Sam used to sit on the back of the chair until something nice appeared in your hands, he would then walk across your shoulders, down your arm so he could stick his nose in. I swopped ands and he slowly made his way back up to your shoulder to appear walking down the other arm, when all that failed he would hide under the coffee table and hook his paw up to see if he could nick anything off the plate. He did manage it once when the ex wasn't looking and had just cut himself a little piece of steak, Sam enjoyed it very much. The only evidence was a little black paw appearing over the edge of the table patting its way along until it found the plate.
Oh yes, I did save him a little in the bowl for him to 'nick'.
