Miss Manners: Is there a good way to handle embarrassing moments, like food slipping off your plate? - mlive.com

Judith Martin pens the Miss Manners column.Kay Chernush

MISS MANNERS by Judith Martin, Nicholas Ivor Martin and Jacobina Martin

DEAR MISS MANNERS: Whether at home, in a restaurant, or someone else’s home, how does one handle food that has slipped off one’s plate onto the table?

GENTLE READER: With a quick flick off of the table and onto the side of your plate, where it should remain until the plate is cleared.

But if no one saw and you deem the table clean enough, Miss Manners will not chide you for discreetly pushing it back with the rest of the food and eating it.

Please send your questions to Miss Manners at her website, www.missmanners.com; to her email, [email protected]; or through postal mail to Miss Manners, Andrews McMeel Syndication, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO 64106.

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