I know that when I eat soup, I’m supposed to use my spoon to scoop it away from me in the bowl, but that’s one, of many, etiquette “do’s and don’ts” that I don’t always follow. Directions for eating soup haven’t changed in a hundred years:
When using a spoon for serving, or for sipping soup, there is less danger of spilling the food if the spoon is moved away from, rather than toward, oneself (see Figure 38).
School and Home Cooking by Carlotta c. Greer (1925)
I always forget this one too, especially when I simply put down the spoon and drink from the bowl…
Works for me. In some cultures, it’s common to drink soup from the bowl.
Not only have I never come across this advice, I can’t think of a more awkward way of eating soup. (On the other hand, I recently heard someone express frustration by saying “It’s like trying to eat soup with a fork.”)
My home economics teacher said this was how we were supposed to eat soup – but my memory is that we students thought it was funny, and maybe tried doing it a little, then reverted to our typical way of eating soup. I like the quote expressing frustration about “like trying to eat soup with a fork.” I’ll have to try to remember it.
Fun look at the proper technique and table scene in your 100-year-old book, Sheryl.
I liked that the book had a photo showing the proper technique for eating soup. There are relatively few photos in hundred-year-old books, and I thought it was interesting that the author thought this was important enough to include a photo.
Yep…Missed that one when growing up and eating lots of soup by the end of the pay period!
You didn’t miss much. I knew that etiquette books said to eat soup this way, but never knew anyone who actually did it.
We learned it in my homemaking class, 1965. We also learned it was rather awkward to eat soup that way. I will add that I do not recall a single episode where I spilled soup on myself, dipping the spoon towards me.
Sounds like your home economics teacher and mine taught how to eat soup properly in a similar manner. I think that my teacher explained the proper way, and we tried doing it, then we all had a good laugh because it was so awkward.
How I was taught to eat soup and it has stuck…the same as no elbows on the table, eat with your mouth closed and no talking while eating plus you must have the correct cutlery my hubby still laughs at me about cutlery…
Definitely no elbows on the table. Similarly to you, that rule has stuck with me. I think that I missed the lesson about using the correct cutlery. 🙂
Unfortunately I didn’t-smile and I still use cake forks and fish knives and forks my hubby just thinks a fork is a fork and maybe he is correct however I will carry on using them 🙂
This makes me think about some long-handled ice tea spoons we had in a set of old silverware. My daughter absolutely loved those spoons and regularly used them.
I have some of those they were my grandmothers much of my cutlery has been passed down or was a wedding present…Some comes out on high day and holidays only and some like my grandmother solid siver tablespoons I use daily…I love cutlery and china/glass 🙂
I seldom use my good cutlery and china, but am gradually realizing that I should be enjoying them rather than saving them for special occasions.
I fully agree with that,Sheryly we should enjoy our lovely cutlery and china .
I remember that rule. I must have read it in an etiquette book, because we did not eat that way at home. Sometimes, just for the fun of it, I eat my soup that way now.
Fun idea – The next time I have soup, I should try eating it “properly.”
I’ll keep that in mind.
It’s always good to know random etiquette facts in case you get invited to a fancy event. 🙂
Our table at home was “formal” on Sundays. It was strictly enforced – no elbows on the table, chew with your mouth closed, and ask for dishes to be passed. We learned quickly. At least it wasn’t painful – my grandfather would tell about his father rapping knuckles with the handle of a butter knife for infractions!
Things used to be so much more formal. The ways that children were trained sure have changed across the years.