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What's the most interesting traditional or formal politeness behaviour or table manners in your culture? Or for any service personnel, in your restaurant? (kbin.social)

submitted 5 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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I love all the ritualized behaviour, secret meanings and unexpected taboos - standing up when someone of higher status stands, elaborate rules for serving and eating, tapping the table to thank the server, never refuse a toast from a superior, stuff like that.

Whether it's about meals or anything else, I'd love to hear about any uncommon politeness standard or similar social behaviour that goes on in your location, culture or restaurant!

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 5 months ago (4 children)

Don't salt your food before tasting it, it's insulting to the chef/cook since it looks like you don't trust their cooking.

There's a popular story of someone being taken to a restaurant for an interview with their potential boss and the candidate being rejected because they salted their food before tasting it. The interviewer took it to mean the candidate wasn't trusting, was opinionated, and didn't respect the food or the chef and they didn't get the job.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Imagine losing a job because an armchair psychologist took you to the fanciest restaurant you've ever been to and you like salty food. Ah well, free meal!

[–] [email protected] 7 points 5 months ago (1 children)

What can you expect? You presupposed the food wasn't salty enough, do you'd CLEARLY be a terrible employee. Isnt it obvious!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Well @[email protected] said the interviewer was a navy boss, I guess people at sea have very strong opinions about saltiness!

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

The direct quote from Rickover was, "I refuse to work with someone who makes such gross assumptions."

Bear in mind they were in a 5 star restaurant. The Admiral had an expense account.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago) (1 children)

Honestly though, in a five star restaurant you don't modify your food**. Trust the chef to make something good.

**Except for allergies or ARFID or something

[–] [email protected] 3 points 5 months ago (1 children)

**Except for allergies or ARFID or something

You take the automatic RFID chip out of your food? How else will the app know when you've finished digesting?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

I can't let Bill Gates learn EVERYTHING about me

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 months ago* (last edited 5 months ago)

That is an Admiral Rickover story from the USN. He was the first guy in charge of the Navy Nuclear Power Program, and they still tell many stories about the guy.

Admiral Rickover was the interviewer.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 5 months ago (1 children)

But you can tell when a dish isn't salted just by the smell. I do that often.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 5 months ago

Is it supposed to be salted? Is there already enough salt for how that dish is supposed to be? How dare you assume you know better than the chef!!