When encountering a situation where someone takes food out of a serving dish with their personal utensil instead of using the designated serving utensil, it's important to handle the situation tactfully and with respect. Here's a suggestion for addressing the issue politely:
Remain calm: Keep your composure and avoid responding rudely or confrontationally. It's best to address the issue with a calm and respectful attitude.
Use a friendly tone: Approach the person with a friendly and non-confrontational tone. This can help diffuse any potential tension.
Offer a gentle reminder: Politely inform the person that it's customary to use the serving utensils provided for taking food from the dish. You could say something like, "Excuse me, I believe we have serving utensils available for taking food from the dish."
Provide an alternative: If the person seems unaware or forgetful, you can offer a solution. For example, say, "To keep the serving dish clean, it would be great if we could use the serving utensils provided. They're right next to the dish."
Offer assistance: If the person appears unsure or is having difficulty using the serving utensils, you can offer to assist them in serving themselves. This way, you can demonstrate the proper etiquette while maintaining a helpful attitude.
Remember, the goal is to address the situation politely and help the person understand the appropriate etiquette without causing embarrassment or conflict.