7 Ways To Ruin A Meal With Awful Manners

We've long been huge fans of the gents over at Magnificent Bastard. Their writing style, take on things and general snarky nature makes us real envious. So, it's with a tip of the cap and the hope that they don't sue us that we re-post one of their blogs verbatim below. It's great, we couldn't have come close (we started to write a similar post and then said "why mess with perfection?") and it provides some must-avoids for not looking like a total putz while eating. Thanks www.magnificentbastard.com and if you don't already visit their site, you're missing out.

1. Act like you're just not that into your napkin

Your plate is destined to mingle with your food. Your pants and your food should never meet. That's why as soon as you sit, your napkin goes on your lap.

2. Keep two points of contact with table at all times

Cows have to lower their heads to their troughs to eat because they're big stupid animals with no hands. You're human. Sit up straight and use your forearms, not your neck, to get your food within striking distance of your mouth.

3. Shank your entree like it was your worst enemy in lockdown

The chicken should already be dead before it reaches your plate, so there's no need to attack with lethal force. A thumb and a forefinger is all you need to steady your fork.

4. Pretend your fork is a tiny little shovel

Dinner isn't supposed to be manual labor. Unless your fritto misto arrives beneath two feet of snow, hold your fork the same way you hold a pencil.

5. Scrape your teeth with your silverware

A fork is not a dental hygiene instrument. If you can't master chewing your food without chewing your utensils, stick with Ensure or other liquid supplements.

6. Deep-throat your thumb

If the sauce is that good, the restaurant isn't going anywhere. Wipe your hands on your napkin and look forward to next time.

7. Floss your teeth with your finger

Not even chubby supermodels should stick their fingers this far into their mouths after eating. Use a toothpick. In private.

100% of this content was "borrowed" without permission from the talented and smart folks at www.magnificentbastard.com.

This article was written and appeared on mike@groominglounge.com. Grooming Lounge and our Founder, Mike Gilman, were quoted a lot, so we borrowed the article. Giving them credit -- hope it's OK.