Q & A on Passing Food at the Table

This image is from a 20+ year old newspaper article on Etiquipedia Site Editor Maura J. Graber’s etiquette business, The RSVP Institute of Etiquette. The image was posted to Instagram in March of 2023. The question was regarding the advice in the article.

At Etiquipedia, we often get asked questions via Twitter and Instagram. Once a month, we will post one of our favorite questions we have received on social media, along with the answer. The following was a great question from last week:

Q. I know this is an old post, but I'm curious about the instruction to pass to the right? I have always been taught to pass to the left so you can hold the dish in your left hand and serve yourself with your right hand.

A. Food in Western countries is passed to the right (or counter-clockwise) at the table, unless there are extenuating circumstances. For example, if someone at the table has physical challenges, is too elderly or too young to pass a heavy dish or carafe, it is best to assist in any way possible, especially if this can alleviate any embarrassment or spills. Oftentimes, it is a kindness to offer to someone at one’s left, something like a dinner roll, before taking one and passing the basket on to one’s right. This rule is also flexible if a group is dining in a restaurant booth. The best etiquette rules are all flexible, as they reflect good manners and respect, above all.

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia