AIBU- cake on napkins

[snototterly]

AIBU to not understand why cake in cafes is usually served on a napkin on a plate? Granted this is not the biggest issue in my life, or hopefully anybody's, but why do cafes and restaurant do this? Surely everyone would rather just eat food directly on a plate, as every other type of food is usually served? What is it about cake, or scones that entitles them to a napkin under them?

Irritates the begeezers out of me!! What use is the napkin when it's covered in cake grease and crumbs

Annoys me too

I hate this too! I usually make a point of asking for another napkin.

At parties with a buffet with plates piled up with a napkin on some people don't remove the napkin. They pile the sandwiches, dollop of coleslaw, crisps etc right on top of it.

I always assume that they don't ever use napkins hence don't realise why they are on the plate.

Perhaps the cafe staff have seen it at parties nd think that is how to serve it?

Had a toasted sandwich in a cafe yesterday. It was served on a napkin on a plate and the napkin stuck to all the oozy melted cheese and wouldn't come off. I was very sad about it! I spent an unusual amount of time on the bus on the way home wondering why they do it. I wondered if it made the sandwich less likely to slide off the plate as you carried it from the counter to the table. That was the best I could come up with...

It's just weird. Why why why.

?

RNBrie Your post made me laugh. I think we would get on well in real life. I cannot abide wasted cheese or indeed cake.

YANBU OP. This has troubled me many times. I was once served salad on a plate protecting napkin. For the love of God.

RNBrie, I feel your cheese-stuck pain.
Do people really do that at buffets? Is the whole napkin under food thinga new thing? I can't think when it started.

It's been going on subversively for years. Years. Have you never been to a buffet?!

I think the cafe thing is quite a new development. I reckon it's up there with food being served on chopping boards and chips being artistically stacked in small steel buckets.

This happened at a cafe recently. A lovely huge slice of cake ruined by a napkin as the chemicals/dye on the napkin had leaked into the cake.

I thought when you were at a buffet you were meant to take the plate with the napkin under it rather than on top, if you see what I mean.

I expect it is to stop the food sliding about. I used to waitress and we always put napkins under the soup bowls and ice cream glassware.

When I worked in a tea room as a student we served our heavily icing-laden slices of cake on a napkined plate.

I pushed the napkin to the side and placed the cake onto the plate when I first started, as this seemed the only logical way to serve it, but the manager told me I had to put the cake on the napkin to stop the napkin falling off the plate.

Yes, that's right. To prevent the loss of superfluous napkin.

Oh I'm glad I'm not alone. My dcs just think I'm picky but I had a tiny tantrum at a NT place during the summer that serves my welsh oozing rarebit on a bloody glorified bit of bog role.

YANBU. It's a waste of paper and no-one wants to eat a napkin.

Toasted rolls / sandwiches on napkins make me want to weep.

Indeed it's mad. Cake not as bad as melted cheese. Tis wierd.

RBBrie excellent thoughtful post. I felt your pain on the bus.

I used to make up the pile of paper plates, starting with a napkin, ending with a plate, so you would take a plate with a napkin underneath it.

My boss used to wander round after me, smiling in a particularly patronising manner, and pop a napkin on top because "Dear Blanche, she never remembers, does she?".

I have no idea why it has become the done thing. It makes no sense.

It is very upsetting!

Agree it is mad. I want a clean napkin to wipe hands and mouth, not one that is greasy and crumby.

I'd never thought about it before but now you mention it, it's really weird!

My gym serves burgers and tacos on a piece of paper, on a plate. It absorbs all the juices and goes soggy so you end up picking nits of it out of your mouth. Vile.

I'm convinced and reassured by Elledouble's post.
But RNBrie
"I was very sad about it! I spent an unusual amount of time on the bus on the way home wondering why they do it."
Possibly the most thoughtful and likeable post I've ever read.
Who knew someone's musings on toasters and napkins could be so- can't think of the word- evocatively heartwarming

Ah, but burgers and tacos and other hand held, drippy things should be served on/in a napkin.

But never cake or horses doovries.