1. Serve
guests of honor, woman first, then male, then counterclockwise around the
table. Serve host/hostess last.
2. Wait
to eat until host/hostess begins. At a
large party host/hostess urges everyone to begin as they are served.
3. Place
knife and fork on plate after using, knife with sharp edge facing in and fork
with tines up (American) or down (Continental) and placed so they will not fall
off the plate.
4. Never
place used silverware on the table or leave it in a cup or small bowl.
5. A
used soup spoon is left in a large soup plate or on the plate under the soup
bowl.
6. A
used coffee spoon is placed on the saucer beneath the handle of the cup.
7. When
you are finished, place the fork and knife parallel to each other, so
they lie either horizontally across the center of the plate or are on the diagonal, with the handles pointing to the right.
8. Dessert
silverware – Place so the spoon can be picked up with the right hand and the
fork so it can be picked up with the left hand.
9. The
napkin – as soon as you are seated, remove the napkin from your place setting,
unfold it, and place it in your lap.
10. If
your napkin falls on the floor during a formal meal, do not retrieve it. You should be able to signal a waiter that
you need a fresh one.
11. When
you leave the table at the end of a meal, place your napkin loosely next to
your plate. It should not be crumpled or
twisted, it may be casually folded. You
may place it in the napkin ring if one is present.
12. When
you leave the table at the end of a meal, place your napkin loosely next to
your plate. It should not be crumpled or
twisted, it may be casually folded. You
may place it in the napkin ring if one is present.
13. Do
not place your napkin in your empty plate.
14. When
eating soup or dessert that has liquid, it is acceptable to tip the bowl when
necessary, but tip it away from you.
15. Test
liquids before eating by testing a small amount with a spoon to see if it is
too hot. Never blow on food to cool it.
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16. Do
not automatically add salt or pepper before tasting. If you need to add to suit your taste, do it
unobtrusively.
17. When
asked to pass the salt or pepper, pick up both the salt and pepper and place
them on the table within reach of the person next to you who will do the same,
and so on, until they reach the person who asked for them. They are not passed hand-to-hand.
18. When
passing food, pass to the right. When passing
items such as a creamer or gravy boat, pass it with the handle pointing toward
the person to who you are passing it.
19. Remember
what your parents told you. Don’t talk
with your mouth full, finish chewing, swallow the food and then talk.
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20. Cut
food into small pieces for eating. If
you try to eat large pieces, you may have difficulty chewing and might choke.
21. People
from different countries and cultures have table manners that may be different
from yours. Respect and accept people
with other customs.
