Hot towels

[Fat Guy]

Every time I dine at a Japanese restaurant I'm reminded of my belief that every restaurant should provide hot towels before, during, and after a meal. Hot towels are so great. I love them so much. Why haven't Western restaurants picked up on this?

[Jinmyo]

I agree entirely. I suppose it's just regarded as not part of the culinary culture of the west.

[CathyL]

A hot towel is part of the silly ritual of first/business class airline meals. It might be welcome if the towels weren't infused with nasty chemical lemon scent.

Flight attendants always seem so surprised when someone says no, thanks.

[tommy]

Flight attendants always seem so surprised when someone says no, thanks.

some look downright offended.

[cabrales]

It would be unfortunate, for me, if hot towels were introduced into French restaurants. First, some diners use hot towels to wipe their face as well as their hands. In the case of women with make-up (myself included), the facial area is not included in the area potentially covered by the hot towel. Second, if the hot towel is utilized for purposes of making sure the diner's hands are clean, a diner should attend to that himself. Third, if the purpose is to refresh, the temperature would be distracting and might even if unhelpful if the diner soon picks up the stem of a champagne glass or other glass for his aperatif. Fourth, providing hot towels would add to the workload of the dining room team, because it would be inappropriate for the towels, once used, to be left sitting on the table.

[Fat Guy]

It would be unfortunate, for me, if hot towels were introduced into French restaurants.

Italian restaurants would be okay, then?

[cabrales]

Italian restaurants would be okay, then?

Steven -- Well, the introduction of hot towels at Italian restaurants wouldn't meaningfully affect me.

[Beachfan]

Hot towels 9 months of the year.

Cool towels in summer.

(In Singapore, where it's always summer, you get cool towels).

[tommy]

Italian restaurants would be okay, then?

Steven -- Well, the introduction of hot towels at Italian restaurants wouldn't meaningfully affect me.

are you suggesting that you eat only at french restaurants?

and i'm confused why this would be a problem for you or your make-up. if you chose not to use the towel, than how would it be problematic?

would you considering discussing this a bit more?

[Basildog]

some look downright offended.

no, thats just you Tommy

[Simon Majumdar]

What I want to know is how restaurants can have towels that are so hot that theyn scald you but go from that to freezing in 3 seconds.

Are they taking lessons from the airlines?

S

[cabrales]

are you suggesting that you eat only at french restaurants?

and i'm confused why this would be a problem for you or your make-up.  if you chose not to use the towel, than how would it be problematic?

tommy -- Most of the restaurants I care more about are French, in cuisine style or inspiration if not actually located in France. I do not eat frequently at Italian restaurants, whether in the US or on my travels (as I choose to travel to France much of the time). I was attempting to limit my views to the restaurants that I care most about.

On the makeup point, I was seeking to articulate that women who wear make-up would not benefit from applying the hot towel to their face area. Thus, fewer diners than the entire dining population are likely to choose to use hot towels, recognizing that women with make-up might nonetheless use hot towels on their hands.

[Jinmyo]

I think that wiping the face or back of the neck with oshibori is a bit much.

[Fat Guy]

I can't say I've ever seen a Japanese person use a hot towel on his or her face. The only people left out of proper usage are those with no hands.

I sometimes use them on my feet, though.

[Deacon]

Another classy (and practical) touch lost to the ages: finger bowls afterwards.

In the poorer and less-frequented areas of Mexico (not Mexico City or the resort areas, that is) there is frequently a sink right next to the front entrance, so that the patrons of the establishment may wash the dirt and God knows what else from themselves before even sitting down. . . .

[nightscotsman]

Ah, hot towels. One of many, many things I loved about the restaurants in Japan - along with beautiful food, wonderful service, seasonal delicacies, and last-but-not-least: no tipping! So civilized.

When my brother and I were young we always had warm washcloths at the dinner table. We considered paper napkins to be barbaric. In fact, my 40 year old brother still insists on a washcloth when eating at home.

[Wilfrid]

Baby wipes. Like I said before, call them adult wipes and we'd be using them day and night. They're fantastic.

[LaNiña]

Baby wipes.  Like I said before, call them adult wipes and we'd be using them day and night.  They're fantastic.

I use baby wipes all the time, for everything.

And in particular, they make toilet paper seem, er, quite primitive.

[Fat Guy]

Otherwise known as dog wipes.

[GordonCooks]

One of my favorite lunch restaurants has adopted an on-site shower stall.

The stall is in kind of a conspicous area and every half hour or so, one of the servers will strip down and partake of a shower. I try not to spill anything on my shirt because I'd be a little embarassed washing up with everyone looking.

PS order whipped cream SOS just in case

[Deacon]

The stall is in kind of a conspicuous area and every half hour or so, one of the servers will strip down and partake of a shower.

I'm impressed. Usually you have to go to Scores for that sort of thing.

[Stephanie]

In the kosher Indian restaurants I've been to in the East 20s, there are sinks in the dining room where you can wash your hands and make the proper blessing before you eat. How these are different from the sinks in the bathroom, I'm not sure.

[anil]

A hot towel is part of the silly ritual of first/business class airline meals.  It might be welcome if the towels weren't infused with nasty chemical lemon scent.

Flight attendants always seem so surprised when someone says no, thanks.

Why is it silly ? I do not t hink they are scented. I used it twice yesterday, on both segments, and in past many segments - none had a scent - Not that other airlines do not relfain from artificial scents. BTW, many airlines offer these towels in all classes on the international-segments.