ETIQUETTE

Dining Etiquette

Table manners play an important part in making a favorable impression

Visible signs of the state of our manners

Essential to our professional success

Ordering

After looking over the menu Ask your server if you have questions

How a dish is prepared If it contains ingredients you may be allergic to

An employer may suggest your order be taken first

Often, women’s orders are taken before men’s

ORDERING FOOD

Menu Do’s Food favorites; no

experimenting Easy to cut meats Salads Middle-priced

Menu Don’ts Spaghetti and other

pastas Corn on the cob Peas and other

hyperactive food Chicken with bones Ribs Shellfish Most expensive Least expensive

Dining Etiquette

This is a standard dinner place setting

Ball State

University’s websiteThanks to

“Reading” the Table Setting

Draw an imaginary line through the center of the serving plate

To the right Glassware, cups, saucer, knives and spoons

(Seafood fork)

To the left Bread and butter plate (including a small butter

knife across the top), salad plate, napkin and forks

“Liquids on your Right” “Solids on your Left”

Use of Silverware

Work from the outside in Salad fork is on the outmost left,

followed by the dinner fork Soupspoon is on the outmost right,

followed by the salad knife and dinner knife

Dessert spoon and fork are above your plate or brought out with dessert

Use of Silverware

Work from the outside in Salad fork is on the outmost left,

followed by the dinner fork Soupspoon is on the outmost right,

followed by the salad knife and dinner knife

Dessert spoon and fork are above your plate or brought out with dessert

Use of Silverware

Work from the outside in Salad fork is on the outmost left,

followed by the dinner fork Soupspoon is on the outmost right,

followed by the salad knife and dinner knife

Dessert spoon and fork are above your plate or brought out with dessert

Use of Silverware

American style Hold knife in right hand Fork in left hand with fork tines piercing

the food to hold it in place Cut a few pieces Lay knife across top edge of plate sharp

edge facing in Change fork (tines up) to right to eat

Use of Silverware

European (Continental style) Hold knife in right hand Fork in left hand with fork tines piercing

the food to hold it in place Cut a piece and keeping fork (tines

down) in left hand eat cut piece

Use of Silverware

When you have finished Do not push your plate away Lay fork (tines down) and knife sharp side

facing inward) diagonally across your plate Once you have used a piece of

silverware, never place it back on the table

Do not leave a used spoon in a cup; place it on the saucer

Unused silverware is left on the table

Table Manners – ABC’s

A. When first being seated at the table, do not

touch anything until everyone arrives

You can see what you will be eating/drinking by the “layout of the table”

Watch the host/hostess for cues and follow their lead (napkin, eating, etc.)

Only start to eat once everyone has been served and when the host/hostess starts to eat

Table Manners – ABC’s

B. Remember to start with your utensils from the

“outside in” (farthest away from center plate)

When you are not eating, keep your hands on your lap or resting on the table (with wrists on edge)

Keep salt and pepper together…they are MARRIED!

Do not season your food before tasting it

Table Manners – ABC’s

C. Eat rolls or bread by tearing off a small bite

sized pieces and buttering only the piece you are preparing to eat

Tea packets, where do they go? To the right, underneath of your coffee saucer (and only tear ¾ across)

If you don’t like a piece of food that is in your mouth, you have two options: Finish what you are chewing and swallow it Remove it from your mouth by how it entered (i.e. if

brought in by fork, remove by fork) and put it back on your plate – do not remove it into your napkin!

10 COMMON DINING FAUX PAS1. Napkin on lap before everyone is

seated2. Blowing or stirring soup3. Eating ice cubes4. Eating before everyone is served5. Breaking dinner roll in half rather than

tearing a bite-size piece

FAUX PAS (CONT.)

6. Talking with food in your mouth; chewing with mouth open

7. Eating a larger than bite-size piece of food

8. Blowing your nose at table9. Pushing your plate away10. Stacking dishes

Table Manners – Of Course !!

It is inappropriate to ask for a doggy bag when you are a guest

Finger foods can be messy and are best left for informal dining

Do not order alcoholic beverages

Do not smoke while dining out

Sit up straight at the table

Table Manners – Of Course !!

Do not ‘slurp’ soup from a spoon

If food gets caught between your teeth and you can’t remove it with your tongue, leave the table and go to a mirror where you can remove the food in private

Engage in pleasant conversation that is entirely free of controversial subjects

You should never leave the table during the meal except in an emergency

Napkin Etiquette:

Keep it in your lap throughout the meal

If you must get up from the table, place your napkin on your chair (and push your chair in)

Once the meal is finished, watch the host/hostess as to when you place your napkin to the left of your plate

“Table Talk”

Do not talk across the table

Keep conversation to the person to your right and left

Short conversations about current events, hobbies, interests, entertainment

Avoid controversial topics such as politics, religion, health related issues

Reminders…

Ladies, place your handbags underneath your chairs so they do not interfere with the wait-staff

The wait-staff should serve from the left and take from the right

If you drop your utensil, ask the wait-staff for another

RECEPTIONS - HORS D’OUEVRES No Alcohol!

Leave your friend at the door

Name badges are always worn on the right side

Absolutely no alcohol!

Hold glass in left hand to allow right hand to be free for introductions

Do not load plate with food

Do not put toothpicks back on platter

Do not gather at the food table

No Alcoholic beverages…….AT ALL!!!

Rules of Introduction

Stand Up

Smile

Always shake hands

Make eye contact

Repeat other person’s name

Forgotten Names

If unable to remember someone’s name, o.k. to say, “Please tell me your name again”

If someone has a difficult name ask them to pronounce it again

Business Cards

Read

Receive

Acknowledge

Friendly Reminders…

Remember if you are attending a dinner at someone’s home; bring them a “small token of your appreciation” (bottle of wine – if you are of age, flowers, box of candy, etc.)

Remember to send a THANK YOU note to

your host/hostess within two days