Table Manners 101

  

In Medieval England, wiping your mouth on the tablecloth was expected.  As was eating meat with your hands or off the tip of a sharp knife.  But today, we have a different idea of what good table manners are. 

Imagine sitting at a formal table and the person next to you leans over his plate as if protecting it from wolves, shovels food into his mouth, and burps loudly.  In truth, I can’t imagine sitting next to that person during any type of meal. 

Basic Table Manners Rules

• Take a cough or sneeze attacks away from the table.  Once calm, return and apologize to other diners.
• With a few coughs or sneezes, turn away from the table covering your mouth with your napkin.
• Blow nose away from the table and never on your napkin.
• Use all your manners at the table: please, thank you, excuse me and please pass the…
• Elbows should be close to your sides, not flapping about, or placed on the table.
• Cut and eat one bite at a time.
• Chew with mouth closed and do not stuff your mouth.
• If you are unsure of what to do, watch the host.
• Always use the utensil that makes the most sense.
• Communication is more important than food.

Do Not, Never, & No

• Hover over your food; sit up straight.
• Hold your utensils like shovels.
• Reach.
• Place a utensil on the table after it is used. 
• Blow on hot food.
• Apply lipstick, clean fingernails, or comb hair at the table.
• Push food onto your fork with anything but a knife.

Bread & Butter Rules

• Your bread plate is on your left above your forks.
• Share the bread with others and take one piece at a time.
• Put butter on your plate with the butter knife (if there is one).
• Tear one piece of bread (roughly two bites) and butter only that piece.
• Eat one piece of bread at a time.

Napkin Rules

• Napkin belongs on the left of the place setting or on the plate for formal meals.
• Place the napkin in your lap after everyone is seated.
• If leaving the table momentarily, place the napkin to the left of the plate or on your chair.
• Blot your mouth before taking a drink but leave the napkin as clean as possible.
• When finished, place the napkin neatly to the right of the plate.

Rules Unique to Formal Meals

• Enter the dining room when asked.
• Look for your place card and stand behind that chair until everyone has entered.  Ladies may sit immediately.  Watch carefully for regional differences.
• A menu card is often on your plate or between diners.
• Expect a salt and pepper for each diner or for every two.
• Wait until everyone has been served before picking up a fork.
• Finger Bowls: dip fingers into the liquid and then tap lightly to dry them on your napkin.

Just Because You Asked

Suggested Courses for a Formal Meal

Soup, fruit, pasta, or shellfish

Fish if not serving shellfish or pasta

Entrée

Salad

Dessert

Cheese, fruit, coffee, cordials

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