Finger bowl

The finger bowl is a part of a table place setting. In fact served water, the fingers can be cleaned without leaving the table.

History and Use

The use of finger bowls went in the 17th and 18th centuries, from the emergence of distinguished table manners in the nobility and upper-class circles on the one hand and the need for more hygiene on the other hand produced. Eating with fingers was pushed back by the proliferation delicate cutlery and on, according to the individual attention increased for the finger hygiene in the courts, which can continue without cutlery took with him. The possession of a particular multi-part, high quality, but also refined and useful table place setting that every guest the maximum comfort offered, was at the time also to a high prestige.

The manner of use of finger bowls has hardly changed up to the present time. Each guest receives their own bowl. It is usually filled with lukewarm water and a slice of lemon or column. The juice of lemon is both the release of traces of grease and odor neutralization. In earlier times, even rose water was used, but today any more. Occasionally rose or mint leaves can be added.

When offering water displacement should be considered caused by the immersion of the finger. The shell should therefore not be too full. The guest should never again, even if the size of the pan should allow this, the hand all the way to dive, but only the fingers. To finger bowl a further, separate napkin to dry the finger is provided.

Misunderstand the contents of the finger bowl as an appetizer or additional drinks and drink should be avoided. Such anecdotes are widespread and have elements of a modern legend. One of these incidents said to have taken place about the court of the " Sun King " Louis XIV. At a banquet supposedly a young nobleman from the province took a swig from the finger bowl, which led to sneer and laugh at the banquet table. Louis XIV is said to have resolved the unpleasant situation in favor of the young man shamed by also emptied his finger bowl, what other guests had to imitate him and what silenced the laughter immediately. Related stories but also various other statesmen and women are attributed with which you want each illustrate their special tact. One such misconception is expected also to the now widespread use of champagne glasses. In imitation of courtly customs you have the finger cups and candy bowls mistaken in aristocratic and bourgeois circles for drinking glasses and use them accordingly wrong.

Today, finger bowls are rarely offered at private occasions, and then usually only served food to be eaten with the aid of the fingers. For food, where finger bowls can be used include crustaceans and shellfish such as lobsters, crayfish and oysters, eels, artichokes, or various types of " finger food ", if this is offered as part of a menu, not a buffet. Fried chicken and chicken legs are in accordance with the table manners in Western European culture, especially in upscale restaurants, not eaten with the fingers, but with cutlery. The particularly small quail legs and chicken wings, however, are part of the finger food.

A similar function as the finger bowls come today to moist towelettes that are offered in many dining establishments, trains and airplanes. These disposable products to clean the hand with synthetic ingredients and also frequently make use of the lemon flavor. In upscale Japanese restaurants in addition to also to be found there finger bowls is to offer a Oshibori, a wet towel, distributed, but which is commonly used before meals to clean hands and face.