I’m eating some chicken the other day, and I get a chicken bone in my mouth. I go to the bathroom and take it out there. With the very next bite of chicken, I get another chicken bone. Thinking it would look a little silly to go to the bathroom seconds after I just got back, I did the napkin over the mouth thing. Since bones are a pretty natural part of chicken and fish, is it OK to remove the bone at the table, or should you always excuse yourself and do it elsewhere?
Miss Manners (syndicated manners columnist) says, if it went in with a fork it comes out (discretely) on the fork and is placed at the side of your plate. Same goes for spoons, fingers etc.
Most people try to disguise the activity by spewing the unwanted bit of bone, gristle, fat while pretending to wipe their mouths. This is totally obvious and the napkin must then be replace on your lap, which presents further issues.
My advice. Whatever method you decide upon, smile afterward.
PS: It is wise to reserve trips to the bathroom for food caught between your teeth.
Miss Manners does allow that fish bones are an exception, though, and may be removed with the fingers because they are such nasty, sneaky little buggers. The bones, I mean–I’m sure your fingers are fine.
Follow the Miss Manners guideline as stated by msklystron and you can’t go wrong. Also, most restaurants should provide you with a plate for bones. For example, when ribs or chicken are served at my restaurant, the server provides a small plate for the customer to place the bones on so they don’t take up room on the plate which holds the meal. It’s utterly disgusting to find chicken bones or BBQ rib bones wrapped inside a cloth napkin. Please, please, do NOT do this when dining out. ESPECIALLY if the napkins are cloth. I suppose if you’re dining at a place which uses paper napkins it isn’t quite so bad.
Tip your head back, spit it straight up in the air, and catch it in your water glass.
In a pinch, vomiting works pretty well, but I wouldn’t recommend it for all venues. It can also damage one’s chances of getting laid later that night, as well.
And one must always think of one’s professional reputation in public! (Vomit only over your own plate.) 