large booking at restaurant- how to split the bill?

moneyistooshorttomention

On the shared food front - there is such an easy way to deal with this that I dont understand why that isnt done (never mind waving around forks one has already used).

If I'm out for a meal with someone I know well (eg parents or good friends) then its deemed acceptable to "have a taster" of the other persons food by:
- the person wanting a taste asking in advance and not just helping themselves
- the taster then takes that little taste from the other persons plate with totally clean cutlery (ie before they've started using it for their own meal).

That way - hygiene is observed and someone who wants a "taste" gets a taste without any problems.

.....and then there's my mother (who will take anything left over on my plate that I dont want - but she fancies). On that point - I just think "Oh well...up to her" and leave her to get on with it...

Homeownertobe

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

On the shared food front - there is such an easy way to deal with this that I dont understand why that isnt done (never mind waving around forks one has already used).

If I'm out for a meal with someone I know well (eg parents or good friends) then its deemed acceptable to "have a taster" of the other persons food by:
- the person wanting a taste asking in advance and not just helping themselves
- the taster then takes that little taste from the other persons plate with totally clean cutlery (ie before they've started using it for their own meal).

That way - hygiene is observed and someone who wants a "taste" gets a taste without any problems.

.....and then there's my mother (who will take anything left over on my plate that I dont want - but she fancies). On that point - I just think "Oh well...up to her" and leave her to get on with it...

This particular poster wouldn't even allow someone to try a chip or some finger food! Never mind anything that requires cutlery to eat.

It must be exhausting to be on such a high alert all the time. Though certainly the lack of knowledge about sexual health does explain certain irresponsible reproductive choices.

TBagpuss

JasX wrote: »

Yes, unusual position that poster has. I find it slightly odd to be specifically revolted by the thought of one's partner's saliva. However I'm also not a fan of unwanted plate intrusion and back in our student days a good number of us learned the value of a sharp jab of a fork in the back of an interloping hand if it crossed the perimeter of your platel...

"ooops sorry, I was going for a mouthful, I didn't catch you did I? that looks like a nasty scratch I've given you, please be more careful where you put your hand, ...waitress can I possibly have a replacement fork please...."

Yes, non-consensual sharing of food (or 'stealing' as it could be known) is rude. I'm not squicked out by the thought of someone I know well using their fork to take a little of my food to taste if I have offered it to them. If someone grabs without having been offered, or asking, for a taste then my primary objection would be to the rudeness, not to any miniscule health risks

Georgiegirl256

Feral_Moon wrote: »

Can't believe the sheer hysteria and paranoia displayed by some posters in this thread. Have you never kissed anyone? Anyone would think by sharing a forkful of food you were suddenly going to drop dead with some incurable disease :rotfl:

Well, for someone like my Mam who has a compromised immune system, it's not really adviseable tbh.

That aside, she'd find it terribly rude and unhygienic, as would I.

I don't mind "swapping saliva" (although what a horrible phrase that is!) with a kiss, but I'd rather not have saliva and god knows what mingling with my prawn cocktail thank you very much!

You can try with a clean fork, but don't just dig in, ask my permission first!

boliston

lazer wrote: »

.......

Although I have learnt a valuable lesson on this one, was driving home later that night, so had one glass of wine, and finished up paying about £20 for alcohol as was classed as "drinker", so don't have any wine with my meal now, as its easier that way....

This has got to be the craziest rule ever as I normally only ever have one drink, usually a beer, with a meal. Drinking large amounts with a meal does not seem to agree with me too well.

mumps

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

Agreed:T

I admit to feeling both horrified and angry at the number of people who seem to be prepared to quite casually risk someone else's health (eg sharing food off the same cutlery). Yuk!

It's one thing between couples (ie they've been doing "share and share alike" on germs etc anyway) - but between anyone else it gets my goat that someone else thinks its okay to take risks with MY health (as I wouldnt do it with theirs).

Anyway - in this day and age - it seriously is not a good idea to pass on an ailment (cold sore or worse) to someone else and then admit you were the one that was too inconsiderate to protect them from YOUR illness in the first place.:money::money::money: and yes I honestly do think that anyone who makes someone else ill through sheer carelessness/irresponsibility/etc is asking for it ££££.

I have terrible problems with cold sores, had them since I was a young child. I am very careful about them and as far as I know I have never passed them on but to be honest unless someone has a blood test you can't be sure. You can't get them from cutlery so don't worry about that one. I have a great interest in HSV1 because I suffer so badly from it.

By the way doctors aren't generally very good on HSV1 or 2. They believe some strange things e.g. a doctor told me you can't spread HSV (cold sores) unless you actually have one. Wrong, viral shedding can happen without sores. HSV1 is always on the mouth, HSV2 always on the genitals. Also wrong. Speak to an expert if you are worried about cold sores (not that they are easy to find). I have tablets that I take as soon as an outbreak starts and it is amazing. I can honestly say it was life changing for me.

Having said that I don't like sharing cutlery, drinks etc but it is a like not a health issue (obviously different for people who have compromised immune system.)

Do seek proper medical advice, we shouldn't really be sharing opinions on this sort of thing but I think its important to correct some of the misunderstandings about this.

cadon

I prefer to split the bill and no, I'm not asking to be subsidised by anyone. If anything, I'm the person who is always losing out by splitting the bill. Not all of us who want to split the bill are greedy, ignorant and rude. I'll share a bottle of wine someone - but I'll have one small glass and they'll have the rest.

Anyway, as the tiring circle has degraded into something plain weird, I've taken it upon myself to solve your various issues. :rotfl:

We're all going for dinner here: http://www.inamo-restaurant.com

We can order our own food off the table, see itemised bills, and if someone suddenly decides they want the same food as someone else, they can discreetly order some more of the same from the table.

I've eaten nicer food, but it's OK and the interactive table ordering system is something that I think will blow many of your minds.

missbiggles1

Feral_Moon wrote: »

Can't believe the sheer hysteria and paranoia displayed by some posters in this thread. Have you never kissed anyone? Anyone would think by sharing a forkful of food you were suddenly going to drop dead with some incurable disease :rotfl:

Rather like people who spend the night with someone doing the most incredibly intimate things with them and then balk at using their toothbrush.;)

silvercar

cadon wrote: »

I prefer to split the bill and no, I'm not asking to be subsidised by anyone. If anything, I'm the person who is always losing out by splitting the bill. Not all of us who want to split the bill are greedy, ignorant and rude. I'll share a bottle of wine someone - but I'll have one small glass and they'll have the rest.

Anyway, as the tiring circle has degraded into something plain weird, I've taken it upon myself to solve your various issues. :rotfl:

We're all going for dinner here: http://www.inamo-restaurant.com

We can order our own food off the table, see itemised bills, and if someone suddenly decides they want the same food as someone else, they can discreetly order some more of the same from the table.

I've eaten nicer food, but it's OK and the interactive table ordering system is something that I think will blow many of your minds.

According to that website there is a £10 discount per child (max of 2 per adult). I want to know whether that discount will be split by everyone at the table, or whether only those with a child will get it.

Peter333

Feral_Moon wrote: »

Can't believe the sheer hysteria and paranoia displayed by some posters in this thread. Have you never kissed anyone? Anyone would think by sharing a forkful of food you were suddenly going to drop dead with some incurable disease :rotfl:

missbiggles1 wrote: »

Rather like people who spend the night with someone doing the most incredibly intimate things with them and then balk at using their toothbrush.;)

You know, this may come as a shock to you both, but people ARE entitled to a different view to you; however strange/bizarre/funny you think it is.

Letting people eat off your fork, is IMO, a bit weird, bad etiquette, and certainly not something I ever see. Unless - as someone said way back in the thread - it's a couple who are about to spend the night together. Letting your mates/colleagues/people at the table with you eat off your fork at a meal out is VERY odd IMO.

The (very few) people who think it's OK don't seem to like people not agreeing with them. :rotfl:

Unfortunately, hardly anyone is going to agree that eating off each other's forks at a meal out is normal or acceptable. Because it isn't.