Finger bowl

A finger bowl is a small bowl of warm water, often scented with a lemon slice or petals, presented to the guest for rinsing the fingertips. It accompanies foods eaten by hand, such as shellfish, lobster, asparagus or fruit, and rests on a saucer lined with a doily. Convention holds that only the fingertips of one hand are dipped, without immersing the hand or swishing, the napkin then serving to dry them discreetly at the table between courses.