Hat Protocol While Eating

Couple of friends of mine and me were sitting outside a bar and I ordered something to eat. While I was eating, my friend found it amusing that I took my hat off.

I thought it was common sense you take your hat off and keep your elbows off the table while you eat. But I started thinking. If it is gentleman-like to take your hat off when you eat, but it's ok to wear it if you are eating something like candy, where does the line go?

If I eat a steak - hat off.
Candy - hat on.
Sandwitch - hat off.
Crisps - hat on.
A doughnut?

Does that fall into the food category, or is it a sweetie, like a cookie or candy? I guess that you can have your hat on with a doughnut, since it goes with coffee and you definetly can drink coffee and maybe have a small little sweet thing with it while wearing a hat. But what about muffins? I think doughnut category - same criterias.

Cake is more like a part of a meal, so hat stays off. Besides you eat it with a spoon anyways. Wait a second, can this be a rule of thumb? If you need utensils, hat stays off? No, can't be. I could eat a banana and keep a hat on, so fruits are ok. So an avocado, a greipfruit and a kiwi should be ok too - even if you eat them with a spoon. Or is it?

I haven't thought about this, since I always go by my guts, and never think about the hat. It's a reflex. I take it off automatically when I'm eating.