What Some People Do at Buffets.....

When I first wrote about what some people do at "chap fan" stalls and followed that up with what some people do in supermarkets, I was surprised that these two posts got pretty good hits...even better than some of my cooking posts...aiks! ;P 

Maybe some of us have this "kepochi" streak in us and want to know what 'no good' our fellow citizens are up to...kekeke! :P  And a comment left on my previous post of what some people would do at "chap fan" stalls gave me an idea for this post.  So, here comes a third in the series...what I've witnessed some people do at buffets.

#1 - Those who pile a mountain top of food on their plate


Just because you've paid (in your opinion) an obscene amount of money for the buffet doesn't mean you have to pile it obscenely on your plate! O_o  Worst still, some can't even finish the food.  Even if you've paid for the food, it doesn't give you the right to waste food so, behave decently and take only what you can eat.  Luckily, nowadays, many have learned the etiquette of buffet eating (at least in classy environments like hotel buffets) though the same can't be said when it comes to "free makan" at festive buffets.

#2 - Those who pour soups into their bowls to the brim


Just as they pile a mountain top of food, they also pour soups into their bowls right to the brim and it's always fun to see them walk gingerly back to their seats and trying to keep the soup from overflowing.  Though it doesn't happen at buffets anymore since you can now make numerous trips to the buffet line, I do remember witnessing it before at a pizza place (the now defunct Shakey's, I think) where one is allowed only one serving of soup and salad at a set price with pizza (something like that).  It was pretty fun to see them walking slowly back to their seats while trying to balance their bowls...kekeke! :D 

#3 - Those who wipe out a particular tray of food without a care for those behind them


Just because the chef/server brings out a fresh plate of food, it doesn't justify you taking (almost) everything without a care for those in the queue behind you.  This usually happens to more premium food (like seafood) or those items that take a long time to cook and replenish (like satay and grilled items).  I've seen this happen quite often with satay...once the chef gets a handful of sticks ready, there'll be some inconsiderate people who would take them in all without even thinking about the few people who are waiting behind.

#4 - Those who don't bother to close the dome-shaped food covers


The food covers are there for a reason...to keep the food warm (and hygienic).   If there's someone standing next to you waiting to get the food, then yes, I can understand if you don't close the cloche.  Otherwise, please close the cloches, people! >:(

#5 - Those who don't use the tools that they're meant for


I once saw a diner using a traditional charcoal stove meant to toast bread to grill sausages...leaving remnants of the sausage stuck on the wire mesh! >_<  The buffet provides us with tools to pick up food from trays and sauces from bowls, so use the right tools please....and at no time should hands ever be involved.

#6 - Those who reuse their tableware


And then there are those who would reuse their glasses for refill of juices (sometimes even plates just for a few extra pieces of food).  Maybe you felt your glass wasn't that dirty, maybe the drink counter ran out of glasses (as they sometimes do), maybe you thought it wouldn't hurt to reuse...whatever your motivation is...please don't do it! >.<  We don't want to risk any contamination (in whatever form or shape) if your used tableware happen to come into contact with any food or drinks.

#7 - Those who would "chup chup" (reserve) the desserts first


And then there are those who would 'attack' the dessert counters first...and "chup chup" all the pretty desserts.  They'd probably claim they eat in reverse order (aka eat desserts first).  I may have been guilty of this one (once or twice) because circumstances made me do it.  Before the 'horde of bees' make a beeline and descend upon the 'sweets' and they're all gone, I too would take one...(maybe two) before all the pretty ones are gone...wakakakaka! ;P

#8 - If you have young kids, please get the food for them


I don't blame the kids for not using the right utensils and/or not following decorum.  I blame the parents for unleashing them and letting them run wild unsupervised at the buffet line.

#9 - If you have very young kids, please feed them


And if you have very young kids, please feed them instead of letting them eat by themselves and create a mess.  I've actually seen very young children being left to eat on their own and end up spilling food all over the table and floor (a little spillage is tolerable but not when you leave a big mess).  Mind you, some of these hotels use nice table linen and have carpeted floors...yikes! >.<

But I'm happy to say that the majority of buffet-eaters these days are a more civilised lot with the right dining etiquette (at least in classy environments) which is a far cry from the early days of buffet binging eating I've witnessed.


Anyway, why pile everything on one plate (and end up eating a pile of "rojak" with everything mixed together) when you can make numerous trips to the buffet line.  I, for one, don't like my food to touch and mingle with one another unless they're "related" in some way...wuahahahaha! ;D

So, have you ever come across such behaviour in any of your buffet dining experiences? ^_~