1. Paper Plates to Silver Spoons
The Complete Guide to Table Manners

2. Introduction Table manners developed over a long period of time
Manners are different for different cultures
Manners should make dining easier
Manners promote safety—don’t spill the soup.
Manners prevent you from making unappetizing, noises (slurp, nose blowing).
Don’t embarrass yourself or your host.
Learn the basics, common sense will help!

3. At some point in your dining experience, you need to be on your best behavior!
Date with someone of different ethnic traditions
Wedding reception
Business lunch or dinner
Job interview
Any event important to your future

4. Dining at home alone or with your family
Don’t save for important or formal occasion when important to be on best behavior
Bad habits are hard to break; don’t embarrass your family
Learn and practice, practice, practice
Form new habits; the right way should become habit
Know what is appropriate in certain situations
Important to learn when and how to use proper manners.

5. Group Dining Dining in someone’s home
It is courteous to try everything
When refusing servings, simply pass along
Take small servings to ensure enough for everyone.
If you like, compliment the host and take a second serving.
Do not use your own utensils to serve food.

6. Formal Dining with Service
Served at someone’s home by servants.
Formal dining with serving platters is the most difficult.
The platter is served from the left.
Serve your food and return serving utensils to the platter.
Avoid making errors that will end up on your lap or on the floor.

7. Formal Dining with Plate Service
Each course will be served individually with the food already on a plate.
Serve on left and remove from the right.
If you dislike food or have allergies, be discrete.

8. Restaurant Dining
Your place your order; make sure your order something that will not embarrass you while eating in public.
Use different utensils for different foods
Etiquette varies greatly depending on the type of restaurant.
Evaluate your environment and let common sense rule—if you are not sure, follow others.

9. Being Seated Cleanliness is very important when eating.
Make sure your hands and nails are clean.
Your personal appearance should be neat and appropriate for the dining environment.
Males should assist in seating the female to the right.

10. Conversation
Converse with someone beside you even if you don’t know them.
Host may have arrange you to be seated next to someone…
Interesting.
With common interests.
With a romantic match.

11. Posture Relax. Don’t rock in your chair Don’t slouch.
Appear confident and attentive.
Elbows—What are others doing in the situation?
Never lean forward with weight on elbows.

12. Unfolding the Napkin Unfold and place in lap below the table.
Never tuck in shirt.

13. Place Setting: Placement of Utensils
The number of utensils varies depending on the formality of meal.
Forks on the left of dinner plate.
Knives and spoons on the right of the dinner plate.
Start with utensils farthest from the plate.
Work from the left to the right.

14. Use of Utensils European (2-step method)
How you hold your utensils is different
Cut the food.
Elbows in, use leverage when cutting.
Bring the food to the mouth with fork in the left hand while the knife is in the right hand. You do not have to put the knife down.

15. Use of Utensils American (4-step method)
How you hold your utensils is different
Cut the food.
Place the knife on the plate.
Switch the fork to the other hand while turning the fork over.
Carry food to the mouth.

16. Use of Utensils
Use a method that allows you to dine neatly without dropping your food.
If you drop utensils, ask for another.
Do not retrieve utensils from the floor; leave it.
Don’t’ use utensils when talking; do not use them as pointers.

17. Resting Positions
What you do with your utensils when you are taking a break from eating.
Place your knife and fork on the plate with the prongs down to indicate that you are not finished with your meal, but taking a break (chewing food, drinking, talking, or using napkin).

18. Use of the Napkin Should be placed on lap under the table when dining.
Only used for wiping the mouth; pat lightly around mouth.
Use the napkin throughout the meal
Napkin should be above table only when using it.
When you are finished with meal, place napkin on table beside plate.

19. Conversation
Someone has invited you because they enjoy your company—not because you are hungry or they felt the need to
Do not talk with food in your mouth.
Avoid getting caught with food in your mouth by taking small bites.

20. Conversation Swallow food before speaking—be considerate.
If it is an emergency, then tuck food in mouth before speaking.
When chewing keep mouth closed with lips tucked together.

21. Different Stages of a Meal
A DINNER could have as many as 12 courses!
Typical 5 courses
Bread
Soup
Salad
Entrée (Protein-based)
Dessert
Beverage

22. Beverage Use finger tips Use handle
Tip head back—do not stick your face in the glass
If you spill a drink, play it down—ask for a sponge or cloth. Do not make a big deal out of it.

23. Bread Plan to have some bread at each course.
Eat small portions; avoid getting too full.
Place on bread plate, if provided, or on the dinner plate.
Place serving of butter on the dish and the place on the small individual pieces of bread—never apply butter directly on bread
Do not put the butter knife on the table cloth

24. Soup Eat quietly and carefully Avoid slurping.
Dip soup spoon away from you; tilt bowl away.
Place the soup spoon on the saucer under the soup bowl.

25. Salad Acceptable to cut salad in bite size pieces
Use same methods for cutting meat

26. The Main Course
Knowing table manners mean knowing what is appropriate in different situations
Finger Foods: Remove meat with utensils and then pick up with utensils and the pick up with your fingers.
Bone in your mouth—remove with fingers and place on side of plate—do not make an announcement.

27. Finished Position
Place knife and fork on the plate parallel to each other and pointing to center of the plate.
The server in a former meal will be aware that you are finished.

28. Dessert
When served fruit, cake, pie, puddings or desserts with or without ice cream, use whatever utensil you are provided (unless unreasonable).
If you are not sure…see what someone else is doing.
When coffee is served with dessert, place the spoon on saucer, not on the table.

29. Leaving the Table It is best to stay until everyone is finished.
Place the napkin on table and rise from the table.
Excuse yourself from the table.

30. Remember Adapt manners to different kinds of foods.
Do what is natural.
Do not draw attention to yourself exhibiting bad manners.
Do not make a mess.
Use judgment according to dining atmosphere.

31. Remember
Avoid unappetizing noise such as burping at the table—excuse yourself.
Eating hot food—if unbearable remove with a napkin with drawing attention to yourself.
If you are not sure about proper etiquette, pause, take a drink, and glance around to see what others around you are doing.

32. Remember Be yourself! Enjoy yourself! Relax!
Demonstrate confidence and class!