Diners round on square plate ‘abominations’

Brits prefer their food served on traditional round plates, a survey has found

British diners prefer being served food on plates despite a trend for more unusual serving platters, a survey has found.

An overwhelming 99% of respondents said they liked eating off a round plate, the Daily Telegraph said.

Meanwhile, 69% approved of meals served on slates and 64% thought it was acceptable to eat food from a wooden board.

Square plates also attracted support in the YouGov poll of 2,030 people, with 96% saying they liked food served on them.

However, writer William Sitwell, who has appeared on BBC show Masterchef, backed the use of circular plates and branded square dishes as an “abomination”.

He told the Telegraph: “Square and rectangular plates are an abomination.

“Food should be served on round plates and not a right angle in sight.

“A square plate is at odds with nature,” he said.

“Mother Nature produces ingredients that are many shapes – including round, but never square.” I know a thing or two about spinning plates. It’s been part and parcel of life for years!

But call me old fashioned, I couldn’t care less what shape my plate for eating off is – so long as it has enough space to accommodate a side order of chips.

So when I was asked to write 250 words of analysis on a survey that claims 99% of British diners prefer being served food on round plates, compared with 96% who prefer square plates, I thought someone must be having a laugh. Revenge is a dish best served cold after all.

But then it got me thinking about the times I’ve been out and been served food on a wooden board – a platter that’s often struck me as being potentially unhygienic when you consider the gouge marks caused by successive knives.

As for slates, well, in my experience, their best place has always been on roofs. If the birds want to eat worms off them, then each to their own I say.

I once sat in a Greek restaurant where the chef proceeded to throw half his scullery on the floor. It was smashing!

But joking aside, as well as the proof being in the pudding, a meal’s presentation can be as much about what it is served on. My advice? Make sure soup is served in a bowl.

An overwhelming 99% of those surveyed said they preferred eating off round plates.