Soup bowl etiquette

[Shoo]

My dh and I went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner tonight, and, as usual, we ordered their most excellent tortilla soup.  It comes in a bowl with a handle, like a very large round coffee mug.

When I got down near the bottom of my bowl, I automatically picked up the bowl by the handle and angled it so I could get the last of the soup with my spoon.  Upon doing this, I wondered if this was proper.

Is it all right to pick up a soup bowl by the handle to get the last of the soup?  I didn't bring it to my mouth and drink it (like I really wanted to!).  I used my spoon.  Anyone know what the etiquette on this is?

[Lisbeth]

This thread seems to have been posted in the wrong folder.

[Shoo]

This thread seems to have been posted in the wrong folder.

Oops!  I'll move it!!  Sorry!

[Kaylee]

My dh and I went to a Mexican restaurant for dinner tonight, and, as usual, we ordered their most excellent tortilla soup.  It comes in a bowl with a handle, like a very large round coffee mug.

When I got down near the bottom of my bowl, I automatically picked up the bowl by the handle and angled it so I could get the last of the soup with my spoon.  Upon doing this, I wondered if this was proper.

Is it all right to pick up a soup bowl by the handle to get the last of the soup?  I didn't bring it to my mouth and drink it (like I really wanted to!).  I used my spoon.  Anyone know what the etiquette on this is?

Not only did you not do wrong, if you are ever at a fancy dinner where they serve consomme in those gorgeous double-handled bowls, you may perfectly correctly pick it up, eschewing the spoon completely, and drink directly from the cup.

No.  Seriously.  Miss Manners recommends it as a way of completely correctly shocking all those around  you.  I think you'd be covered at the Mexican place as well, honestly.   

[Fluffy_Brit_Bunny]

Not only did you not do wrong, if you are ever at a fancy dinner where they serve consomme in those gorgeous double-handled bowls, you may perfectly correctly pick it up, eschewing the spoon completely, and drink directly from the cup.

Wow! I was taught that was wrong because it looks greedy - like scraping your plate or licking it. But I suppose the handles are there and must have been meant to be used!

s it all right to pick up a soup bowl by the handle to get the last of the soup?

Not sure, but it's very proper to tip a soup bowl without handles. However, you should tilt it away from you (no-one wants a lapful of hot soup). Then fill your spoon by moving the spoon away from you just under the surface of the soup. That's how I was taught to eat it.

However the slurping that accompanies drinking soup from the spoon is frightful and I've never understood it - is it really bad manners to put the whole spoon in your mouth and eat like that, thus avoiding horrible noises?

[Lisbeth]

Thanks for moving the thread!

I think it's fine to tilt the bowl to catch the last drops of soup in your spoon.  Drinking directly from the bowl (unless it's consomme in a double-handled bowl, as Shoo mentioned) would be gross and IMO unsanitary.

[cocacola35]

I've been told that is the most polite way to get the last of the soup.  It is definately not polite to put the bowl to your lips and drink it nor try to noisely scrape up the last bit with your spoon. 

[Kaylee]

Not only did you not do wrong, if you are ever at a fancy dinner where they serve consomme in those gorgeous double-handled bowls, you may perfectly correctly pick it up, eschewing the spoon completely, and drink directly from the cup.

Wow! I was taught that was wrong because it looks greedy - like scraping your plate or licking it. But I suppose the handles are there and must have been meant to be used!

Yup.  Sometimes etiquette, against all odds, does make sense.       

She also likes to point out that asparagus is properly eaten by picking it up.  Yes, even at a fancy dinner.   (Not, obviously, if it is covered with some kind of sticky sauce.)

However the slurping that accompanies drinking soup from the spoon is frightful and I've never understood it - is it really bad manners to put the whole spoon in your mouth and eat like that, thus avoiding horrible noises?

Yes, it is.  Practical as it may be.  Just tilt the spoon.  Sorry.  But think how much fun you're going to have with bouillon cups and asparagus from now on!

[Slartibartfast]

As an addendum . . . a Japanese steakhouse near us serves a very thin, very clear broth soup, which I have gotten in the habit of drinking from the bowl as I am told is the Japanese way to do it.

1)  Is that a shocking faux pas, and
2)  In general, if you are eating food from another region of the world that has their own etiquette for how to eat it, can you follow the other region's etiquette and still be "polite," or should you stick to the customs for the area you're physically dining in?

[grinningcomb]

However the slurping that accompanies drinking soup from the spoon is frightful and I've never understood it - is it really bad manners to put the whole spoon in your mouth and eat like that, thus avoiding horrible noises?

In some cultures, not mine I'm American, it is impolite not to slurp and make noises.  Plus some soups like Pho are extremely hot and you slurp to cool it off as you eat it so that you don't have to wait or blow on the soup. 

That said I don't slurp my soup unless it's Pho, or I'm at home where it doesn't matter.

[sparksals]

<snip>

Is it all right to pick up a soup bowl by the handle to get the last of the soup?  I didn't bring it to my mouth and drink it (like I really wanted to!).  I used my spoon.  Anyone know what the etiquette on this is?
<snip>

Your question reminds me of when I was in Korea and horrified to see it a normal everyday occurrence for people to drink soup from the bowl!  One time, I went out for Nang Myong, a noodle soup.  I didn't have a spoon and didn't know what to do.  I ate the noodles, but waited til the people with me began to consume their soup.  Imagine my shock when they picked it up and drank it! 

I'm a "when in Rome" kinda gal, so while it was painful at first, I got used to doing it.  The tough part was getting OUT of the habit once I returned to N. America! LOL

[sparksals]

As an addendum . . . a Japanese steakhouse near us serves a very thin, very clear broth soup, which I have gotten in the habit of drinking from the bowl as I am told is the Japanese way to do it.

1)  Is that a shocking faux pas, and
2)  In general, if you are eating food from another region of the world that has their own etiquette for how to eat it, can you follow the other region's etiquette and still be "polite," or should you stick to the customs for the area you're physically dining in?

slartibartfast - I frequently go to Korean restaurants in the US and Canada.  If I have soup, especially the noodle/consomme type, I will pick it up and drink it from the bowl.   Maybe I'm a rebel, but if I'm in a Korean restaurant and there are mostly Koreans there, I won't hesitate to do it their cultural way, even if I'm in my own country.

Would I pick up a soup bowl and drink it at an Olive Garden or Outback?  Absolutely not.  Japanese or Korean restaurant.  Yes.

[Athos_000]

I'd say the OP did just fine the way she ate her soup.

As for the different cultural ways of eating topic, it reminded me of something funny. A few years ago I had quite a few friends from India, who were in the US studying at my university. We would have parties and the Indian students would cook their favorite dishes to share. The first time we did this all the American students were... shocked.. that we were expected to eat with our hands instead of using silverware (I think they had silverware in the house, they just wanted to watch the train wreck, because they wouldn't give us any lol!). Everyone had a great laugh at us trying to eat rice covered in sauce neatly with our hands (at the time I had really long fingernails... so it was.. ew.. lol).

[supernova]

As an addendum . . . a Japanese steakhouse near us serves a very thin, very clear broth soup, which I have gotten in the habit of drinking from the bowl as I am told is the Japanese way to do it.

1)  Is that a shocking faux pas, and
2)  In general, if you are eating food from another region of the world that has their own etiquette for how to eat it, can you follow the other region's etiquette and still be "polite," or should you stick to the customs for the area you're physically dining in?

You are absolutely allowed to drink your miso soup from the bowl.  If the sushi bar/restaurant doesn't know you, they'll give you a spoon; but they give it to you for the same reason the Chinese restaurant gives you a fork:  they assume you won't be comfortable doing it their way, and are allowing you to do it the American way.

I don't think etiquette really enters into it unless you're being hosted by someone whose ethnicity is the same as the restaurant; in which case I'd follow my hosts' lead.  I think the restaurant staff mainly cares that you enjoy your meal and don't make too much of a mess. 

     - saphie