Ophelia wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> "Wayne Boatwright" wrote in message
> 9.44...
>
> On Mon 25 Sep 2017 09:40:24a, Cheri told us...
>
> >"Wayne Boatwright" > wrote in message
> > 9.45...
> > > On Mon 25 Sep 2017 08:31:45a, Ed Pawlowski told us...
> > >
> > > > On 9/25/2017 4:47 AM, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > > ==
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Oh dear, what a performance lol Of course every place has
> > > > > > its own customs so they should be respected)) But tell
> > > > > > me, after all that passing to and fro, do you actually take
> > > > > > the last bite???
> > > > > >
> > > > > > We (in our house) never share a dish the way I hear about in
> > > > > > US, so it isn't a problem )
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > We never share our plates of food with each other, even if we
> > > > > are eating the same foods or different foods. Custom? or not,
> > > > > I think it's a disgusting habit, and worse yet if it's
> > > > > observed in a restaurant.
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > > We may share but not passing a plate back and forth. I may cut
> > > > off a piece from my meal and put it on her plate and she may do
> > > > the same for me so we get a taste of the other's dish. Some
> > > > appetizers are made to be shared but separate plaes are used.
> > >
> > > I don't see that as a blatant exchange. What's even worse is
> > > seeing people feeding each other from their plates. Certainly
> > > shared appetizers are different, as is taking a roll or a piece
> > > of bread from a common bread basket.
> > >
> > > > We've often ordered one dessert and the server will bring two
> > > > spoons. Sharing dessert is fairly common, it seems.
> > >
> > > Better restaurants will also bring an additional plate if they
> > > know the intent is to share the dessert.
> >
> > Sure, many people will say one dessert two forks. Nothing wrong
> > with it IMO, but I want my own. As seldom as we eat out, the sky
> > is the limit.
> >
> > Cheri
> >
> >
>
> +1 For many reasons.
>
>
> Wayne Boatwright
>
> ==
>
> I have never seen two people sharing one dish. Having a taste,
> maybe, but never two people eating one dish.
>
> I don't know what happens in fast food places because I don't use
> them, but never in the places we use.
>
> I have wondered is it because they serve huge portions in US?

Hi Ophelia, It really depends on the country you are in at the time of
the meal.

Some places, the sizes of the dishes are HUGE and meant to be shared
among the group. They come with serving tongs/equipment and many small
dishes stacked to the side you load from a central plate.
-In Hong Kong at many fine dining places, they will count the number of
people at the table then size the dish to match (grin). 3 people, 3
dimsum, 6 mini-ribs. 6 people get 6 dimsum and 12 mini ribs and so on.

Plating individual dishes is both common and not common in the home in
the USA. 'Please pass the potatoes' at home is pretty common meaning
they were in one big bowl and you pass it along and take what you want
to your plate. This type has several names of which 'family style' may
be the most common? I'd be suprised regardless of area of the USA if
any didn't recognize what I mean by it.

I instinctively understand 'one plate, 2 forks'.

Fast food here doesn't generally work that way but it's not that
uncommon to share a pack of french fries or tater tots. If toddlers
are there, it would not be considered odd to ask for a plastic knife
and cut a cheeseburger in half for them here (when 1 is too much for
their ages).



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