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Party Tips & Suggestions
Dining Etiquette Suggestions
Occasions as
business and romantic events are being conducted at the dining table more often.
Therefore, in any situation, it is crucial that one knows proper dining
etiquette so that one can make the best possible impression.
Dining etiquette
are the conventional rules in which one should abide by in a dining situation.
In order to make dining experiences satisfying, there are some common dining
etiquette mistakes one should review. Whether it be lunch, dinner, business or
pleasure, formal dining is the same in most situations. Once proper dining
etiquette is learned, it can be applied to any of these events.
Dining
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Wait until
everyone is seated before eating.
-
Take small
bites, keep your mouth closed and finish chewing before continuing your
conversation.
-
Bread and
rolls should be broken with your fingers, in small pieces and buttered one
piece at a time.
-
When dining
with others, everyone should start and finish at the same time. If you are a
fast eater try to pace yourself. You could make the others feel
uncomfortable if you finish before they do.
-
Try not to
gulp your food, it isn't very attractive.
-
Do not blow
on food that is hot. Wait until it cools or eat from the side of the bowl,
when having soup.
-
When you are
finished eating do not push your plate away form you.
Posture
-
Sit straight and try not to lean on the table.
-
Keep your elbows off the table when you are eating. However, when you stop to talk, it is okay to rest your elbows on the table and lean forward.
Lipstick
Stains
Napkin
-
A napkin is used to dab the corners of you mouth.
-
Once seated place the napkin, unfolded, on your lap and leave it there until you are finished.
-
Once you are finished place the napkin folded loosely to the left of your plate.
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If you need to leave the table during the meal, place the napkin on the chair and slide the chair under the table.
Table
-
Keys, briefcases, hats, etc. - anything that is not part of the meal does not belong on the table.
-
If something is out of reach ask the closest person to pass it to you. Do not reach across the table to get something.
Accidents
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If you spill something on your guest, first sincerely apologize, then clean up the mess as best as you can. Provide you partner with a napkin. If the spill is really bad, your partner should excuse themselves and clean it up in the restroom.
Table Talk
-
If a problem arises, do not complain about the food or service in front of others. Discreetly inform the waiter or host about the problem.
-
Approach each person at the table before sitting down. If you do not know someone introduce yourself and shake their hand.
-
If someone uses your bread plate as their own do not inform them of their mistake, simply use your dinner plate. Do not use the bread plate on your right as a replacement.
-
Do not smoke before or during a meal. If seated in a smoking section, you should only light up after
dessert is finished. The absence of an ashtray means no smoking.
Silverware
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Once you lift your cutlery, it should never touch the table again.
-
Do not rest your cutlery on the table or at the edge of a plate, you could hit the cutlery and make a mess.
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Do not leave the knife blade facing outward on a plate.
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Do not wave cutlery in the air to make a point.
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Another mistake is holding the fork and/or knife with a dagger-like grip.
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If you drop a piece of cutlery on the floor in a restaurant, do not pick it up. Ask you server kindly, to replace it.
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Carry food to your mouth with an inward, not an outward, curve of the fork.
Table Setting
The amount of cutlery placed on a table gives you an indication of how many courses are going to be served. However, in a restaurant the waiter will take away unnecessary cutlery, since you have a choice of how many courses you will be eating.
Cutlery is also placed in the order of its use. Therefore, the first utensil on the far left and right will be used when consuming the first course.
The layout for a formal dinner setting starting from the left of your plate would be the bread plate, the appetizer fork, the dinner fork, and then your plate. In some cases you may see your salad fork and knife closest to your plate, which is not traditional of the North American style of dining. This layout indicates that salad will be served before dessert.
To the right of your plate starting form the left you would see the dinner knife (blade turned inward), in some cases an appetizer knife (blade also inward), soup spoon then the teaspoon. In some circumstances the teaspoon may be placed on the top of the plate with the handle facing left.
Above the plate would lay the dessert fork or spoon with the handle facing right. Above the knives, you would see your water and wineglasses.
Summary
These are just some of the most basic dining mistakes and with practice they can be eliminated. If you find yourself in a situation were you are uncertain, courtesy, kindness and common sense can get you through most dining experiences. Good manners do not change, but etiquette changes within other countries. It is important for you to remember that these etiquette rules are typical of the North American dining style and they are other styles in different parts of the world. Overall, these tips will impress your dining
partner(s) and help make your dining experiences more enjoyable.
Works Cited
1. Garfinkel, Perry, B. P. Kaufman, and editors of Men's Health. Command
Respect. United States: Rodale Press Inc., 1997.
2. Mitchell, Mary. Dear Ms. Demeanor. United States: Contemporary Books Inc., 1994.
3. Waggoner, Glen, and K. Moloney. Esquire Etiquette. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company, 1987
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