Dinning etiquette

1. DINNING ETIQUETTE
Attention should be focused on people,
not on food.

2. Types of Menu
 Table d ' hôte (Table of the host)
 The à la carte (From the card) and
 Buffet

3. How to make restaurant reservations?
 Restaurant reservations are like any other appointment.
 If you make a reservation, stick to it.
 Call ahead if you’re going to be more than15 minutes late.
 Cancel as far in advance as possible.

4. Getting seated….
 Never take your seat before being invited to do so by your host.
 The gentleman should always help the lady be seated.
 Do not ever run around trying to help the ladies not sitting
directly next to you .
 Always take your seat from the left side of the chair.

5. How to use napkins?
 The meal begins when the host or hostess unfolds his or her
napkin.
 This is your signal to do the same.
 Pick up your napkin by a corner and let it fall open.
 Do not shake it open.
 Don't clean the cutlery or wipe your face or nose with the
napkin.
 The napkin rests on the lap till the end of the meal.
 If you excuse yourself from the table, loosely fold the napkin
and place it to the left or right of your plate.
 Never place your napkin on your chair.

6.  The host will signal the end of the meal by placing his or her
napkin on the table.
 At the end of the meal, leave the napkin semi-folded at the left
side of the place setting.

7. When to start eating?
 Wait until all are served at your table before beginning to eat.
 When your host or hostess picks up their fork to eat, then you
may eat.

8. Table setting….
 Solids on your left
 Liquids on your right
 Eat to your left, drink to your right.
 At formal dinners, the food is served from the left and the
dishes are removed from the right.
 Start with the knife, fork, or spoon that is farthest from your
plate.

12. How to use the utensils?
 Hold knife in the right hand and fork in the left hand.
 Eat food with fork still in left hand.
 Difference between American and Continental styles.
 Hold the knife and fork in your hand with the tines pointed down
throughout the entire eating process.
 If you want to take a drink put down both the utensils on the
plate.
 Always rest forks, knives, and spoons on the side of your plate
or in the bowl.

13. How to use glasswares?
 Hold the glass by its stem.
 Do not drink when there is still food in your mouth.
 Do not the empty the glass.

15. Drinking soup….
 Dip the spoon into the soup, until it is about two-thirds full, then
sip the liquid from the side of the spoon.
 Do not slurp the soup or insert the whole spoon into the mouth.
 Do not blow on the soup to cool it off.
 Do not put in big pieces of bread into your soup.
 Break the bread into small pieces by hand.
 It is perfectly fine to tilt the bowl slightly to get the last spoonful
or two of soup.

16.  Tip the bowl away from you, not toward you.
 Place the spoon in the bowl when you want to rest.
 When you are finished, leave the spoon on the plate beneath
the bowl.

17. How to eat bread?
 Use your fingers to remove bread from the serving plate/bread
basket.
 Pass the basket/any food always to your right.
 If bread is handed out by a waiter, allow the waiter to use bread
tongs to place it on the plate.
 Break apart the bread into small pieces using your fingers.
 Do not cut or bite.
 Add butter to each small piece of bread in your bread & butter
plate.
 Place the butter knife horizontally on bread plate.

18.  Take enough butter from the butter dish and place it on your
dish using the butter knife.
 Do not “double dip” into the butter dish.
 Carefully and neatly spread the butter and eat the small broken
piece.

19. How to eat sandwiches?
 Small sandwiches may be picked up and eaten with your
fingers.
 Large sandwiches should be cut with your knife before lifting
and eating.
 Any hot sandwich served with a gravy requires a knife and fork.

20. Eating the main course….
 DO NOT talk with food in your mouth!
 Always taste your food before seasoning it.
 If asked for the salt or pepper, pass both together.
 Always use serving utensils to serve yourself, not your personal
silverware.
 Don't blow on your food to cool it off.
 Cut only enough food for the next mouthful.
 Do eat a little of everything on your plate.
 It is acceptable to leave some food on your plate if you are full or
unable to eat.
 Do not "play with" your food or utensils.

21.  Do not hold food on the fork or spoon while talking.
 Do not wave your silverware in the air or point with it.
 Try to pace your eating so that you don’t finish before others
are halfway through.
 Once used, your utensils, including the handles, must not touch
the table again.

22.  Always rest forks, knives, and spoons on the side of your plate
or in the bowl.
 It is never acceptable to ask a person why they have not eaten
all the food.
 Don't make an issue if you don't like something or can't eat it -
keep silence.
 Do not request food other than which is being served.

23. Eating desserts….
 Dessert is a course that typically comes at the end of a meal.
 It usually consists of sweet food.
 Common desserts include cakes, cookies, fruits, pastries, ice
cream, and candies.
 Always use the dessert spoon and the dessert knife.

24. Placing knife, fork and spoon after completing
food….

25. References
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