We eat them for breakfast, take them with us on the road, and serve them to guests on holidays. However, this versatile dish has its own rules of etiquette, which depend on its type, size, and situation. To avoid getting into an awkward situation at a buffet or a business lunch, it is worth knowing when it is appropriate to use a knife and fork, and when you can safely take a sandwich with your hands.
Translated from German, a sandwich (butterbrot) is bread with butter, but in reality it can be with anything – with sausage, ham, cheese, pate, fish, meat, herbs, vegetables. It is desirable that the thickness of the toast or slice is no more than 1 cm, and the filling does not spill out beyond their borders. When you prepare the sandwiches, put them on a large flat dish so that they do not stain each other. For each guest, put an individual plate and put napkins in case they eat the sandwiches with their hands. The size of your treats can be any, however, as well as the shape – classic, closed, layered, canapes with and without a skewer. But keep in mind: each of them has its own rules for use.
Classic
If in the morning you cut yourself a piece of bread, spread it with butter, cover it with a piece of sausage, take it in your right hand and eat it, washing it down with sweet tea, – please. But if such an open sandwich is served in a fancy restaurant or it is large and has a rich filling, it would be appropriate to put it on a plate and use a knife and fork. Cut the pieces small so that they can be quickly chewed and swallowed and do not “bloat” your cheeks.
Sandwich and layered slice
Closed sandwiches called “sandwiches” and multi-layered versions of the dish were created so that they could be eaten with your hands, without fear of getting dirty with the filling. So do it – boldly pinch the fast food with your fingers and bite it. Just remember: if there is sauce in the filling, do not forget to use a napkin.
“Buter” separate from “brod”
If the sandwich components are lying separately on the table, carefully place a slice of bread and the desired ingredients on your plate. You can spread butter, jam or pate with a knife, and use a fork to put in the solid ingredients – cheese, sausage, vegetables. After assembling the sandwich, assess its size and consistency. Large and “messy” sandwiches are best eaten with cutlery, while small and neat ones can be taken with your hands.
Hot
With the advent of microwave ovens, hot sandwiches have become one of the favorite dishes of many. They are made very simply – put the filling on a slice of bread, cover it with a piece of cheese and put it in the oven for a couple of minutes – as soon as the top ingredient melts, the dish is ready. The method of use depends on the type of hot sandwich. If it is an open sandwich with melted cheese and juicy filling, then a knife and fork will be appropriate so as not to get dirty. At the same time, panini or closed hot sandwiches are usually eaten with your hands.
Canape
A great option for buffets are small canapés that can be eaten in just 1-2 bites. They are classic, when a soft filling such as caviar, pate or jam is placed on a small slice of bread, and on a skewer – in this case the bread is quite tiny, and the additives are hard (cheese, olives, cherries, ham). Small sandwiches are eaten with hands, holding onto the bottom layer of the canapé or the skewer with your fingers.
Джерело: ukr.media
