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Proper Dining Etiquette
By:
Published: September 27, 2006
There will probably come a time when you find yourself enjoying a meal with someone of extreme importance: perhaps a potential employer, a current boss, or the man or woman of your dreams. When that time comes, you will want to shine. Knowing a few things about the intricate rules of dining etiquette will help.
Everyone knows the basics- do not chew with your mouth open, keep your elbows off the table, say Please and Thank you - however, the rest of the rules can be tricky or difficult to remember. Learning proper dining etiquette or brushing up on your skills will help you impress your guests.
• The napkin should be folded across your lap. If you need to get up during a meal, place it on the chair and not back on the table. When the meal is over, place the napkin on the table as you are about to stand up. Also, avoid wiping or blowing your nose into the napkin.
• Be patient. Don't start eating until everyone at the table has been served.
• Acknowledge newcomers. When someone approaches the table or new guests are seated, it is good dining etiquette to stand up and make them feel welcome.
• Avoid calling the server pet names. They likely will introduce themselves. Stick to calling them by their name. There are few things more annoying than a customer calling a server honey or sweetie.
• Turn off your cell phone or put in on vibrate. If you are interviewing for your dream job, the call can wait rather than disturb your proper dining etiquette.
• Start from the outside and work your way in with forks and silverware. If there are a few forks above your plate as well, save those for dessert.
• All of your drinking glasses will be on the right side of your place setting. The bread plate will be on the left side. This will help you avoid drinking out of someone else's glass. If a beverage is served and you do not want it, simply place your hand over the glass and say, No, thank you. It is poor dining etiquette to flip the glasses upside down.
• Ordering can be tricky. If you have questions about the menu or how something is prepared, just ask your server. It is their job to help you decide on the best meal for you. Women are usually asked to place their order first.
• Everything gets passed to the right. Let everything pass completely around the table before you take your turn. It is good dining etiquette to pass the salt and pepper as a pair even if only one is requested. If you are passing the dressing, always pass it with the handle facing your guest.
• When bread and butter are served, put some butter on your plate and break off bite-sized pieces of bread to lather up. Do not butter the entire piece of bread and put the bitten half back on your plate.
• Try not to make any slurping noises when you eat soup. If you need to get those last few drops of soup, tip the bowl away from you, drawing the spoon in the same direction. Do not put the dirty spoon on the tablecloth. Place it on the plate under the bowl or in the bowl itself.
• Salads should be bite sized. If not, cut the salad with your salad fork. Remember, dining etiquette deems that you start from the outside and work your way in with the silverware.
• After the main course has arrived, make sure to eat at the same pace as your table mates so they do not feel uncomfortable. Cut only one piece at a time with the knife in your right hand and fork in your left. Place the knife on the edge of the plate and transfer the fork to your right hand. This will help you eat slowly. Put food in your mouth with fork tines facing down. While engaged in conversation during the meal, avoid pointing your utensils at your guest while talking.
• If the food tastes bad or is not prepared properly and you must spit it out, it should come out of your mouth the way it went in. If you ate it with a fork, then you should take it out with the fork. If you ate it with your hands, then use your hand. Place a napkin in front of your mouth during this process. Try not to let your guest see the chewed food.
• Dessert is possibly the best part of any meal. If there is a dessert fork at your table, remember it will be placed above your plate.
• The host should pay for the meal. Unless that is you, do not offer. If you are in charge of the bill, it is good dining etiquette to tip at least 15-20 percent.
• Once the meal is over and you are ready to leave, place any utensils at the 4:20 position on your plate with fork tines facing down. Do not push your plates away; stack them or hand them to the server.
The most important thing to remember during your meal is to relax and enjoy yourself. The tips and tricks of dining etiquette are established to help you feel comfortable. So, stay calm and have fun putting your exceptional dining etiquette to work. Good Luck.
• The napkin should be folded across your lap. If you need to get up during a meal, place it on the chair and not back on the table. When the meal is over, place the napkin on the table as you are about to stand up. Also, avoid wiping or blowing your nose into the napkin.
• Be patient. Don't start eating until everyone at the table has been served.
• Acknowledge newcomers. When someone approaches the table or new guests are seated, it is good dining etiquette to stand up and make them feel welcome.
• Avoid calling the server pet names. They likely will introduce themselves. Stick to calling them by their name. There are few things more annoying than a customer calling a server honey or sweetie.
• Turn off your cell phone or put in on vibrate. If you are interviewing for your dream job, the call can wait rather than disturb your proper dining etiquette.
• Start from the outside and work your way in with forks and silverware. If there are a few forks above your plate as well, save those for dessert.
• All of your drinking glasses will be on the right side of your place setting. The bread plate will be on the left side. This will help you avoid drinking out of someone else's glass. If a beverage is served and you do not want it, simply place your hand over the glass and say, No, thank you. It is poor dining etiquette to flip the glasses upside down.
• Ordering can be tricky. If you have questions about the menu or how something is prepared, just ask your server. It is their job to help you decide on the best meal for you. Women are usually asked to place their order first.
• Everything gets passed to the right. Let everything pass completely around the table before you take your turn. It is good dining etiquette to pass the salt and pepper as a pair even if only one is requested. If you are passing the dressing, always pass it with the handle facing your guest.
• When bread and butter are served, put some butter on your plate and break off bite-sized pieces of bread to lather up. Do not butter the entire piece of bread and put the bitten half back on your plate.
• Try not to make any slurping noises when you eat soup. If you need to get those last few drops of soup, tip the bowl away from you, drawing the spoon in the same direction. Do not put the dirty spoon on the tablecloth. Place it on the plate under the bowl or in the bowl itself.
• Salads should be bite sized. If not, cut the salad with your salad fork. Remember, dining etiquette deems that you start from the outside and work your way in with the silverware.
• After the main course has arrived, make sure to eat at the same pace as your table mates so they do not feel uncomfortable. Cut only one piece at a time with the knife in your right hand and fork in your left. Place the knife on the edge of the plate and transfer the fork to your right hand. This will help you eat slowly. Put food in your mouth with fork tines facing down. While engaged in conversation during the meal, avoid pointing your utensils at your guest while talking.
• If the food tastes bad or is not prepared properly and you must spit it out, it should come out of your mouth the way it went in. If you ate it with a fork, then you should take it out with the fork. If you ate it with your hands, then use your hand. Place a napkin in front of your mouth during this process. Try not to let your guest see the chewed food.
• Dessert is possibly the best part of any meal. If there is a dessert fork at your table, remember it will be placed above your plate.
• The host should pay for the meal. Unless that is you, do not offer. If you are in charge of the bill, it is good dining etiquette to tip at least 15-20 percent.
• Once the meal is over and you are ready to leave, place any utensils at the 4:20 position on your plate with fork tines facing down. Do not push your plates away; stack them or hand them to the server.
The most important thing to remember during your meal is to relax and enjoy yourself. The tips and tricks of dining etiquette are established to help you feel comfortable. So, stay calm and have fun putting your exceptional dining etiquette to work. Good Luck.
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