Play with Your Food (and cutlery, dinnerware, tablecloth, salt shakers....)
September 7, 2011 8:40 PM Subscribe
My sister brings her nephews over for dinner on the weekends. While they're waiting for the food to be served, I want to entertain them. What are some fun stunts that you can do at the dinner table? I'm looking for quick tricks that can be done with minimal preparation/practice. Cool, entertaining stuff involving the typical things you would find at a table during meal times.
How old are they?
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:58 PM on September 7, 2011
posted by JohnnyGunn at 8:58 PM on September 7, 2011
Sending a fork echo to a glass: hold fork in one hand and using thumb and finger of other hand, press two of the tines together and let them snap apart to make a hum. Then say you are throwing the sound to a glass, and use the non-holding hand to "scoop" around the fork and "throw" towards a glass. As you throw, touch the handle of the fork to the table, which acts as a resonator and makes the sound suddenly louder. Your audience imagines that the increased sound is coming from the echoing glass.
posted by anadem at 8:59 PM on September 7, 2011
posted by anadem at 8:59 PM on September 7, 2011
Tell them you have eleven fingers and thumbs. Show them one hand and count backwards 10, 9, 9, 7, 6.... Hold up other hand. "And five is eleven."
Knit your fingers together but hide one ringer finger behind. Stick a pencil or fork there and show them that you can make it float. (It is probably easier to demonstrate this than explain in writing.)
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 9:03 PM on September 7, 2011
Knit your fingers together but hide one ringer finger behind. Stick a pencil or fork there and show them that you can make it float. (It is probably easier to demonstrate this than explain in writing.)
posted by Chaussette and the Pussy Cats at 9:03 PM on September 7, 2011
card tricks are easy and require little infrastructure - also playing cards, games like rummy are great with kids. Mine love it.
posted by the noob at 9:06 PM on September 7, 2011
posted by the noob at 9:06 PM on September 7, 2011
Also, passing a coin through the table: hold coin between forefinger and thumb, with palm below (back of hand is at bottom); I'm right-handed so use my left hand for this. Grab the penny with the other hand (right hand for me), passing the thumb below the penny and the fingers wrapping round the coin. But as you grab, you let go of the coin so it falls into the palm of the hand (my left hand) without being seen by audience (because it's concealed by the grasping hand. Your audience thinks the coin is in the grasping hand, so move other hand below table then bang the grasping (empty) hand on the table to "push the coin through". Coin is next seen in hand that you bring out from under table. (Hard to describe, easy after a few minutes practice. ONLY DO THE TRICK ONCE.
posted by anadem at 9:08 PM on September 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by anadem at 9:08 PM on September 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
I'd say google "bar bets" and find some amusing ones. Probably not "I can drink out of this bottle of wine without opening it", but some of the non-alcoholic ones.
This has the added benefit of them being able to cadge drinks when they get to be of drink-cadging age. Also, you will be the cool uncle.
posted by Mad_Carew at 9:27 PM on September 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
This has the added benefit of them being able to cadge drinks when they get to be of drink-cadging age. Also, you will be the cool uncle.
posted by Mad_Carew at 9:27 PM on September 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
My kids and their friends used to play "One Grain of Salt." A simple game, that requires only clean plates before all, a full salt shaker, and the patience required for all to watch each try to shake/tap out a single grain of table salt onto their plate, in succession.
posted by paulsc at 9:29 PM on September 7, 2011
posted by paulsc at 9:29 PM on September 7, 2011
The milk, detergent and food colouring trick is pretty spectacular.
posted by unliteral at 9:41 PM on September 7, 2011
posted by unliteral at 9:41 PM on September 7, 2011
I still do this at restaurants even though I'm in my twenties. You need a wrapped straw. Rip off one end and hold the straw vertical, other unwrapped end firmly against the table. Slowly scrunch the wrapper down to the bottom, and be sure it scrunches up tightly. Then pop off the wrapper, still in a tight wad, suck up a little water (or soda) into the straw, hold it inside with your finger on the other end and drop the water on the scrunched-up wrapper. Voila! It squirms and moves like a worm!
Easy to learn how to fold a napkin into a fan. Instructions here. After folding about 200 of these for my grandparents' 50th wedding celebration, I will never unlearn this.
And the always classic, see-how-many-straws-you-can-jam-into-one-another-creating-the-longest-straw-ever.
posted by book 'em dano at 9:44 PM on September 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
Easy to learn how to fold a napkin into a fan. Instructions here. After folding about 200 of these for my grandparents' 50th wedding celebration, I will never unlearn this.
And the always classic, see-how-many-straws-you-can-jam-into-one-another-creating-the-longest-straw-ever.
posted by book 'em dano at 9:44 PM on September 7, 2011 [1 favorite]
A joke that's pretty funny but a bit messy too. Still it's only water.
Get a plate of water, put it in the middle of the table. Make a long involved show of getting a piece of longish hair from one of the guests. Make an equally long show of tying it in a knot. Place the hair in the plate of water and tell everyone to watch the knotted hair really closely. When they are all gathered round leaning into the plate and staring at the hair intently, slam your palm into the middle of the plate. The shock of getting a splashed face will have everyone laughing.
posted by unliteral at 9:50 PM on September 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
Get a plate of water, put it in the middle of the table. Make a long involved show of getting a piece of longish hair from one of the guests. Make an equally long show of tying it in a knot. Place the hair in the plate of water and tell everyone to watch the knotted hair really closely. When they are all gathered round leaning into the plate and staring at the hair intently, slam your palm into the middle of the plate. The shock of getting a splashed face will have everyone laughing.
posted by unliteral at 9:50 PM on September 7, 2011 [2 favorites]
Ooo this is a cool variation on the worm trick.
posted by book 'em dano at 9:50 PM on September 7, 2011
posted by book 'em dano at 9:50 PM on September 7, 2011
Johnny Whoop
Look into the bowl of a shiny spoon.
Lay your hand flat on the table,fold down your middle finger, raise your index finger, then try to lift your ring finger as high WITHOUT hurting yourself.
posted by brujita at 10:59 PM on September 7, 2011
Look into the bowl of a shiny spoon.
Lay your hand flat on the table,fold down your middle finger, raise your index finger, then try to lift your ring finger as high WITHOUT hurting yourself.
posted by brujita at 10:59 PM on September 7, 2011
This might sound a little odd, and it depends on how old they are, but why not get them involved in the process of getting the food to the table? I'm not sure I ever waited to be served at dinner time. If I had, I don't know that I would have gotten much aside from a stern glare. Why not get them (let's say 5-6 years old and up) to set the table, or (a bit older) find out what everyone wants to drink. For me, dinner was always a communal effort. Even if only one person was cooking, everyone helped get dinner to the table.
posted by Ghidorah at 12:36 AM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Ghidorah at 12:36 AM on September 8, 2011 [2 favorites]
Science!
My parents and I would take a little salt, and then try to balance the salt shaker on an angle I the salt, thus proving that the salt crystals were squarish, instead of round or flat. I don't know how scientifically accurate that is, but I loved doing this as a kid.
posted by spinifex23 at 12:56 AM on September 8, 2011
My parents and I would take a little salt, and then try to balance the salt shaker on an angle I the salt, thus proving that the salt crystals were squarish, instead of round or flat. I don't know how scientifically accurate that is, but I loved doing this as a kid.
posted by spinifex23 at 12:56 AM on September 8, 2011
Have you looked into Penn and Teller's "How to Play With Your Food" at all? It's filled with pranks, jokes, scams, tricks and illusions all having something to do with food, eating or the dinner table. It has, if I recall correctly, a section titled, "how to be a cool older relative."
posted by wjm at 2:35 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by wjm at 2:35 AM on September 8, 2011
Napkin origami!
posted by DarlingBri at 3:37 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by DarlingBri at 3:37 AM on September 8, 2011
Making a wine (or really, any) glass sing will amaze the little ones (and possibly drive sensitive adults nearby bonkers, once all the kids pick up on how to do it.)
posted by Rash at 8:11 AM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Rash at 8:11 AM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Depending on age, you can put salt into your hand. Then get a small (!) ice cube and put it in their palm and close it. Really soon, it should start burning and hurting and then drop the ice. um...not quite sure how safe this is with young kids, but I did it at camp with 12 year olds and it was really entertaining because they don't believe at ALL it hurts! google for explanation of the why.
posted by fuzzysoft at 9:44 AM on September 8, 2011
posted by fuzzysoft at 9:44 AM on September 8, 2011
One of my favourites.
"Who's the strongest here? Are you strong? You think you're pretty strong, huh? I bet you're not as strong as me. Here, let's see."
You need paper napkins for this. Immediately prior to doing the stunt you have surreptitiously wetted your left forefinger and thumb. Things now proceed as follows.
"Okay, do what I do. Grab your napkin like this."
You pick up your napkin by one corner and smooth it down so you have the corner pointed upwards and the rest hanging down neatly-ish. You transfer this to your left hand, gripping the upright corner between your wetted forefinger and thumb, about an inch and a half from the corner. You look everyone in the eye and say "Now hold your napkins just like this". While they are arranging their napkins you grip the base of yours between the heel of your left hand and your lower fingers. Then you push up with your thumb and forefinger, this ripping off the upper corner of the napkin. Do not look at your hand while you do this.
You then explain the game. The game is to try to crush the napkin, one-handed, into the tiniest ball possible. You proceed to demonstrate. Picture this.
With your right thumb you start to push the hanging base of the napkin into the lower part of your curled left fist. Make a big show of pressing hard, bit by bit, tuck a bit more, tuck a bit more, until there's just a tiny tail hanging out of your left fist.
Here comes the move.
You push the last tiny tail in and press firmly. While keeping up the pretence of really squeezing the napkin into your fist with repeated pushes of the right thumb you do this: hook the torn off bulk of the napkin into your right fist with your right thumb, but keep on making the exact same pushing movement, so it just looks like you're trying really hard to squeeze the napkin into your left fist.
As soon as you have the big piece of napking securely palmed in your right hand, sepoarate the hands and immediately turn the left hand over so the little remaining tail piece hangs down. Look at your audience and say "And now do this". Your right hand casually drops to your side at the very same instant you start feeding the tiny tail piece into your left hand via little movements of the left thumb against the flesh of the left forefinger.
If you do this right, believe me, everyone is looking at your left hand and you can dispose of the palmed contents of the right in your pocket, or lap without anyone suspecting a thing. They are also copying your movements, of course, except they still have a huge wodge of napkin in their left hands and you, you devious beast, do not.
The trick is done. Make a big play of squeezing the hell out of the "napkin" and encouraging your audience to do the same. Then get them to toss the resultant ball of tissue onto the table. You then smugly toss out your pea-sized ball and proudly declare "I win!"
They know they've been had, but they don't know how they failed to see it.
posted by Decani at 12:58 PM on September 8, 2011
"Who's the strongest here? Are you strong? You think you're pretty strong, huh? I bet you're not as strong as me. Here, let's see."
You need paper napkins for this. Immediately prior to doing the stunt you have surreptitiously wetted your left forefinger and thumb. Things now proceed as follows.
"Okay, do what I do. Grab your napkin like this."
You pick up your napkin by one corner and smooth it down so you have the corner pointed upwards and the rest hanging down neatly-ish. You transfer this to your left hand, gripping the upright corner between your wetted forefinger and thumb, about an inch and a half from the corner. You look everyone in the eye and say "Now hold your napkins just like this". While they are arranging their napkins you grip the base of yours between the heel of your left hand and your lower fingers. Then you push up with your thumb and forefinger, this ripping off the upper corner of the napkin. Do not look at your hand while you do this.
You then explain the game. The game is to try to crush the napkin, one-handed, into the tiniest ball possible. You proceed to demonstrate. Picture this.
With your right thumb you start to push the hanging base of the napkin into the lower part of your curled left fist. Make a big show of pressing hard, bit by bit, tuck a bit more, tuck a bit more, until there's just a tiny tail hanging out of your left fist.
Here comes the move.
You push the last tiny tail in and press firmly. While keeping up the pretence of really squeezing the napkin into your fist with repeated pushes of the right thumb you do this: hook the torn off bulk of the napkin into your right fist with your right thumb, but keep on making the exact same pushing movement, so it just looks like you're trying really hard to squeeze the napkin into your left fist.
As soon as you have the big piece of napking securely palmed in your right hand, sepoarate the hands and immediately turn the left hand over so the little remaining tail piece hangs down. Look at your audience and say "And now do this". Your right hand casually drops to your side at the very same instant you start feeding the tiny tail piece into your left hand via little movements of the left thumb against the flesh of the left forefinger.
If you do this right, believe me, everyone is looking at your left hand and you can dispose of the palmed contents of the right in your pocket, or lap without anyone suspecting a thing. They are also copying your movements, of course, except they still have a huge wodge of napkin in their left hands and you, you devious beast, do not.
The trick is done. Make a big play of squeezing the hell out of the "napkin" and encouraging your audience to do the same. Then get them to toss the resultant ball of tissue onto the table. You then smugly toss out your pea-sized ball and proudly declare "I win!"
They know they've been had, but they don't know how they failed to see it.
posted by Decani at 12:58 PM on September 8, 2011
Without anyone watching, take the wrapper of a straw and scrunch it down like the worm trick mentioned above. Then, shove it up your nostril.
Then you go public: mention that your nose is bothering you, they will point out that there is something hanging out of your nostril, pull it out with one hand blocking your nostril to ensure that it doesn't all come out at scrunched up, but comes out stretched out.
In a similar vein: a whole boiled egg in your mouth. Fake vomiting or stomach pains or whatever, a la Airplane!
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 12:59 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
Then you go public: mention that your nose is bothering you, they will point out that there is something hanging out of your nostril, pull it out with one hand blocking your nostril to ensure that it doesn't all come out at scrunched up, but comes out stretched out.
In a similar vein: a whole boiled egg in your mouth. Fake vomiting or stomach pains or whatever, a la Airplane!
posted by HopStopDon'tShop at 12:59 PM on September 8, 2011 [1 favorite]
If you have paper napkins and a pen around, drawing tricks like the following:
How a #25 becomes a dog!
Or float a boat that propels itself (requires paper, a bowl of water, and some dish soap.)
posted by brackish.line at 8:42 AM on September 9, 2011
How a #25 becomes a dog!
Or float a boat that propels itself (requires paper, a bowl of water, and some dish soap.)
posted by brackish.line at 8:42 AM on September 9, 2011
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may cause children to think its OK to bend spoons at the table. My poor niece got into so much trouble because of me.
Balancing forks on toothpicks.
posted by logicpunk at 8:52 PM on September 7, 2011 [3 favorites]