Interested to know your thoughts ……..

I’m afraid I would have requested a new table way before being in a position to observe tooth picking. I can’t recall any hotel I have stayed in asking guests to share a table with strangers!

nanna8

I have a lovely set of fish knives that I never use. They are really nice , very old ones. I was wondering why we stopped using them, does anyone know ?

The advent of stainless steel cutlery ousted fish cutlery.

In the 'old' days, cutlery was made of silver which could carry the taste of fish to the next meal. The shape of a fish knive also made it easier to delicately lift the flesh from the back bone etc.

Or so my granny told me.

While I was living in Bulgaria it was common practice.

Thanks for the plethora of replies. Interesting opinions. ‘Sensitive souls’ I don’t think so - we are just well-mannered. . A Happy New Year to one and all.

I have a lovely set of fish knives that I never use. They are really nice , very old ones. I was wondering why we stopped using them, does anyone know ?

I wouldn't have been happy . That is disgusting. I would have needed to move .

Gabrielle
How true. My Bulgarian friend was shown how to do it gracefully by her Italian relatives. She showed me how to do it.
It can be done so discretely that you’d never notice.

That's so annoying, at least do it away from the table afterwards at the Toilet, so you can discard the pick and wash your hands...

Yep .toothpicks at the ready!!

LovelyLady

No need to confront the individual, managers at the hotel could have addressed this predicament.
Some folk just have no manners. We are strong on teaching the children good manners BUT when they’re at school I believe the staff don’t encourage good traditional table manners. It seems the staff are not interested. Oh how different to when I was at school.

I think this is not one for management!! I really would take the laydee aside Nd politely ask her to refrain. Adding that I do this activity in the private comfort of the BOGS!!!

Funny one this. In Italy they make teeth picking almost a ballet!! It's acceptable and discreet as they've always done it one hardly notices it! It's not our culture. (Mores the pity) I always retire to the loos to clear my peggies after eating both at home and out, someone once very gingerly asked me if I was bulimic!?! As I always cleared of immediately after eating!! I'm not. But I do take care of me teeth and have full set minus one of pearling even white gnashers and not a falsie in sight! I would not do this btw at the table!

Fish knives =Non U.
I often touch up my lippie discreetly at the table.

No, nyet, nope. I have a cast iron stomach, but certain talk or images at the table make my stomach roll. I'm afraid I might have gagged at the sight! I do know two people, though, who always use toothpicks, at the table, right after a meal. I can't even look at them when they do that, particularly as they then suck the contents off. Urp!

No need to confront the individual, managers at the hotel could have addressed this predicament.
Some folk just have no manners. We are strong on teaching the children good manners BUT when they’re at school I believe the staff don’t encourage good traditional table manners. It seems the staff are not interested. Oh how different to when I was at school.

Grantanow In answer to your question I still have a set of fish knives (and forks) from the 70’s. We do still use them, but why I’m not quite sure!
As for toothpicks at the table I would never do that, but my husband does it regularly.

I wouldn’t do it but sometimes needs must. I certainly wouldn’t be too bothered about it. Live and let live.

I think I would have quietly asked to be moved to a different table for the next meal. I left my lunch a few days ago when a young woman started brushing her very long hair on the next table. The thought of all the skin cells and hair (amongst other things) landing in people's meals made me feel a bit sick.

Most Italian restaurants have toothpicks on the table. Those who use them do so discreetly behind their hand. I’ve never used them but find it hard to understand what the problem is. Lots of sensitive souls on here.

It used to be perfectly acceptable (yes, back in the 50s or 60s) as my mother and very 'proper' aunt (who'd been to finishing school) used them. They were in a little pot on the table in restaurants too. Now? No - pick teeth in private please!

Grandtante, that's interesting because I was au pair to an aristocratic family in Germany in the 60s. The father always picked his teeth at the table, but not the mother.

I think it's yukkie, but I think it's acceptable on the continent. I cannot bear food stuck in my teeth and usually leg it to the loo to get out the dental floss in between courses.

I was taught as a teenager that it was acceptable to use a toothpick at the table in France and Italy, but not, repeat NOT in Britain, Denmark or Germany. I was also taught that well-mannered French and Italians held their table napkin in front of their mouth while employing a toothpick, and that they did not attempt to converse at the same time.

In the 1970s Denmark became obsessed with dental hygiene to such an extent that people brought a tooth brush with them when dining out, either in restaurants and in private homes and would bag the bathroom for ten minutes or so after a meal to brush their teeth. Suddenly toothpicks appeared on tables and were generally used, with no attempt at discretion.

I do not enjoy watching people picking their teeth, renewing lipstick and powder or combing their hair at the table, but unfortunately you commonly see all three things being done there.

Babies' dirty or wet nappies were not changed in public either, when I was young, then for years they were, now young parents seem to be reverting to former standards on this point, thank Heaven!

On the other hand, we were all taught to wash our hands before sitting down to any meal as well as before setting a table - now no-one bothers about this either and my father was accustomed as a GP doing home visits to a basin, clean towel, soap and a jug of warm water being provided so he could wash his hands in the bedrooms of the 1950s and '60s that did not usually have a wash-basin installed.

Good housekeeping says that you leave and go to the bathroom.
www.goodhousekeeping.com/food-recipes/q-and-a/a21039/food-stuck-teeth-nov05/

Not acceptable at the table. She coukd have gone to the washroom after the meal and done her dental ablutions there.

Having lived in Turkey for 13 years I am quite used to this, but it is always done behind your other hand so although you know what they are doing it's not in your face.