Dining Etiquette (Table Manners)
The word Etiquette means the conduct to be observed in social or official life as per the rules prevalent in the society that one lives in. It is therefore absolutely necessary to observe these rules in order to attain some degree of social standing and recognition.
There are a set of rules specified for every aspect of our social existence among which Table Manners find a place of importance. They are visible signals of our behaviour and upbringing and therefore essential to professional as well as personal success.
Table Manners
A study of Table Manners will teach you not only how to sit and eat at the table at formal and informal get-togethers but it will also help you handle difficult situations that creep up nexpectedly at such gatherings.
How To Behave At The Dining Table
Posture: Sit up straight at the table, never lean backward, nor forward and also never let the elbows touch the table. This makes a good impression. When you are not eating, keep your hands on your lap or rest on the table.
"Please" and "Thank You" are the basic manners at the table: Say "Please" when asking people to pass you something and "Thank you" when you receive something.
Food is passed at a family meal by the head of the family or the host/hostess: It is often passed in a counterclockwise movement around the table.
Wait for others to start eating. In many homes they say a prayer first.
The only way to eat is slowly and quietly. Chew small bites of food and swallow with the mouth closed.
One should avoid touching nose, teeth and combing hair while dining.
End the meal properly. When a person has finished eating, the fork and the knife are placed diagonally crossed across the plate, this is the best way to inform the server that you have finished eating.
Some Important Table Manners:
If some beverage or food is spilled on some guest while eating: The best way is to handle the situation with a calm and quiet frame of mind. Apologise first and then using the cloth napkin and water wipe it gently or else gently guide the guest to the washroom.
To remove a distasteful food item from the mouth: The food should be removed in the napkin discreetly and the food morsel should be kept out of view from others.
If a piece of silverware falls onto the floor: It should be picked up if one can reach it and the server should be told to replenish it with a clean one.
Table Accessories
An Accessory may be a thing of secondary or subordinate importance but one cannot deny that they add to the beauty, convenience and effectiveness of whatever they are accessorizing.
One of the most important piece of furniture in any home is the dining table for the family gathers around it to share not only their meals but also their thoughts and deeds atleast 2 to 3 times daily. A lot of thought should therefore go into choosing the right table to suit your family.
Even with today's informal way of living, certain formal procedures make for gracious hospitality like the use of tablecloth. Place mats too have become popular table linens as they make the table look good. They come in various materials. Beautifully crafted table napkins add to the appearance of a set table and all the more when they are folded attractively.
A centerpiece should be planned by keeping in mind the type of meal, number of people to be served and the space available. Other table accessories like candles, attractive menu stands, cruet sets (salt and pepper dispenser) can also be used in conjunction with the main center arrangement so long all the things used are in harmony with each other.
Crystal goblets and other glassware contribute to the appearance of the table and the overall attraction of the room. Practical considerations should be combined with aesthetics when glasses are considered. When used correctly they make a handsome contribution to any table setting. There are different sizes of glassware available for serving different types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Next comes the cutlery, which include forks, knives and spoons of all sizes and shapes. There are different varieties and qualities of cutlery available in the market and the choice varies from sterling silver or silver to stainless steel. The best among all the metals is indeed silver but it requires a lot of care since it gets tarnished easily.
Finally come the crockery where equal importance has to be given while choosing them. The choice of material for dishes is often determined by price as well as the needs of the family and normally varies between Chinaware and Porcelain. China patterns are formal and lend themselves well for a formal dinner.
Table Setting
The way a table is set is an indication of the menu that is to be served ? be it a formal meal or an informal one ? in the order of the courses from soup to dessert. Comfort of the diners should be of prime importance, which also means that the meal should be served in the proper sequence and at the proper temperature.
A buffet meal is the most convenient way to serve a group of people at informal gatherings. It is usually set up on a large dining table on which food is laid out in a particular order to make it more navigable and attractive.
In plated service the dishes should be pre-plated in the kitchen and placed at individual covers as soon as the guests are seated. The food should be served in order of the courses of the menu.
The table for formal dinner is set as per certain set rules. The table linen should be arranged just right, the dinner plate should be placed at the right distance from the edge of the table, the cutlery should follow the order in which courses will be served, the drinking glass should be sparkling and placed at the right distance from the cutlery, the centre piece should be correctly placed and should be in harmony with the rest of the tableware.
Once the table is set, correct service should follow. Receiving the guests, greeting and seating them is the first fundamental of a perfect service for a formal dinner. Ladies are served first, then the other guests and lastly the host. The food should be served in order of the courses on the menu and as soon as the first course is finished the plate should be cleared and replaced by another for the next course. The food should always be served at the right temperature. Finger bowls containing lukewarm water and a wedge of lemon should follow immediately after a course of finger foods. Coffee, liqueurs, brandy etc. after the meal need not be served at the dining table, they can be taken elsewhere too.
There are a set of rules specified for every aspect of our social existence among which Table Manners find a place of importance. They are visible signals of our behaviour and upbringing and therefore essential to professional as well as personal success.
Table Manners
A study of Table Manners will teach you not only how to sit and eat at the table at formal and informal get-togethers but it will also help you handle difficult situations that creep up nexpectedly at such gatherings.
How To Behave At The Dining Table
Posture: Sit up straight at the table, never lean backward, nor forward and also never let the elbows touch the table. This makes a good impression. When you are not eating, keep your hands on your lap or rest on the table.
"Please" and "Thank You" are the basic manners at the table: Say "Please" when asking people to pass you something and "Thank you" when you receive something.
Food is passed at a family meal by the head of the family or the host/hostess: It is often passed in a counterclockwise movement around the table.
Wait for others to start eating. In many homes they say a prayer first.
The only way to eat is slowly and quietly. Chew small bites of food and swallow with the mouth closed.
One should avoid touching nose, teeth and combing hair while dining.
End the meal properly. When a person has finished eating, the fork and the knife are placed diagonally crossed across the plate, this is the best way to inform the server that you have finished eating.
Some Important Table Manners:
If some beverage or food is spilled on some guest while eating: The best way is to handle the situation with a calm and quiet frame of mind. Apologise first and then using the cloth napkin and water wipe it gently or else gently guide the guest to the washroom.
To remove a distasteful food item from the mouth: The food should be removed in the napkin discreetly and the food morsel should be kept out of view from others.
If a piece of silverware falls onto the floor: It should be picked up if one can reach it and the server should be told to replenish it with a clean one.
Table Accessories
An Accessory may be a thing of secondary or subordinate importance but one cannot deny that they add to the beauty, convenience and effectiveness of whatever they are accessorizing.
One of the most important piece of furniture in any home is the dining table for the family gathers around it to share not only their meals but also their thoughts and deeds atleast 2 to 3 times daily. A lot of thought should therefore go into choosing the right table to suit your family.
Even with today's informal way of living, certain formal procedures make for gracious hospitality like the use of tablecloth. Place mats too have become popular table linens as they make the table look good. They come in various materials. Beautifully crafted table napkins add to the appearance of a set table and all the more when they are folded attractively.
A centerpiece should be planned by keeping in mind the type of meal, number of people to be served and the space available. Other table accessories like candles, attractive menu stands, cruet sets (salt and pepper dispenser) can also be used in conjunction with the main center arrangement so long all the things used are in harmony with each other.
Crystal goblets and other glassware contribute to the appearance of the table and the overall attraction of the room. Practical considerations should be combined with aesthetics when glasses are considered. When used correctly they make a handsome contribution to any table setting. There are different sizes of glassware available for serving different types of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages.
Next comes the cutlery, which include forks, knives and spoons of all sizes and shapes. There are different varieties and qualities of cutlery available in the market and the choice varies from sterling silver or silver to stainless steel. The best among all the metals is indeed silver but it requires a lot of care since it gets tarnished easily.
Finally come the crockery where equal importance has to be given while choosing them. The choice of material for dishes is often determined by price as well as the needs of the family and normally varies between Chinaware and Porcelain. China patterns are formal and lend themselves well for a formal dinner.
Table Setting
The way a table is set is an indication of the menu that is to be served ? be it a formal meal or an informal one ? in the order of the courses from soup to dessert. Comfort of the diners should be of prime importance, which also means that the meal should be served in the proper sequence and at the proper temperature.
A buffet meal is the most convenient way to serve a group of people at informal gatherings. It is usually set up on a large dining table on which food is laid out in a particular order to make it more navigable and attractive.
In plated service the dishes should be pre-plated in the kitchen and placed at individual covers as soon as the guests are seated. The food should be served in order of the courses of the menu.
The table for formal dinner is set as per certain set rules. The table linen should be arranged just right, the dinner plate should be placed at the right distance from the edge of the table, the cutlery should follow the order in which courses will be served, the drinking glass should be sparkling and placed at the right distance from the cutlery, the centre piece should be correctly placed and should be in harmony with the rest of the tableware.
Once the table is set, correct service should follow. Receiving the guests, greeting and seating them is the first fundamental of a perfect service for a formal dinner. Ladies are served first, then the other guests and lastly the host. The food should be served in order of the courses on the menu and as soon as the first course is finished the plate should be cleared and replaced by another for the next course. The food should always be served at the right temperature. Finger bowls containing lukewarm water and a wedge of lemon should follow immediately after a course of finger foods. Coffee, liqueurs, brandy etc. after the meal need not be served at the dining table, they can be taken elsewhere too.
posted by Ramchander at 3:17 AM
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