Many a times our prospective employers or our colleagues ask us out for a meal and at times such as these; our table manners speak volumes about us as professionals and are an important part in making a favorable impression.
Very little attention is paid to refining the table etiquette in our country especially w.r.t to the use of crockery, cutlery and other items on a table. Here are some tips to help one sail through these “dinner interviews”.
1.Follow the lead of the host unless the host has indicted that you to take the lead. Ladies are mostly given the lead through out a meal.
2.Unfolding of a napkin is the opening score of the meal. It should be
a.Opened after the host opens his or hers.
b.Spread in your lap throughout the meal
c.If it’s a small luncheon napkin, speared it fully. Dinner napkin to be folded across the length.
d.To be used to blot the mouth gently
e.To be left on the chair in case you need to leave the table. It’s a signal for the server that you would be returning.
f.Kept neatly on the right of the plate to signal the end of the meal. Host’s lead is a must to follow.
g.Kept neatly, neither refolded nor crumpled.
3.Ask a server when in doubt
4.Do NOT order the most expensive dish on the menu or more than two courses unless suggested by the host.
5.In case of food related allergies, please check the ingredients involved with the server.
6.Place the glassware or cups back in the position.
7.Remember solids on your left and liquids on the right of your plate - helps you remember the plate setting.
8.Silverware is confusing to most of us. The trick is to start from the one placed farthest to your plate. Work your way from the outermost layer and you don’t have to worry.
9.Cut with the knife in the right hand and fork in the left. Use the fork to secure the food in place as you cut it.
10.You could eat with the fork in the left hand with the tines facing down (European style). Or you could eat with the fork in right hand with the tines facing upwards but then you need to keep your knife across the top edge of your plate with the blade facing in (American style).
11.When you are finished, do not push the plate away. Keep the knife and fork like the hands of a clock pointing 10 and 4. The blade of the knife should be pointing inwards and the tines of the fork should be down. The spoon should be in the saucer instead of the cup.
12.When asked for salt, always pass salt and pepper both. Place it in close reach of the person on the table.
13.Please keep the elbows off the table and this will help you maintain a good posture.
14.Rule for removing food is that it has to come out the way it went in. For e.g., a piece of bone discovered has to come back to the plate by way of the fork.
15.It’s rude to pick your teeth at the table. However if mandatory, hold you napkin over your mouth.
16.Remember to not talk when the mouth is full.
17.If someone asks you to pass them some bread, do not pick out an individual roll and hand it to them. Pass the entire basket. People generally do not like others touching their food.
18.If meat is served on the bone, you should use your knife and fork to remove the meat. It is generally not advisable to pick up the bone and eat the meat from it. there are exceptions to eating with your hands (ribs or anything served at a barbeque) so follow the host’s lead on that.
19.In very formal dining situations there are rules for holding your wine glass. It is generally advised to hold the glass by the stem and not the bowl of the wine glass, as holding the bowl changes the temperature of the wine, therefore altering the flavor. red wine is served slightly above room temp and most whites are serve chilled (but not cold). there are some reds that are served chilled, but hardly any. if ordering wine to accompany your meal, it is generally advised to pair reds with anything heavy and/or spicy (meat, heavily spiced curries, etc.) and whites to accompany pastas and fish. (if you know more about wine and food pairings you can play around, but these are the “safe” pairings that will keep you looking smart)
Last but not the lest…. Break your bread and not cut it.
