Family Style Meals

Eating together with family and friends often involves family-style meals. The host or hostess serves dishes of food to the table and guests pass them around and serve themselves. Does this sound like it may be a challenge for you? It needn't be. So let's get to it, shall we?

Ask the person next to you to help you out by telling you each dish they're passing along. As the platter or bowl gets passed to you, use the backs of your fingers to find the edge and avoid touching the food, then grab the dish with two hands for stability.

Now if possible, reduce the distance the food has to travel from the serving dish to your plate by placing the platter or bowl directly next to your plate with the edges touching. But if there isn't room to put the dish down, just ask the person passing the dish to hold it for you as you serve yourself. When you do set the dish on the table, trace your finger around the edge until you find the serving utensil.

If the serving utensil is a spoon and you're right-handed, use your left hand to grab the edge of the dish, then scoop toward your left hand to get a sense of how far you'll need to go to get to the edge of the dish. Use the weight of the spoon to judge how much food you have. Then, once you have the spoon loaded and at the edge of the dish, use that left hand again to locate your plate and load it up.

A serving dish that has a fork on it is often used for meat. Use the tines or teeth of the fork to locate the edges of the piece. Then gently move toward the center of the piece where the meat is usually thickest and easiest to keep on the fork. Once you pierce the meat with the fork, if you can't get the meat off of it, use your own clean knife to slide the meat onto your plate.

Now if you already have food on your plate, use your own fork to find an empty spot first. You can also use your fork to check the portion size on your plate. And of course, it's easier to start with a smaller portion then add another serving if you want more. Once you have your portion, use the back of your hand to find the edge of the platter or bowl and put the serving utensil back in it. Let the next person know when you're ready to pass the serving dish. Then grab the dish with both hands and ask them to let you know when they have a good grip on it before you let it go. Sometimes, family-style dining includes passing a pitcher of water or iced tea around the table.

If you want to learn more about serving yourself a beverage, check out Hadley's Workshop on pouring liquids. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience, and practice, and you'll get there.