Did I break buffet etiquette?

Was at a buffet recently and according to my wife I broke the normal buffet etiquette.

1. Imagine there are 7 stations (1, 2, 3, 4...7).
The line was held up at station 3 because the person was getting stuff there. I only wanted the stuff from station 6 and 7. So I just walked directly over there and got the stuff and left before the guy even finished station 3.

My wife said its a 'no no' to skip, but if I don't want stuff from stations 1-5, why should I wait in line for it? If someone was at station 5, I would not go to 6 because thats too close. But nobody was anywhere near station 6.

2. Bread - when we got to the bread bowl, I grabbed a piece with my hand (I did NOT touch any other piece of bread - I'm a germ phobe so I didnt want to use the tongs - and I made sure I would never touch a piece I am not taking).
I told my wife that I only touched my piece so what is the harm in that? If I had to touch other pieces of bread then I would not use my hands.

Thoughts?
Am I an etiquette breaker or are these acceptable situations since I did not interfere with anyone else?

Message edited 7/3/2017 3:25:05 PM.

Did I break buffet etiquette?

I think you were fine jumping ahead a station. That is why they make stations. The bread though, you probably should have used the tongs (or use your unused fork) but touching bread is probably the least of my worries at a buffet so I think you are good lol : )

Did I break buffet etiquette?

>>I think you were fine jumping ahead a station. That is why they make stations

But (to play devil's advocate) - if we all just ignored the line and start skipping stations it would be anarchy
:)

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Skip away...skip away! You did nothing wrong. You helped the line move, if anything

As far as the bread, use tongs. Did you use tongs for the other things?

Also why would you eat bread at a buffet? That's precious cargo space. Rookie move, dude. Lol

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

You should use the tongs, but if it's easy to grab just one piece, I think it's fine.
Skipping stations is fine if there is a hold up on things you don't want, as long as the people you skipped won't end up waiting for you.

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

When you say "stations" do you mean separate tables that are a few feet apart from each other? Or, do you mean just 7 different sterno trays in a row on one table?

If it is the former, then honestly, I've never been to an event where people waited on line to go through stations 1 through 7 (for example) in order - it always seems like each station has their own separate line anyway - it makes no sense for 100 people to be waiting on one line.

If it's the latter (all one table) then yeah, it's too crowded and disorganized when people start cutting each other.

Also, I don't think I always see tongs used for the bread basket - I don't think there is anything wrong with taking it with your hands as long as you don't touch other pieces. What is the objection here?

Did I break buffet etiquette?

Totally fine to skip to the station that had what you wanted.

I'm torn on the bread thing but would lean towards using the tongs. I get not wanting to use the tongs everyone else has, but would not look too kindly on the person in front of me taking the bread with their hands. I see the tong thing as "a cost of doing business " when you go to a buffet

Did I break buffet etiquette?

from the way you've described it, i think you're fine.

Did I break buffet etiquette?

Nope. All good.

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Wait.

You are a germ phobe and DIDN'T use the tongues???? You should have. MUCH more sanitary.

And I agree with you. You did not break etiquette as long as you were in line.

breaking etiquette would be NOT waiting in line and just going up to the stations.

Did I break buffet etiquette?

>>As far as the bread, use tongs. Did you use tongs for the other things?

Yes - but the other items I have to use a scooper/spoon because it is not 1 serving.
The bread was 1 serving, I just grabbed it (without touching any other food) and go.


>>Also why would you eat bread at a buffet? That's precious cargo space. Rookie move, dude. Lol

Got to have bread with pasta :)


>>When you say "stations" do you mean separate tables that are a few feet apart from each other? Or, do you mean just 7 different sterno trays in a row on one table?

7 trays on a long table.


>>You are a germ phobe and DIDN'T use the tongues???? You should have. MUCH more sanitary.

Well, I grabbed the bread directly and I'm going to use my hands to eat the bread anyway
:)


>>breaking etiquette would be NOT waiting in line and just going up to the stations.

Good point

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

i see nothing wrong with what you did in jumping ahead

But i'm really confused about the Tongs comments with the bread. Keep in mind, i'm NOT a germaphobe, but what on earth is wrong with using tongs? its not hands.. so how is that yucky to anyone?

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Message edited 7/5/2017 2:50:43 PM.

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

A true germaphobe wouldn't even eat at a buffet.

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Posted by luvbuffet

A true germaphobe wouldn't even eat at a buffet.

Message edited 7/5/2017 3:08:31 PM.

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Posted by luvbuffet

A true germaphobe wouldn't even eat at a buffet.

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

It wouldn't even occur to me to use tongs to pick up the piece of bread I'm taking if that's the only piece I'm going to touch. So I think you're ok with that one (but if your hands were going to be all over other people's slices, then yes it would be gross)

Secondly the line skipping in this instance is fine I think. It helps keep the line moving. I would have done the same. If you were super slow though I could see the person you passed getting annoyed but you finished before he did, so no harm done.

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Posted by MC09

Posted by luvbuffet

A true germaphobe wouldn't even eat at a buffet.

This lol. Also, you already touched the tongs at the stations. Unless no one else touched the serving spoons and tongs at the stations before you then your hands are already coated in ick. Picking up the bread with your hands instead of the tongs to avoid germs makes no sense.

Message edited 7/6/2017 9:05:07 AM.

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

Posted by skew

Posted by MC09

Posted by luvbuffet

A true germaphobe wouldn't even eat at a buffet.

This lol. Also, you already touched the tongs at the stations. Unless no one else touched the serving spoons and tongs at the stations before you then your hands are already coated in ick. Picking up the bread with your hands instead of the tongs to avoid germs makes no sense.

I agree. If serving spoons or tongs were used at the food stations, you were already exposed to germs. By using your hand to grab your roll, you transferred the germs to the bread.

Wouldn't it have been more sanitary to use the serving spoons or tongs for everything and then wash hands before eating?

Re: Did I break buffet etiquette?

My husband bought me a
Similar suit for Mosquitos!!!!