Straw Etiquette

I just returned from a vacation to the East Coast a couple of weeks ago where I had a great time. Being a midwesterner, I made it a habit to eat at locally owned restaurants during my trip. As time passed, I noticed something a little on the odd side (at least for me).

What came to my attention was the way straws were used regardless of the type of restaurant. For Example, I was at a very nice place in Baltimore's Little Italy having just ordered an expensive dinner. The glass of water I requested arrived in a very nice glass complete with a straw with its little 1 inch hat on.

This took me by surprise as here in the midwest, the more expensive the restaurant the less likely you are to be offered a straw. I remember years ago when I had just graduated from boot camp, being taught by a fellow classmate from New York about using a straw when drinking from a soda can or bottle when purchased from a sidewalk vendor. Having grown up in the suburbs of Kansas City, it was not something that had ever been brought to my attention. Ever since then, I have associated using straws with fastfood, drive-thru windows and sidewalk vendors. When this restaurant where I was paying about $40 per person for dinner (not including drinks) sent out my glass of water with a straw, the thought crossed my mind about whether the dishes were clean.

I would like some input as to whether this is SOP in other parts of the country or just in the Northeast U.S.

CNW

I'm in California. I am surprised when I don't receive a straw with my iced tea. For women, it keeps our lipstick intact, and keeps lipstick off the glass. And no matter how careful I am, I sometimes spill a little on my shirt when not using a straw...especially when all of the crushed ice in the glass suddenly breaks free at once and rushes into your face.

Elise, I'd never thought of it from those angles, but you're right! Does preserve the lipstick.

Here in SC a legislator last year actually managed to pass a bill that REQUIRES STRAWS BE COVERED when brought to the table. Doesn't require the straws, only the wrapping.

What a waste of taxpayer money! Oh well. Can't get into THAT.

I find it very funny when someone refuses to drink directly from a glass because they aren't sure it's clean. What the flip do they think about the utensils they're putting in their mouths? How about the plate? AND, if the glass isn't clean, the contents are being contaminated anyway...

Silly concept from a hygine standpoint. I think.

(Anyone here remember paper straws? Plastic straws were new when I was a young'un.)

I pretty much never use straws.

Whenever I get a glass of water with a straw, and I always remove the straw immediately, I consider it pretentiousness. Same with a slice of lemon in a glass of water, which I always send back in exchange for a glass of water.

straws help keep my beardNstach cleanNdry. Im not sure about high falutin restaurants but I know if ya stick a straw in a mug or bottle of beer yer liable ta get yer kicked! I was gonna mention spitball fights with the local pd in pizza hut but figure its not good etiquette

I've noticed that soda will always come with a straw in restaurants, other drinks, not so much. I prefer a straw because I have sensitive teeth. Agonizing to get ice-cooled liquid on them sometimes.

Anyone ever seen Dana Carvey do his shtick about straws and guys? Claiming that it's incredibly emasculating for a guy to use a straw. It's a riot. However, my boyfriend has a beard and 'stache, and he uses straws and doesn't look the least bit sissified.

I've had a beard and moustache for many, many years and need no straws.

My straw ettiquette consists of deciding whether I'm going to blow the straw paper off, aiming for a direct hit to Mr.D-L's face, or whether I push the paper down the straw, compacting it into an accordian-like pile, drip a little water off from my straw, and watch the paper come to life, wriggling into a worm-like creature.

quote:

Originally posted by Pwingsx

I've noticed that soda will always come with a straw in restaurants, other drinks, not so much. I prefer a straw because I have sensitive teeth. Agonizing to get ice-cooled liquid on them sometimes.

Anyone ever seen Dana Carvey do his shtick about straws and guys? Claiming that it's incredibly emasculating for a guy to use a straw. It's a riot. However, my boyfriend has a beard and 'stache, and he uses straws and doesn't look the least bit sissified.

I can't let someone's girlfriend be the judge of that.

I'm not saying he's a sissy in the least bit, but I just can't take your word.

I'm not saying he's a sissy, because when I said I "pretty much" don't use straws, was because the last time I called some guy a sissy I was drinking out of straws for months...

serioulsy though, I just don't like straws.

I never use a straw unless I'm driving and it has a lid. Unless you count the thin red ones that come with highball, then I use it to stir and immediately discard.

I like the feeling of the ice, preferably crushed, against my upper lip and then slowly sucking the liquid through it. Sweet tea is especially refreshing this way, although I admit at times I do slurp and am unsure if "Excuse me" is in order. As a server I never put a straw in drinks, I carried them in my pocket in case someone should ask, why leave extra trash on the table iffen its not necessary and it is wasteful.

As for water, the comment about a side of lemon reminds me of a customer I had that would always ask for my section. The first time I waited on her she was with 5 other co-workers, and humiliated me when I brought her water with lemon on the glass. She wanted the lemon but NOT on the glass (HTH was I to know?)........she wanted (them) on a plate on the side.

With my face absolutely burning after the chewing out she gave me in a very loud voice, I returned with a plate of lemons and a monkey dish of sugar. To her questioning expression I replied, "In case you care to make lemonade". Although it was a standing joke between the two of us for years, I actually got the idea from working at Morrisons Cafeteria. She didn't realize the "inside" insult until I let her in on the joke the next time she came in and asked for me. Thank God she had a good sense of humor!

Copper

Interesting phenomenon. I think you generally have to ask for straws out west(with the exception of drive-thrus). My ex-wife had sensitive teeth and always had to ask. Rarely use straws exceot when driving and drinking soda or milkshakes.

My pet peeve is about straws that come in your drink with no wrapper, I refuse touse them, you don't know how or where they were stored. Same with plastic table ware, I will not use them if they are just stuck in a bin, usually carry a wraped set with me. They are stored loose in our kitchen at work and I always wash them with soap and water before using. I am not an overly clean fetish person and I'm sure it's a lot cheaper for the restaurants to just stick them and straws loose, but I won't use them.

do you do the same thing to the silverware that sits in the bin before being put on the table?

quote:

Originally posted by Michael Hoffman

I've had a beard and moustache for many, many years and need no straws.

Is it a twirller or closly clipped? Can ya braid it? I haven't made the top ten in the National Beard Registry but I'm workin on it!

When I’m finished with my meal I like to take the straw and start stabbing it into various leftovers making them compact up into the straw. It’s like taking a sample of the earths core, only not. Then I squish it out all over…

quote:

Originally posted by Theedge

When I’m finished with my meal I like to take the straw and start stabbing it into various leftovers making them compact up into the straw. It’s like taking a sample of the earths core, only not. Then I squish it out all over…

Doesn't surprise me. pb

I am very glad that the fast food threads were moved off of the front page (except apparently for Wendy's chili) so that we can discuss this important issue. I, for one, do not use straws even at fast food. The simple reason is that when I do, I end up drinking the beverage way too fast. I also think that every time I see someone drinking a can of pop (yes it's pop) with a straw that they are probably from New York.

Hey scorereader, my guy weighs 300 lbs, has a shaved head and a full beard. I don't think ANYTHING could make him look sissified.

He looks really fearsome, but he's a total teddy bear. (Shhhh, I never said that.)

Hello All,
To straw or not to straw, that is the question.
Whether tis nobler to sip through the lips and down the throat and suffer
the slings and arrows of those against the straw,
or to take arms against the waiter or waitress who delivers the straw sheathed or unsheathed.
It is a sea of troubles.

When I was a child, women and children were given straws. Always clothed in paper.
Now, all are given. We have come far, people.
Actually, I like a straw if there is ice in the drink, (not liquor, but soda or pop).
Take Care,
Fieldthistle

When I saw the caption "straw etiquette" I was afraid some fellow Roadfooder had caught me blowing the paper sheath off of straws in some fast food joint. Much to the distress of my wife and daughter-in-law I've taught the technique to my grandchildren.

Cheers, John

quote:

Originally posted by hatteras04

I am very glad that the fast food threads were moved off of the front page (except apparently for Wendy's chili) so that we can discuss this important issue. I, for one, do not use straws even at fast food. The simple reason is that when I do, I end up drinking the beverage way too fast. I also think that every time I see someone drinking a can of pop (yes it's pop) with a straw that they are probably from New York.

When I hear (or read) someone referring to a carbonated soft drink as pop I figure they must be from Ohio and other Midwest points where people don't know that stuff is soda.

There are some things you can only do with your children or adults with a light heart, like spitballs and blowing straw wrappers. When the kids are really young, they enjoy it, as they mature, they start to look at you as if you have two heads. And, that makes it so much more fun!

BTW, I also spear the drop ceiling in my office with very, very sharp pencils, and if I have a straw around, it makes a great blow dart tool with some toothpicks.

Gotta live a little.

quote:

Originally posted by MizLiz

There are some things you can only do with your children or adults with a light heart, like spitballs and blowing straw wrappers. When the kids are really young, they enjoy it, as they mature, they start to look at you as if you have two heads. And, that makes it so much more fun!

BTW, I also spear the drop ceiling in my office with very, very sharp pencils, and if I have a straw around, it makes a great blow dart tool with some toothpicks.

Gotta live a little.

A couple years ago all 3 of my brothers and their families were visiting along with our parents, after a day trip to St.Augustine we stopped at Pizza Hut in Jacksonville Beach. Of course a spitball fight broke out,the significant others were mortified, mom was appalled and the kids of course were reduced to tears of laughter. Then horror of horrors an errant paper wad hit one of the local police officers at a table across the the way. RUTROW!! The struck officer glared at the 4 middle aged pranksters, then said something to his 2 compatriots. "Now your gonna get it!" mom staged whispered at the same time the 3 officers returned fire!

CNW
New to Roadfood, from Texas, been in CT for 8 yrs now. Nice to meet ya'll. The east coast straw thing comes from 2 sources. 1st, before our time, according to locals, back in the speak easy days, a "lady" or a "gentleman" never swigged from a bottle, they used a straw. A local waitress tells me, the reason the tradition continues is, people think that if the rim of the glass isn't clean, the straw is protection. (Remember those paper toilet seat covers?) As far as the little top hat left on the straw, thats to show that the server didn't touch the part of the straw going into your mouth. Now don't you feel safer?

Reminds me of an old song, a line of which went,"The prettiest girl i ever saw was sippin' cider through a straw...".

Cheers, John

quote:

I find it very funny when someone refuses to drink directly from a glass because they aren't sure it's clean. What the flip do they think about the utensils they're putting in their mouths? How about the plate? AND, if the glass isn't clean, the contents are being contaminated anyway

When I was a server I waited on many who asked for a straw with every drink, even water, and were perplexed and insulted when a straw wasn't automatically given. Many of these people also requested a glass of hot water with which they sanitized their utensils.

Exactly eagle, by the way, 20 year tech/rep with the leading chemical/sanitation company for hospitality and foodservice. Oh the things I have seen. By the way, many roadfood listings and mom and pop places do a better job taking care than the gawd awful chains. But ya'll knew that by the food.

I hate straws. They make my beer fizz.

It is funny, I always use a straw while eating out, if one is not left at the table I will ask for one. At home we never use them..............Don't ask why because I do not know! I do not think it has anything to do with worrying if the glass is clean because if I thought that I was not I would not be eating there.

Butch