Dear Urban Diplomat: what’s the proper dinner-guest etiquette for Ramadan?
Dear Urban Diplomat, My wife and I were asked to a dinner party by some neighbours. The invite said 7 p.m., but it will be during Ramadan, when we can’t eat or have a drink until after sunset—so around 9 p.m. I mentioned this, and they said to just come along and they’ll serve dinner late. We don’t want to be the recipients of sideways glances from famished, clock-watching guests all evening. Should we decline, go over after 9 p.m., or what?
—Unfashionably Late, Upper Beach
Your hosts have graciously offered to push the schedule, and you should graciously accept. Don’t apologize or delay your arrival, but do insist that they serve drinks and appetizers to everyone else until sunset. If you still fear the ocular wrath of your fellow diners, bring along a plate of qatayef or a similarly festive dessert as an additional token of thanks.
Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com
