One thing you gotta learn, Ron! (1983)

[Ronald Plasterk]

One of my earliest CSH memories was a phage meeting, 1983. I was a young grad student in the Netherlands, working on phage Mu. For the first time I went to the USA, and I met all these great heroes, whose work I knew so well from the literature. Walking with my dinner plate in Blackford Hall I was talking to Nick Cozzarelli, and sat down with him at a table where some others were seated. I found out these were big shots: Allan Campbell (of lambda integration!), and also Ira Herskowitz (of mating type switching!). I tried to listen, and to behave. Suddenly Ira Herskowitz (himself!) speaks up: "There is one thing you gotta learn, Ron" he says.
What did I do wrong?
"Ron, spare ribs you eat with your hands!"
Welcome to America!