Miyerkules, Setyembre 13, 2017

Dining Decorum 101: Five Proper Manners for Eating at All-You-Can-Eat Buffets




“The food you eat can either be the safest and most powerful form of medicine or the slowest form of poison.”-Ann Wigmore

Locals in the Philippines love to eat; there is no doubt about that. For this reason, restaurants that offer all-you-can-eat banquets would always have marketability for avid Filipino patrons. Back then, this dining option used to be reserved for special occasions such as birthdays, reunions and get-togethers. However today, with a wide array of all-you-can-eat restaurants offering competitive prices to diners, eating buffet style has never been easier or more affordable. But just because these restaurants offer an avenue for eating more for less, it does not mean that basic conduct and decorum should not be afforded as well.

These buffets may be known to be cathedrals of overindulgence and excess, but a semblance of propriety is required of its diners and patrons—regardless of whether you are eating at an affordable eat-all-you-can joint or at the best buffet in Manila. After all, eating at a buffet might be considered a free-for-all but your manners should be intact in that regard. Here are some of the basic manners one can reasonably expect from others and themselves when dining at all-you-can-eat banquets:


   Do not cut in line

You might be thinking that since the queue in getting your share for that roasted pork is about a mile long, you would never be able to have your share. Well, first things first, relax and remember patience is a virtue. Take note, you are eating at an eat-all-you-can buffet so there is a likely chance that anything that is consumed would be soon refilled. Furthermore, you would not want to encounter a scuffle in the queue—just because you could not wait your turn.


Do not hog food items


 Do remember that people are waiting for their turn to take food as well. So, unless the food item is literally the last piece on the serving tray, be courteous and leave some for those behind you in line. Do not monopolize the food and take a reasonable amount of serving. Although the buffet is likely to refill the tray once it is consumed, you would look not only rude but greedy if you took every last piece on the tray.

 Do not stack everything on one plate

 Buffet restaurants have an arsenal of different plates for a good reason: So that you do not play food Jenga. You do not need to see how high you can stack food on your plate when there is a collection of various plates at your disposal. Furthermore, a food tower does not make the possessor look any good—fact is you would look like a glutton. While it can be easily overwhelming to be surrounded with so much food, remember that this is not a race and you can always go back for more.


 Do not use your hands when serving yourself a dish

 Specifically provided utensils are there for a reason: So that you would use them in serving yourself a dish. In no case should you ever use your hands—even if the dish you are putting into your plate is known as a finger food. Using specific utensils prevents food items from mixing together and prevents you from contaminating the food with your hands. Be considerate of others and use the serving utensils.

      Do not eat in line

 The food may look delectable sitting on your plate and you might get hungry, but this is no excuse for you to just eat while you are waiting in line. Eating while you are waiting in line is not only unseemly to look at, but is rather uncouth and it is in bad taste. In fact, there is no reasonable purpose for you to eat while you are in line, so avoid it at all costs. Even in a buffet, it is never considered as acceptable behavior—wait until you are seated to eat your food lest you want to appear like an unrefined individual.



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