Tips for a Savvy Diner
Your table manners say a great deal about you and can make or break business situations. Here are my tips that everyone should know to navigate a meal with grace and style.
1. Assess the table, pause before picking up any silver. Wait for your host or hostess to start
or senior person at the table.
2. Put napkin on lap to
unfold. When leaving the table temporarily, place the napkin on the chair.
At the end of the meal, place napkin to the left of plate.
3. When encountering a
multi-course meal with multiple pieces of flat ware and you are
questioning what fork to use first, start from the outside and work in
toward the plate.
4. Cut one bite at a time.
5. Solids are on the left
of your dinner plate, such as, bread and butter plate and liquids are on
the right.
6. Break bread in bite
size pieces and butter one bite at a time over the bread and butter plate.
7. Your food will be
served from the left and cleared from the right. Liquids are served from
the right.
8. We pass food to the
right because the guest of honor sits to the right of the host. If you
start the food, offer it to the person on your right and then take your
portion before sending it around the table counterclockwise.
9. When someone asks for
the salt, pass both the salt and pepper in anticipation of their need. It
also keeps the pair together. Do not pass hand to hand because in some
cultures it is considered bad luck. Place the pair in front of the receiver.
10. Keep personal items
such as; purses, glasses, cell telephones, etc. off the table. Purses
should stay on your lap or under the chair.
11. Refrain from putting on make-up, combing
hair, picking teeth, blowing nose vigorously at the table. “If you do it
the bathroom, don’t do it at the table.”
12.If someone offers a
toast to you do not drink to yourself.
13. When offering a toast,
remember the three B’s; be
prepared, be brief, be seated.
14. If in doubt about what
to do, watch someone at the table who knows. It can prevent an
embarrassing situation.
15. When leaving the table
temporarily do not announce where you are going; just say, “Excuse me.”
16. Chew with your mouth
closed. Take small bites to avoid talking with food in your mouth.
17. Try a little of
everything presented unless you are allergic to a certain food.
18. Don’t talk about food
likes and dislikes at the table.
19. Maintain good posture
at the table. Keep arms and elbows off the table.
20. Don’t push your plate
away from you when finished eating, wait for everyone to finish before
plates are cleared.
21. Don’t gesture with your
knife and fork.
22. Eating in the American
or Continental fashion is
acceptable in America
today.
“Nothing indicates a
well-bred man more than a proper mode of eating his dinner. A man may pass
muster by dressing well, and may sustain himself tolerably in conversation; but
if he is not perfectly au fait, (up
to date), dinner will betray him.”—— “AGOGOS”, 1834
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Excellent tips, Karen. One does indeed “reveal oneself” at the table.