Soup Etiquette

Soup Etiquette. Certified Corporate Etiquette Consultant, Rachel Wagner, will show 2 types of soup spoons, demonstrate how to hold the spoon correctly, how to spoon the soup correctly from the bowl, where to place the spoon when finished, and whether it’s good manners to blow on the soup if it’s too hot or crumble crackers into the soup.

1. Q: I’ve seen people hold their spoon in a variety of ways. Is there a correct way to hold the soup spoon?

A: Yes. First, I’d like you to pick up the spoon as if you’re going to shovel something. You should never hold any utensil like that, including a soup spoon. But, you often see people gripping the spoon this way. Now hold the spoon like you’re going to write something. That’s how you should hold your soup spoon.

2. Q: Okay, so now I know how to hold the spoon correctly, is there a proper way to eat the soup?

A: Yes, and you can tell when people have had some dining etiquette training because they will know how to eat soup properly.

First, you want to dip the spoon away from you, not toward you.

Think of this little rhyme:
“As a ship sails out to sea, I spoon my soup away from me.”

Only fill the spoon about 2/3 full to prevent spillage.
If necessary, you may quietly wipe the drip from the bottom edge of the spoon on the back rim of the soup bowl. This keeps the soup from dripping on your lap, and worse yet, on your neck tie!
There are two types of soup spoons; round and oval.
If using a round soup spoon, sip from the side of the spoon. Put the spoon against your lower lip and tip the spoon.
If using an oval soup spoon, you may turn the spoon so that the point goes in your mouth first.
Never place the entire spoon in your mouth.
When not using the spoon, or when finished, place the soup spoon on the saucer or plate under the soup bowl, not in the bowl.

3. Q: What if the soup is too hot? Is it okay to blow on it a little?

A: No, it’s not good manners to blow on the soup. Instead, skim from the top or sides of the bowl where the soup is cooler, instead of dipping down into the lower part where the soup is hottest.

4. Q: What about crackers…is it okay to crumble some into the soup?

A: At home if you want to crumble a few crackers in your soup, it’s fine. But at a restaurant, and especially at a business meal, you should not crumble crackers in your soup. The only exception is small oyster crackers. You may float a few of those in your soup.

5. Q: What if I want to get that very last little bit of soup from the bottom of the bowl?

A: It’s perfectly fine to tip the bowl slightly away from you to get the last bites.

Polish your table manners for holiday meals. Between now and the first week of December, I am offering a 2-hour family dining etiquette training session. For parents and up to 4 children, ages 6-high school age. Training can be held in a fine dining restaurant or in their own home with a catered meal. Contact Rachel for details at 918.970.4400 or email her at Rachel@EtiquetteTrainer.com.

I would also like to invite viewers to sign up for my free business etiquette tips e-newsletter, The Savvy Professional. It comes to their Inbox 6-8 times a year. They can sign up on my website at www.EtiquetteTrainer.com


Rachel Wagner Etiquette and Protocol
www.EtiquetteTrainer.com
918.970.4400