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#Post#: 33057--------------------------------------------------
smelling food
By: MOM21SON Date: June 18, 2019, 7:56 pm
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I was watching a TV show and the meal was fine dining. One of
the guests picked up their bowl pf soup and brought it up to her
nose to smell it? Is this as improper as I think it is?
#Post#: 33062--------------------------------------------------
Re: smelling food
By: Sycorax Date: June 18, 2019, 8:54 pm
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[quote author=MOM21SON link=topic=1196.msg33057#msg33057
date=1560905812]
I was watching a TV show and the meal was fine dining. One of
the guests picked up their bowl pf soup and brought it up to her
nose to smell it? Is this as improper as I think it is?
[/quote]
Doesn't sound proper to me. It seems to me that this really
wouldn't be proper at any meal, although it probably wouldn't be
an issue at a very casual meal. One would think you'd be able
to smell your meal without picking the bowl up *or* putting your
face close to it.
#Post#: 33074--------------------------------------------------
Re: smelling food
By: Aleko Date: June 19, 2019, 1:49 am
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Openly sniffing your food at table has been a blatant etiquette
offence since at least the 15th century (and probably much
earlier than that, but the oldest etiquette manuals we have were
written in the 15th century), as it implies that you are
suspicious of its quality. Done by a guest, that's obviously
offensive; done by the host(ess), it's downright alarming.
If the context was a cookery show where the food was there to be
critiqued, rather than a social dinner, it might be legit to
sniff the soup. But even then, you should do that by taking a
spoonful and smelling that. Unless it's the sort of big cup with
'ears' that bouillon and similar soups are sometimes served in,
which is meant to be drunk from, your soup bowl should stay on
the table.
#Post#: 33096--------------------------------------------------
Re: smelling food
By: Hmmm Date: June 19, 2019, 11:00 am
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[quote author=Aleko link=topic=1196.msg33074#msg33074
date=1560926997]
Openly sniffing your food at table has been a blatant etiquette
offence since at least the 15th century (and probably much
earlier than that, but the oldest etiquette manuals we have were
written in the 15th century), as it implies that you are
suspicious of its quality. Done by a guest, that's obviously
offensive; done by the host(ess), it's downright alarming.
If the context was a cookery show where the food was there to be
critiqued, rather than a social dinner, it might be legit to
sniff the soup. But even then, you should do that by taking a
spoonful and smelling that. Unless it's the sort of big cup with
'ears' that bouillon and similar soups are sometimes served in,
which is meant to be drunk from, your soup bowl should stay on
the table.
[/quote]
This.
#Post#: 33101--------------------------------------------------
Re: smelling food
By: Rose Red Date: June 19, 2019, 12:07 pm
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I discreetly bend to take a smell. No big inhale.
Of course I do what I want at home :D.
Can you describe the scene? I think context may matter. Did
everyone act like it was perfectly normal or was it a joke,
etc.?
#Post#: 33102--------------------------------------------------
Re: smelling food
By: Gellchom Date: June 19, 2019, 12:17 pm
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I can't say it's something I would do in front of the queen, but
I really don't see what is so very awful about this, especially
if it was a little sniff as opposed to a deep snork.
Would you find it distasteful if they did it as Rose Red says --
lean over and take a little sniff, as opposed to lifting the
plate?
If I were the cook, I'd be flattered, in fact. My guest is
really taking my cooking seriously and wants to engage all their
senses and appreciate the aroma as well as the taste, looks, and
texture.
#Post#: 33103--------------------------------------------------
Re: smelling food
By: Aleko Date: June 19, 2019, 12:25 pm
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[quote]Would you find it distasteful if they did it as Rose Red
says -- lean over and take a little sniff, as opposed to lifting
the plate?[/quote]
I'd say that leaning forward just enough that your nose is above
the bowl and saying 'Ooh, that smells yummy!' is OK in an
informal context. But lifting the bowl or putting your head down
to it, no.
#Post#: 33106--------------------------------------------------
Re: smelling food
By: Venus193 Date: June 19, 2019, 1:14 pm
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I once picked up the ladle in a buffet container of salad
dressing to sniff it because the dressings were not labeled and
the room wasn't exactly lit like an operating room. My mother
got nasty with me about that and the old forum raked me over the
coals. All I wanted to do was confirm that the dressing was
what it looked like. Was that worse than putting it on my salad
and throwing out the salad if I didn't like the dressing?
#Post#: 33107--------------------------------------------------
Re: smelling food
By: Hanna Date: June 19, 2019, 1:24 pm
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[quote author=Gellchom link=topic=1196.msg33102#msg33102
date=1560964669]
I can't say it's something I would do in front of the queen, but
I really don't see what is so very awful about this, especially
if it was a little sniff as opposed to a deep snork.
Would you find it distasteful if they did it as Rose Red says --
lean over and take a little sniff, as opposed to lifting the
plate?
If I were the cook, I'd be flattered, in fact. My guest is
really taking my cooking seriously and wants to engage all their
senses and appreciate the aroma as well as the taste, looks, and
texture.
[/quote]
This is how I feel exactly and in fact my Husband*, stepson and
I had this same discussion about a year ago. Smell is such an
important part of the enjoyment of food. I’m not sure why it
would be any different than smelling your wine and in some
circles it’s rude to drink wine without doing so.
The important thing to me is that it comes across not as a sniff
test to make sure it hasn’t gone bad.
*first time typing “my husband”. Sqeeeee!!!
#Post#: 33109--------------------------------------------------
Re: smelling food
By: Rose Red Date: June 19, 2019, 1:44 pm
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[quote author=Venus193 link=topic=1196.msg33106#msg33106
date=1560968089]
I once picked up the ladle in a buffet container of salad
dressing to sniff it because the dressings were not labeled and
the room wasn't exactly lit like an operating room. My mother
got nasty with me about that and the old forum raked me over the
coals. All I wanted to do was confirm that the dressing was
what it looked like. Was that worse than putting it on my salad
and throwing out the salad if I didn't like the dressing?
[/quote]
There are many reasons I don't eat at buffets, but if I had to,
I probably would have put a little dab on my plate to
sniff/taste. I don't like people putting their nose near food I
may be eating, although I acknowledge this is my own feelings
and it may not bother other people.
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