If the bartender or waiter gives you a cocktail napkin with your drink, it is meant to absorb condensation that may form on the outside of the glass. (This may depend on the temperature of the drink and the heat/humidity of the room.)
Either a coaster or a napkin on your drink is common practice if you step out to smoke or use the restroom. It's both keeping your drink safe from being taken and your seat.
It's for hygienic purposes. A lot of Filipinos don't like the unsanitary conditions of bars and restaurants in the country, and a concession to those neat freaks is the tissue paper, which protects the opened bottle rim from outside contaminants, and gives you the option to wipe the lip of the bottle as well.
Unfold your napkin, just above your lap, underneath the table. Don't blot lipstick on a cloth napkin or use it as a handkerchief. Don't place your cloth or paper napkin on your plate after eating. Don't place your napkin back on the table while others are still eating.
For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, “I'm finished.” But if the Master got up from the table, folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because the folded napkin meant, “I'm coming back.”
You should never use your napkin to clean your silverware or to wipe your face. If you need to blow your nose, excuse yourself from the table and dining area and use your handkerchief or a tissue. This is not an appropriate use of the dinner napkin. Place the napkin to the side when you get up during the meal.
Unlike dinner napkins, cocktail napkins are very small and typically measure 5” x 5” inches. Some have multiple layers and can even be unfolded, which increases their size. When it comes to their shape, cocktail napkins tend to either be square or rectangular, which gives them an added touch of elegance.
Beverage Napkins: These napkins are also known as cocktail napkins and are typically the most used at parties or wedding receptions. This small napkin usually measures between 4.75 inches square and 5 inches square and is the perfect napkin for drinks, appetizers, and desserts.
Bartender Secret: To keep your drink from sticking to a cocktail napkin, put some salt on the napkin first.
The napkins are a creative way to tip the club workers, who dance and serve alcohol, keeping patrons entertained on long nights.
I think the idea behind wrapping a cloth napkin is to catch potential drips, but experienced servers learn how to pour a bottle with a slight twist at the end to avoid drips (and/or wipe the lip of the bottle discreetly with a napkin in their hand before setting the bottle down).
People often put a coaster on top of their drink. This is the universal signal for “I'll be right back, please don't take my drink away.” This way, you can step away and come back to finish your drink.
Behind the bar, your bartender wants highly absorbent towels for wiping down glasses and polishing them to a sparkling shine. The bartender also needs a highly absorbent towel to clean up spills at the bar, and kitchen towels are just not up to the task.
Just a quick refresher for the uninitiated: pouring one out refers to “the act of pouring liquid (usually an alcoholic beverage) on the ground as a sign of reverence for friends or relatives that have passed away.
Instead, millennials are gravitating towards using paper towels instead of napkins. Paper towels are commonly used to clean tables, windows and household appliances, so millennials see them as a multi-use tool, which means spending less and being more convenient.
All paper pulp begins its life as brown (“kraft”). Kraft pulp is the standard starting point for all paper products. From there, it can go straight to manufacturing, creating the many kraft products we know and love: napkins, brown paper bags, cardboard, etc.
Restaurant cloth napkins are reusable and therefore low on waste. And when laundered and maintained sustainably, water usage, carbon footprint, and energy consumption are definitely kept to a minimum. Diners prefer them over paper.
HIstory + ETIQUETTE of the COcktail Napkin
Believe it or not, the first semblance of a cocktail napkin surfaced in China during the Tang Dynasty (618 – 907 CE). At the time, the Chinese used small paper napkins to hold their tea cups.
A tea towel is just like a normal towel or napkin, but instead of being thick it is soft and thin. It is made using linen or cotton, or in some cases the combination of both. It has either a woven or printed design on it to make it look more appealing and decorative.
Definitions of tea napkin. a small napkin used when tea is served. type of: napkin, serviette, table napkin. a small piece of table linen that is used to wipe the mouth and to cover the lap in order to protect clothing.
If you're at a dinner party, let the host or hostess to put their napkin in their lap first. During the meal: You should keep the napkin on your lap in between uses, but it's acceptable to use the napkin frequently while eating to keep your mouth clean.
Dining etiquette: Is it ever okay to tuck your napkin into the front of your shirt? Yes, if you are eating a meal that you just ordered from the children's menu, tuck away, otherwise, no.