Leaving the Last Slice
While I grew up with the mantra “Finish your meal or no dessert,” Sweden follows a different protocol: always leave the last slice. Swedes, being a humble lot, would never assume entitlement to the final piece, hence the tradition.
The general practice involves waiting for 15 minutes and then politely inquiring if no one else desires the last portion. Only then is it up for grabs, albeit sometimes accompanied by subtle glances from the table.
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