Luther Myrvold wrote:
> I am usually unsure of myself regarding wines during meals on cruises. =
=20
> I usually cruise solo, so I am seated at a table of 6 or 8. I enjoy=20
> wine with my meals, and I usually order a bottle. =20
>=20
> Here the rub. I don't offer wine to the other 7 people at the table. =
I=20
> don't think it is necessary, but am I being a shulb? Is there a=20
> protocol for wine in a group that is just assigned to a table?
Thank you for asking. Several years ago, Mrs. Nonnymus and=20
I had similar questions about what to do when you want a=20
little drink of wine with dinner. Here's a repost of what a=20
fine and gracious person once wrote:
The Sommelier
Having been born and raised in MO, my dear wife and
I have no delusion of being what big city would call=20
sophisticated.
We try to smooth out some of the rougher spots by observing=20
others
and by my occasionally asking questions on the Internet.
For instance, a response to a recent dilemma about what to=20
do with
chewing gum at the dinner table was simply wonderful, and I am
grateful to the good people who gave advice beyond just=20
sticking it
up under the table. (I never realized that the little empty=20
plates beside
the coffee cup were to hold gum.) Other questions concerning=20
silver
and table service have elicited a similar generous response=20
from many.
My purpose in writing this note is to express my deep for=20
the insightful
and non-patronizing answer to yet another question that has=20
perplexed
both Vicki and me since our very first cruise. Here is the=20
background,
followed the response. It was so kind, helpful and=20
appreciated, I thought
it might be of use to other folks who enjoy cruising, but=20
may not
always know proper etiquette.
The question I discretely asked a couple of months ago was,=20
"What
in the Hell is the purpose of those little cups for that=20
hang around
the neck of the guy who takes my drink order in the dining room?
They have always worried both Vicki and me, but I've always=20
been too
embarrassed to ask a sophisticated person what they were.=94
It was explained that they were called spit cups, and were=20
there for
people to spit their tobacco juice, snuff or plugs of=20
tobacco into
when the wine was served. This made a lot of sense to me,=20
since I'd
noticed a certain amount of distaste on the faces of the=20
others at our
table when Vicki would spit on the floor, and put her chew=20
of tobacco
on the bread plate.
We were so excited with our new level of sophisticated=20
knowledge, that
Vicki and I went to a local restaurant that had one of those=20
guys with
the spit cup around his neck.
Sure enough, the guy came over to our table and asked if we=20
would like
to see the wine menu. We ordered a good Muscatel, and when=20
he brought
it, I motioned him over to Vicki.
He unscrewed the cap and poured a little of it into her=20
glass, leaning
over her a bit as he did it. Vicki smiled, gently reached=20
out, took the
dangling spit cup in her hand, and spit the remains of her=20
chew of Red
Man into the cup. She then handed the cup to the fellow, who=20
was so
shocked by her act of sophistication that all he could do=20
was walk
away. He never even came back to pour the rest of the Muscatel.
Vicki and I both thank all of you for sharing this with us.=20
Now, my
next question is why the guys with the spit cups around=20
their necks
only pour a little bit of the wine in a glass and don't just=20
fill it
up. We bought the entire bottle.
Nonnymus |
