Table etiquette is the courtesy shown by using good manners at meals Good table manners help put you at ease in social situations Many business transactions take place over meals. Often, when companies consider an applicant for a job, the interview may include a meal Why do you think it is important to have good etiquette during times like these?

Before eating Place the napkin on your lap before your start eating Wait until everyone is served before you begin to eat You may reach for serving dishes as long as you don’t have to lean across your neighbor What is the best way to get something you cannot reach?

While Eating Don’t talk with your mouth full Break bread into smaller pieces before buttering it or eating it Cut food into small pieces before eating Sit up straight when you eat and don’t lean on your elbows

Restaurant Etiquette What kind of examples can you think of?

When You Arrive A reservation is an arrangement made ahead of time for a table at a restaurant When calling to make your reservation, you must give: Your name The number of people in your group The time you plan to arrive Unless a sign states otherwise, never seat yourself

Communicating With Servers It is important to be polite to servers!!! How should you try and get your server’s attention? The proper way to catch your server’s attention is by calmly raising your hand

Paying the Check How do you handle paying the check when you go out to eat with your friends? Gratuity is extra money given to the server in appreciation for good service Sometimes the tip has already been added in on the check What do you think is a good percentage of the total bill to tip? A standard amount to tip is percent

Complaints & Compliments If you have any complaints about the food, you should tell the server If nothing is done, complain to the manager Compliments are just as important to the manager as complaints!

Family Meals Eating together is important to a family’s social health How many of you eat meals together as a family? To help make the most of family meals, it is important to keep a positive mealtime atmosphere and pay attention to the table’s appearance.

An upbeat atmosphere can be as essential to your family’s health as nutritious food is What are some interesting topics that you have or can discuss with your family? People who read or watch television as they eat pay little attention to what and how much they eat Mealtime Atmosphere

Setting the Table

How the table looks at mealtime can be as significant as how the people around it behave Table settings include the following: Tableware - includes any items used for serving and eating food Serving pieces - platters, large bowls, and other tableware used for serving food Cover - the arrangement of a place setting for one person

Table-Setting Basics The cover is usually on the table before people sit down to eat. The plate goes in the center of the cover, about 1 inch from the edge of the table Arrange flatware in the order in which it is used, starting at the outside and working in toward the center Forks go on the left of the plate, knives to the right (knife blades face IN!!)

Settings for Family Meals Most families choose simple table settings for everyday meals For most meals, you need at least a dinner plate, fork, knife, teaspoon, and beverage glass Serving Family Meals There are two common styles of serving food, they are family service and plate service

Family Service The cover is set with the necessary tableware The food is placed in serving dishes and passed around the table with people helping themselves The main advantage of family service is that people can serve themselves the amount they want

Disadvantages include Hot dishes left on the table may cool to room temperature allowing bacteria to form Difficult to practice portion control which leads to overeating Excess food left on a plate must be thrown away which wastes both food and money

Plate Service Plate service is generally used for family meals and in restaurants Food is placed on the plates directly from the containers in which it was cooked and the plates are then brought to the table The only exception is salad Plate service saves cleanup time more than family service does

Salad dressing should be served separately so that people can use the amount that they want Serve dessert after the dinner plates, salad bowls, and serving dishes have been cleared from the table