The Etiquette For Dealing With Olive Pits During Cocktail Hour

Cocktail hours are common for large social and professional gatherings, acting as an interlude between events, allowing guests to mingle and socialize. It is not uncommon for wedding guests to meet for cocktail hour between the ceremony and dinner reception, and professional conferences often hold cocktail hours at the end of the working day to encourage attendees to mingle and network. By leveraging the social lubrication properties of cocktails, these occasions are designed to help strangers to get to know one another.

Because cocktail hours often happen in late afternoons to early evenings, it is not uncommon to find food alongside drinks. Often, these foods include various types of cheese, charcuterie, and crudites, all designed to be eaten easily even with a drink in your hand. Olives, a perfect companion to cocktails, are often among the foods offered. However, when eating olives in such an environment, a dilemma presents itself — how do you remove the olive pit politely at a cocktail party?

Since spitting out olive pits or removing them from your mouth in front of other guests is rude and unsightly, there are several alternatives to remove them politely.

One way is to use your napkin to cover your mouth and push the olive pit into the napkin. You can dispose of the napkin later. If silverware is available, you can push the pit from your mouth onto a fork and place the pit on your plate or napkin. If no napkin is available, you can use your fingers to remove the pit from your teeth while covering your mouth with the other hand. Avoid gnawing on the olive pit while holding it with your fingers, as it would be unsightly. Always eat the olive with a closed mouth, using your teeth and tongue to strip the flesh from the pit.

Now that you know how to dispose of an olive pit, you can be confident to enjoy the briny and tangy treats with confidence during the next social gathering. You might also want to try making these warm Spanish olives with clementines and almonds when hosting your own cocktail party.

Like other social gatherings, there are often unwritten etiquette rules that guests are expected to follow. For example, guests are expected to dress appropriately for the occasion, such as business attire for a professional conference cocktail hour or the style suggested by the invitation when attending a wedding.

Guests are expected to mingle with people they have not met, so instead of congregating with people you know well, it is better to circulate and introduce yourself to guests you have not met.

It is best to avoid excessive drinking during cocktail hour, as there are more events to follow. Stick with drinks with lighter alcohol, such as highballs and beer, and keep the number of drinks below 3. If the food is served buffet style, do not overload your plate with too much food. Instead, pick several items and go back for more if desired. Always have a napkin heady in case of spills, as accidents can happen.