A Small Dish for What the Meal Leaves Behind
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Some meals leave olive stones, fruit peels or other small remnants that need a place. Set a separate small dish within easy reach and explain its purpose before serving. It keeps those pieces apart from the shared serving bowl and makes the table easier to use.
Choose a sound washable dish with enough room for the likely remnants, rather than an ornamental vessel that is difficult to clean. Give each diner one where that works better than passing a communal dish. Keep it visually distinct from dishes containing food.
Emily Post’s food-and-drink guide provides context on handling foods such as olives. This remnant-dish arrangement is an original practical suggestion, with no need to turn the detail into a performance. Guests can use it discreetly without reaching across another place.
Clear the remnants and wash the dish after the meal. Keep stones and scraps away from children and pets, and dispose of them appropriately. A quiet little piece of tableware can have a definite job, leaving the rest of the setting simple and comfortable.