Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street Radio Dining Dos, Dining Don’ts: The New Rules of Restaurant Etiquette
Sep 26, 2025
Maggie Hennessy, a Bon Appétit columnist, discusses modern dining etiquette, including when it's appropriate to use your phone at the table and the best ways to communicate with servers without causing a scene. She emphasizes that restaurants can reveal personal behaviors, and offers insights on the dynamics of group dining, such as splitting bills. Irene Yu, co-owner of Orion Bar, shares the art of soju culture, covering pouring rituals and popular Korean cocktails, making for a vibrant conversation about food and manners.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Pour For Others, Not Yourself
- When pouring soju in Korean drinking tradition, serve elders or higher-status people first and avoid pouring your own drink.
- Reciprocity matters: others serve you and you serve them as a mark of respect.
Milky Shot And Layered Soju Shots
- Irene Yu describes the milky shot: equal parts soju, beer, and cider, foamed and shot like a Korean yogurt soda.
- She also describes a soju-beer-cola combo that layers flavors from soju to beer to syrupy cola.
Thicken Berry Pies With Tapioca
- Use tapioca (minute tapioca or powdered tapioca) instead of cornstarch when thickening juicy berries for pie fillings.
- Use roughly half the package-recommended tapioca amount for best set and texture.
