Most hosts and hostesses will expect the salting of eggs at the table, as eggs are often times brought to the table in the shell. As Etiquipedia’s dear grandmother used to advise, eggs should never be salted by the cook or chef. It is too easy to over-salt eggs and impossible to remove salt once it’s put in. – This antique silver egg set features an adorable chick perched on a ringed dish for eggs, an egg-shaped salt cellar, a pepper shaker and a holder in the shape of a cracked egg half.
Quick Tips Table Salt Etiquette
🧂Salt can be placed on the dining table in shakers, grinders or very small dishes known as dips or “cellars.”
🧂If it is a large dinner party and there are not enough small salts and peppers for each place setting, there should be a set between every two place settings.
🧂If there is no small spoon accompanying a salt dip or cellar, one can use the tip of a clean knife blade to salt their food.
🧂 Salting food in a restaurant is not considered an insult if you are accustomed to a certain dish there, however, to do so without at least taking a small taste prior to adding anything to alter the flavor, may signal an unsophisticated or diminished palate.
🧂 Unless one is being served eggs in the shell or something similar, salting something immediately in a private home is highly discouraged if one wishes to appear well-mannered. Any other food or dish should be tasted first. And do thank the cook! It is considered a “non-verbal complaint,” comparable to pouring catsup or some other condiment all over one’s dish, prior to tasting. It is most impolite.
🧂Even if you are asked for your opinion, it is never polite to criticize someone’s food in their home or if they have brought it somewhere for you and others to enjoy.
🧂If you do not care for something you have been served, you should not be dishonest, but should say the most positive thing you can about it in the nicest way. For example, “This is incredibly spicy! I know several people who would really enjoy this dish! My dad, for one would love this!” Said with a smile, it would go over well.
🧂 Salt and pepper are to be considered “married,” so they should be kept together at the dining table. If you are asked to pass one or the other, pass them together.
🧂 At a formal or multi-course dinner, salt and pepper shakers should be removed from the dinner table on a tray with the rest of the food from the preceding course, before the dessert is brought in.
🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia
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