Dining Etiquette
You might be surprised at how many times you may be put in a situation where you will need to display these skills! Although most people realize the importance of proper table manners, mastering them is a real art.
Knowing the proper table mannerisms can be extremely important for job interviews and social occasions that you attend with a supervisor, client, or business associate. By being knowledgeable and practiced, you will be able to avoid embarrassment and the possibility of offending someone.
- Before the Meal - Being Seated
Men precede women to the table. Remain standing until the host or hostess has been seated. On social occasions, it is still considered polite behavior for a gentleman to seat his female guest or companion. When being seated, enter your chair from the left and rise from the right.
- Napkins
Napkin is unfolded immediate or after everyone is seated and placed on one’s lap. Large napkins are folded in half with the crease toward you. Small napkins are completely unfolded. If you must leave the table during the meal, rest the napkin on your chair. At the end of the meal, place napkin to the left of your place setting, NEVER on your plate.
- Reading the Table
Analyze the place setting to find clues on number of courses and foods to be served. Notice the location of each utensil and remember the first one used is farthest from the serving plate – eating is done from the outside in!
- Table Settings
Dinner Plate: Largest plate
Salad Plate: Medium
Bread Plate: Small
Goblet/Wine: Right side above dinner plate
Utensils:
- Dinner Knife: Largest knife, right side closest to plate
- Bread Knife: Small, across bread plate
- Dinner Fork: Largest fork, left side closest to plate
- Salad Fork: Small, outer left side
- Teaspoon: Small spoon, next to knife on right side
- Soup Spoon: Large, next to teaspoon on outer right side