DH lack of etiquette and social awareness

[Deckchair1009]

Just managed a childfree break in London in the first time for about 5 years. Did loads of nice touristy stuff in preparation for my DH birthday soon. It’s a milestone one and he has loads of treats and “experiences” lined up. In fact, we started milking it a month ago and it’s going on til August! I don’t mind at all, he works hard and deserves to play hard. We went to a nice steakhouse in London and ordered like crazy off the menu. Chateubriand, cocktails, every side and starter you can think of. He sent back a bottle of wine because he didn’t like it and ordered a £80 substitute. He was the life and soul, chatting to fellow diners but went mad when I showed dismay at him eating the chateau Briand at the end of the meal with his hands! I appreciate this is ok with chicken and chops at home but in public, in a restaurant 🙈 He cannot see what’s wrong but it was like watching a Neanderthal! He maintains that if he’s paid £300 for a meal he should be allowed to eat as he likes. As he stormed out, I actually paid and, regardless, was expecting a bit of class without our young kids for a change. How can they learn social etiquette with a role modal like that?

The correct way to eat fried chicken in the royal family is ...... with your hands.

But not steak. Asparagus, as previously mentioned, and some small game birds, also yes. You can usually tell what should be eaten with utensils because they are all laid out and you don't get a finger bowl or hot cloths to use after that course.

Sending back wine - during the tasting stage, that's fine and why you get a taste.

Ordering everything possible - as long as you ate it all, sounds great.

Talking to everyone - blimey, I shut down that kind of thing firmly and politely if it happens to me and I'm not in the mood. It really does depend on the general ambience and culture/style of the place.

My OH holds his knife like a pen. It drives me to distraction but apparently lots of people do so I never mention it. (but i silently judge). Using a toothpick at the table, behind a hand is ok, any other teeth picking is disgusting.

Why are people talking about how some cultures or some food items are eaten with your hands, we know that
That isn't what this is about.
Eating veterinarians in a high end restaurant with your hands isn't the done thing.

How is he batman?

He would be similar to a batman, the poster means.

Eating veterinarians in a high end restaurant with your hands isn't the done thing
I think eating veterinarians anywhere is frowned upon

I've never eaten a veterinarian myself, either with utensils or without.

Could I have my vet well-done? Maybe some salad on the side.

I wonder what is the protocol for eating veterinarians? Hands seems to be a no-no?

A hacksaw maybe? Not sure of the etiquette surrounding this one.
My bad.

Disgusting behaviour. I can't believe how many of you think it is acceptable. Table manners are important and I hate to see the decline in people's habits. There is very little that I could eat with my hands and I hate to see people eating in the streets.

I wouldn’t but don’t really have a massive issue with the eating with hands thing. Trying to figure out why, though, someone would eat chateaubriand with them, it’s usually served with a sauce.

Eh epic bloody autocorrect fail there, chateaubriand that should have said

Your phone is equating steak to eating veterinarians?
Clearly a vegan phone.

I would have no issue with someone eating using their fingers in a restaurant but if a random stranger tried to include me in his 'jolly' banter I would be well pissed off.

It sounds like he was showing off to me. Chatting with the other diners, sending back wine and ordering an expensive replacement, eating his steak with his hands (I am throwing lots of money around and will eat how I like) and then flouncing out. Is his milestone birthday 10 by any chance? He sounds like an arse.

deadringer

I’m suddenly picturing Harry Enfield.

Is his milestone birthday 10 by any chance?

...is the funniest thing I’ll read today. Amazing.

Langrish this

Or this

Insulting to you I am afraid. Never mind other diners. Classy! Does he have self esteem issues? Comical and amusing for putting on that show but somehow it is sad.

Deadringer

I’d completely forgotten “considerably richer than yow”!

Probably still loadsamoney though, with it being a “steak house”. Considerably richer would demand Michelin star at the very least.

@plunkplunkfizz I still don't get it. I'm American, what is a batman?

@Itwouldtakemuchmorethanthis Also is it normal in this country to put your hands in your mouth and pick food out of your teeth at the table?

Of course you are right to be disgusted, but it hardly surprising to you if he eats like a pig at home.

Basic table manners are not really something you can turn on suddenly if you never observe them in the first place.

That's why they are so important to teach as early as possible.
Children from 3years on are were well able to manage a mini knife and fork.

Poor table manners are often mentioned as deal breakers/stresses in long term relationships.
Sitting across from someone who has awful table manners would easily put a lot of people off their meal.

I'm surprised he didn't start setting fire to twenty pound notes in front of homeless people afterwards.

Anyhow, he's a pig. An entitled pig - one who knows exactly how to behave in public, but chooses not to. And worse than the spoiled nine year old who kicks off because it's his birthday and can be as spiteful and nasty to everybody else because 'I'm the birthday boy'.

Birthday celebrations over, I think.

A lot of pearl clutching ITT

A batman was a valet for officers in the RAF/Miltary. A personal servant, bag carrier, driver, messenger, bodyguard arse wiper.

It fits.

Was he drunk op? Were you?