Dine With Confidence

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 Table of Contents
 Objective.
 How does Dining Etiquette help?
 Formal Dinners.
 Place Settings Etiquette.
 General Dining Etiquette.
 Conclusion.
 Quote.
 Thank You

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 Objective
 Table manners play an important part in
making a favorable impression.
 They are visible signals of the state of our
manners.
 The point of etiquette rules is to make you
feel comfortable - not uncomfortable.

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How Does Dining Etiquette Help?
It helps you to perform with graciousness
and poise at the table, and to conduct
yourself well when entertained.

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Formal Dinners

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Place Settings Etiquette

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 Arrival
 Reach on time.
 Wait for host / guest.
 Shake hands.

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The Napkin

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 Once Seated – ‘The Napkin’
 Unfold napkin and place it on your lap.
 Let it rest on your lap till the end of the meal.
 If you excuse yourself from the table, rest the
napkin on the chair.
 When finished with your meal, do not refold
the napkin; lay it loosely to the left of your
plate.
 Don’t use it to wipe the cutlery, your face or
nose.
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 Eating
 When cutting a piece of food, place your fork
in your left hand with the handle hidden in the
palm of your hand and the fork tines down.
 Place the knife in your right hand with the
handle hidden and the serrated edge facing
the plate.

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Some Basics…

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Some Basics…

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 Use any Method
 American Style:  Knife in right hand, fork in
left hand. After cutting food, place knife on
edge of plate with blades facing in. Eat food
by switching fork to right hand.
 Continental/European Style:  Knife in right
hand, fork in left hand. Eat food with fork still
in left hand.

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American / Continental Style.

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 Resting Position
Use the “rest” position to lay your utensils
down or to listen more intently to the people
with whom you are dining.

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 When Dining with Others …
 Wait until everyone is
seated before eating.
 All should start and
finish at the same time.
If you are a fast eater
try to pace yourself.
 When you have finished
eating do not push your
plate away from you.

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 Chewing
 Bring food to your mouth, not your mouth to
your food.
 Chew with your mouth closed.
 Cut your food into small pieces, take small
bites

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 Soup
 Scoop with the spoon
tilted away from you.
Don’t slurp, drink or
dribble.
 Don’t blow on it if it is
hot (wait) and don’t
crumble crackers in it.
 When done, leave the
spoon in the soup plate
or rest it on the saucer
if it is a soup cup.
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 Bread
 Tear, roll or slice into bite size pieces and
butter each one just before eating it.
 Do not butter the whole slice at the beginning.

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Eating Pasta / Peas

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 Salt and Pepper Shakers

They are married, pass them together.

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 Silverware
 If a piece of silverware drops, leave it and ask
for a replacement.
 Silverware should not touch the tablecloth
once used.

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 Finished Position
To signal that your are done with the course,
rest your fork and knife blade with the handles
resting at four O'clock and tips pointing to ten
o'clock on your plate.

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 Meal Time Basics
 No elbows on the table.
 Pass food to your left,
then go to your right.
 Wipe your hands and
mouth before taking a
drink.
 Don’t wave your knife in
the air to make a point.
 Do not blow on food
that is hot.

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 Meal Time Basics
 Keep your purse,
sunglasses, pens etc. off
the table.
 Ask for items to be
passed, don’t reach
across the table.
 Do not smoke, use a
toothpick, chew gum or
apply make-up at the
table.
 Don’t ask for ‘doggy bag’.

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 Just Before Dessert…
 Compliment the host
for the dining
experience.
 Limit your comments on
the “evils” of desserts,
chocolates and caffeine.
 Use your dessert fork
and spoon.
 Enjoy your dessert

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 Conclusion
If you follow the rules of dining etiquette,
it will make you feel more comfortable in a
formal setting

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 Bon Appétit !!!
Remember…
To eat is a necessity,
but to eat intelligently is an art.

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Thank You

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