1. Table Manners
The Do’s and Don’ts

2. Manners

3. Beginning Wait to begin eating Follow the Hostess directions
Large events, wait until 1 – 2 guests
are served to begin eating

4. Napkins Remove, Unfold, Place in Lap
Very Formal – waiter can place in your lap, but ok to do yourself
Napkins fall on floor, ask for clean one
End of meal, place loosely next to plate (Never Refold)

5. Elbows, elbows, if you’re able, Keep your elbows off the table
Sit up straight, arms near body
No leaning on back of chair
Do not lean forward, except slightly
every now & then
Can put hands on table
Bring utensils up to you

6. Drop Your Fork Ask waiter to replace it
Do not pick up dirty fork & place on
table

7. Passing & Reaching Only reach if you are closest to item
Place it directly next to your neighbor
Never pass it hand to hand
Never use item before you pass it to
to your neighbor

8. Pass the Salt If asked to pass the salt, always pass
Do not use the salt until requester does
NEVER use salt or pepper until requester has had it
NEVER use salt/pepper on food before tasting the food
NEVER add your own creations to shared dish (salt, pepper, catsup, parmesan cheese)

9. Offering Food NEVER offer a second helping
Phrase offer as if dish offered for the first time
If dish is offered to you, serve yourself, then pass it on

10. Removing inedible items from mouth
Remove food from mouth the way it went in
A chicken bone returned by fork to plate
Fish is exception, remove tiny bones with fingers
Fatty piece meat, spit into napkin, keep out of sight

11. Embarrassing Moments Spill – quietly apologize, use napkin, get waiter
Spill on someone’s clothes, DO NOT try to get it off clothes – offer to pay dry cleaning bill
NEVER smear napkin all over face, just blot

12. DRINK stand for Drink Right
Salad, meal, water all brought to diner’s RIGHT, & cleared from LEFT
All glasses on RIGHT
Drink – Drink Right

13. Pass the Breadbasket Take one slice bread only Okay to tear bread
Tear bite-size bread pieces
Butter bite-size pieces from butter plate

14. Utensils Use utensils from outside in Follow the host/hostess
Once utensil is used, NEVER touches the table/tablecloth
Soup spoon filled to 75%, bring to mouth, sip it from side, little slurping
Acceptable to tip bowl away from you to get last bits, don’t do more than twice

15. “I’m still eating.”

16. “I’m about to pass my plate for seconds.”

17. “I’m done.”

18. “I’m a slob.”

19. Chewing Food Don’t speak with mouth full of food
Chew quietly, try not to slurp
Keep bites small
Don’t cut all your meat at once
Wipe your mouth before drinking
Chew with your lips closed
Eat at leisurely pace

20. Basic Rules Do not play with table utensils, crumble bread
Do not cough, sneeze at table
Never indicate anything unpleasant in the food
Ask host/hostess to be excused

21. Foods Eaten with Fingers
Bacon – cooked very crisp no grease
Bread – broken, not cut; never tear more than two bites
Cookies – unless has chocolate sauce with no corner to pick up
Corn on Cob – butter 1-2 a time & eat across cob cleanly
Chips, French Fries, Fried Chicken, Hamburgers, unless messy
Hor d’Oeuvres, Sandwiches, small fruits/berries on stem

22. Conversation Do not talk loud or boisterously
Do not talk with your mouth full
Be cheerful in table discussions

23. Coffee or Tea
If you wish to be served more tea or coffee, place spoon on the saucer
If you do not want coffee, place your coffee cup upside down on saucer
NEVER place your spoon on the table after using it for tea or coffee

24. Questions
1. In taking your place at the table, sit down from (the right side of the chair) (the left side of the chair) (either the right or the left side of the chair).

25. #2
2. Sit comfortably at the table, with your feet (on the chair) (around the chair) (on the floor).

26. #3
3. Begin to eat (as soon as you are seated) (when everyone has been served) (when you are served).

27. #4
4. (Lots of food) (Expensive food) (A cheerful conversation) add to the enjoyment of a meal.

28. #5
5. Food should be taken from the (the side of the spoon) (the tip of the spoon) (either the side or the tip of the spoon).

29. #6
While you are eating, keep (the elbows on the table) (one elbow on the table) (the elbows off the table).

30. #7
7. It is proper to (talk with your mouth full of food) (chew with your lips open) (chew with your lips closed).

31. #8
8. Keep knife and fork after they have been used (on the plate) (on the table) (either on the plate or the table).

32. #9
9. Spoons are used for (sipping beverages) (tasting beverages) (eating mashed potatoes).

33. #10
10. When drinking water, hold the glass (with both hands) ( near the base) (around the rim).

34. #11
11. When you pass your plate for a second helping, the silverware should (be taken from your plate) (left on your plate) (held in your hand).

35. #12
12. When bread is served at the meal (butter a whole piece at a time) (cut piece in half and butter it) (break off a small piece and butter it).

36. #13
13. Toothpicks should (be on the table) (be passed) (be used in private).

37. #14
14. Used silverware is (sometimes placed on the tablecloth) (never placed on the tablecloth) (placed with handles on the tablecloth).

38. #15
15. When food you dislike is served to you do you take it? (eat what you can) (tell the hostess you do not like it).

39. #16
16. It (is proper) (is not proper) (is sometimes proper) to cut all the meat on the plate before starting to eat.

40. #17
17. Relishes taken from a relish dish (should be placed) (should never be placed) (are sometimes placed) on the tablecloth.

41. #18
18. In using a soup spoon, dip the spoon (toward the front of the bowl) (towards the back of the bowl) (either the front or the back of the bowl).

42. #19
19. When you have finished eating, place the knife and fork (on the table) (on the plate) (neither on the plate or the table).

43. #20
20. (Push your plate back) (Push your plate to one side) (Leave your plate in place) when you have finished eating.

44. #21
21. At the close of the meal, place your napkin (on the table) ( on your chair) (on your plate)..

45. #22
22. Five finger foods:

46. #23
23. Five foods you use your spoon for eating:

47. #24
24. Five foods you use your fork for eating:

48. #25
25. Five ways to use your knife: