What is the proper way to eat soup?

The proper way to eat soup is to start from the side of the bowl and move inward. This approach is considered polite and helps to avoid splashing. By ladling the soup from the edge, you maintain a controlled movement that minimizes mess and allows for a more enjoyable dining experience. Additionally, it allows you to sip the soup gently, ensuring that you benefit from the flavors and temperature without overwhelming yourself with the soup's heat or potentially spilling it.

Using a large spoon and making noise can be disruptive and is generally viewed as bad table manners in formal settings. Picking up the bowl to sip directly from it is also considered impolite, as it removes the etiquette associated with using utensils. Stirring the soup vigorously is unnecessary and can create a mess, detracting from the overall dining experience. Therefore, starting from the side and moving inward aligns with proper etiquette and contributes to a pleasant dining atmosphere.