Is there a polite way to take fish bones out of a fish at dinner?

Question

I always end up getting frustrated and pulling them out with my fingers, but then my fingers get all greasy and nasty - it just doesn't seem polite.

Answer 1

I entertain often and lots of people request fish ...so i have mastered the technique of de-boning it...
First....lay the fish facing away from you ...back fin towards you....
1. put your fork in the meat just behind the head. with another fork put it in the top of the fins that go along the back(spine) and use that fork to pull them out. they should come out fairly easy, and do that to the whole spine. Then you can stick your fork inside that separated pieces to flip the top part over. (you don't have to flip...you may eat it from that point )
2. as for the big bone in the middle...use one fork to hold the top of the fish and use the other one to slide under the long bone to lift it from the remaining meat on the bottom. it will not cut out from the tail...so you fix that by using your fork to cut off the piece where it is stuck to the tail. Keeping your fork under the bone...cut the fish meat thats lying on the plate.....use two forks to dispose of the bone...Place your bones accordingly...a separate dish would be ideal...if not place them along the top of the plate...

Answer 2

WHAT KINDA FISH ARE YOU EATING ANY WAY? I definitely would NOT use my fingers to pick at my food at a classy restaurant... I would just use the fork and /or maybe a knife if there was one to separate the flesh of the fish at the bone ( it's going to make a mess of the fish on the plate but it beats getting your fingers all fishy and greasy!!) If you are eating at a classy place you want to act like you have class not act as if you were at your friend's BBQ!

Answer 3

I wouldn't worry about how you look to others while you are making an effort not to choke on fish bones. I've never been offended by some one removing them before.

But you can always add the polite, excuse me and pardon me if you think it helps.

Answer 4

You say, "carefully, there is bones in the fish!" First get a plate or more depending on the number of people eating, and fish the bone out of your mouth and place it tenderly on the edge of the plate.

Answer 5

I just swollow my fish whole.

But I'm a penguin and manners are probably really different for you humans