Everyone has table manners. We learn to eat well before we learn to speak. But we don’t necessarily realise how much our table manners tell about us: where and how we were brought up; what we value; what we aspire to and many other things.
We at “How to eat” project strongly believe that there are no universally bad or universally good table manners as long as we don’t bring danger to the table such as threats to health and safety, threats to our mood and to the overall pleasure of celebrating food.
The only universally good table manner is to make everyone around the
table happy and to amplify our enjoyment of sharing food.
Table manners develop together with humanity. Conventions around the table tell us a lot about society or particular social group. It is a fascinating subject.
Far from being gurus in table manners teaching we are just curious researchers.
The “How to eat” project is about asking questions and trying to find the answers to them.
How do we eat? Why this way and not another?
Why are table manners so important? Or are they not?
