To cut or not to cut your salad!
Last evening, while dining on Worth Avenue, my attention was drawn to a gentleman at a nearby table. While well-dressed for dinner, he held his silver fork in a “fist grip,” as if preparing for a duel rather than a delicate salad starter! Watching him struggle with a spirited leaf of Romaine, I realized that a salad is the ultimate test of dexterity and grace. This prompted a recent subscriber’s question, “How does one navigate a salad with true grace?” The answer lies in a secret tradition from the grand dining rooms of France, which Mummy shared with me. In France, the cardinal rule is simple: One never cuts the lettuce! Historically, carbon-steel knives would tarnish when in contact with acidic dressings. While modern silver is safe, the protocol remains. Cutting your greens implies the kitchen failed to prepare them into proper, bite-sized pieces. Instead of using your knife, try
