Restaurant Etiquette: Why Smelling Wine Is Acceptable but Smelling Food Is Not
The Curious Double Standard in Restaurant Etiquette Why is smelling wine at a restaurant considered sophisticated while smelling food may seem rude? Explore wine tasting etiquette, dining manners and the double standards of fine dining. Have you ever noticed that smelling wine in a restaurant is considered a sign of sophistication, while smelling your food before eating it may attract disapproving looks? A wine enthusiast can swirl a glass, hold it close to the nose, inhale deeply and discuss its complex aromas without raising an eyebrow. Yet, if a restaurant guest brings a freshly served dish closer to the nose to appreciate its aroma, the same action may be interpreted as unusual, suspicious or even impolite. Why? Is there a genuine difference between these two behaviours, or are we simply following social conventions that we have never bothered to question? The answer reveals something fascinating about restaurant etiquette, fine dining culture and the unwritten rules that...