An Etiquette Tip of the Week Reader sent in this question: "When you eat a baked potato during a business meal, can you smush the sides with your fingers?"
For those of you not familiar with the term "smush," here's the definition:
(Orig: from the Latin: smashibus, to smash and pushibus, to push)
1. v. To render an object more pliable by compressing it from the sides
2. n. An act or sound of something being smushed
The question behind the question was, "Is it impolite to touch the baked potato with my fingers?"
Usually it's hands-off in a business meal. If the potato is served without a foil wrap and is dripping in butter and sour cream, use a fork and knife. Because remember, that hand is going to be shaking someone else's hand in parting after the meal.
But if the potato has a foil wrap, it is okay to briefly smush the sides with your fingers. Smushing allows the steam to escape and opens up the potato, making it easier to eat neatly.
Usually a baked potato is served pre-smushed with a slit cut in the top to let the steam escape. But if the baked potato comes whole, steady the spud with one hand, make an incision in the top with your knife or the side of your fork, then smush.
How to avoid all of this? When out on business, order the mashed potatoes or rice pilaf.
About the Author: Etiquette Tip of the Week's Callista Gould's was recently interview by Hayward Suggs of Soft Skills News Magazine: http://www.softskillsnews.com/2014/09/01/interview-with-callista-gould-etiquette! -expert/
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