecloth. Or the upholstered chair!  Or the carpet.

Drinks and Glassware

To avoid knocking over glasses, don't over-fill them. Given a choice, and no preference, drink water rather colourful drinks. When catering for an event, buy or supply white wine or pale drinks. Use heavy tumblers rather than stemmed glasses. 

To prevent items falling off forks, or out of your hands or dripping. Bring crockery together. Move food away from the edges of tables.  

The Indians eat with their hands, which is their tradition. The French dunk their croissants in coffee, which is their tradition. (When in Rome, do as the Romans do.)

However, we in the UK in 2023,  are in post Covid-19 times. We have fears of a return of other pandemics. We have an increasingly high proportion of the population being the vulnerable elderly. 

Cutlery

Therefore, we should set an example to the young and old of not using fingers in communal plates. Also, we should not use fingers instead of cutlery. Why? Firstly, to protect ourselves from contamination. Secondly, so that we do not forget when in groups. Thirdly, to be sure we are not set a bad example. to children or grandchilden or other observers. 

Cutlery is convenient. Cutlery protects us. If in doubt, use cutlery instead of fingers.

Croissants are highly calorific. Especially my favourite, almond filled croissants. You can get them warm and freshly baked from Tesco Express in Hatch End, NW London, England, UK. Use a knife and fork to cut them in half, for sharing, or eating the second half at a later meal. 

If you go shopping in the evening, you sometimes see croissants reduced from one pound (sterling) each to 30 p. If you want to give me a treat, buy me an almond croissant!

I cut up food in advance of freezing it. 

Watch how toddlers and the elderly eat and learn from their mistakes.

Bibs, Artificial Bibs, Gardening Aprons and Scarves

On your own, you can protect your clothes with an impermeable apron. Gardening apron have a front and a back. 

However, these might not co-ordinate with clothes nor look elegant when you are with other people or out at a restaurant. You can create an artificial bib from a wahable scarf.. a very large scarf can be wrapped like a sari. Or cut a slit for the neck and pin it. If you make your own clothes, you can create a spare scarf from an offcut of material.

Food to watch

Watch out for food likely to spill the contents or to shoot out spray. For example, oranges. Chicken kiev. Anything you cut with an oozing filling. Chocolate sauce. 

Cocktail Parties And Exhibitions

At cocktail parties and shows where you walk around, you are likely to get food on sticks. When you eat half, the other half falls off onto your front, or skirt, or shoes. I ask for a plate, or a napkin. I also carry dry napkins and wet wipes. I run to the bathroom to wash off stains straight away. 

When I go out to eat curry, I wear dark coloured or washable clothes, or a jacket which covers them. A light jacket can fold into a tote bag, and be unfolded and worn when eating food. 

Washing and Instant Stain Removal

At home in the evening, after an event, at bedtime, I often wash clothes immediately. This has proved better than waiting until next morning or the end of the week. 

A quick rinse and turning the item over often reveals a small stain I had not noticed. The mark can often be removed with cold water. If not, I try hot water.  And/or soap or detergent. I can use a light brush, or rub two parts of the same garment together. 

Then my garment is not attracting insects, or moths. And it is less likely to have a stain setting. A stain is easier to remove the quicker you deal with it. Also my garment is fresh and ready to wear again..

The Tanglin Club in Singapore has napkins with buttonholes in he corner so you can attach the napkin to your top shirt button. Or any other shirt button.

At home, I use an impermeable apron.

Angela Lansbury

Author of Etiquette for Every Occasion.