1. Table Setting & Mealtime Etiquette

2. Setting The Table Influences:
The appearance of the food served.
The tone and feeling of the meal.
Making people feel important.

3. Components of a Tablesetting and Place Setting
Tablecloth or Placemats
Centerpiece
Placecards
Dinnerware
Glassware
Flatware

4. Cover Arrangement of a place setting for 1 person.
Dinner plate is generally in the middle of the cover.
Allow inches of space for each cover.

5. Dinnerware
Includes dinner plate, soup bowl, salad plate, bread plate and dessert plate.
Dinnerplate is placed in the center of the cover.
Salad plate is placed on the left, next to the napkin.
Bread plate is placed top left, above the salad plate.

6. Glassware Placement
Water glass is located at the tip of the knife blade on the right of the cover.
Other beverage glasses are located at the right of the water glass and slightly forward in a diagonal.
Cup and saucer located
on the lower right of the
water glass.

7. Flatware or Silverware
Flatware is arranged in the
order it is used, starting at the outside and working toward the center.
Differences in flatware:
Soup spoon is larger than the teaspoon.
Salad/Dessert fork is smaller than the dinner fork.
Butter knife is smaller than the dinner knife.

8. Rules for Flatware
Forks – to the left of the plate with tines facing up.
Knives and spoons – to the right of the plate. Sharp edge of the knife facing towards the plate.
Dessert forks and spoons – Follow the above rules, or place above the center of the plate.

9. Placement of Napkins
Usually placed to the left of the dinner plate, under the forks, or to the left of the forks.
Center of the dinner plate or cover.
In the water goblet.

10. How do you use all this stuff?
First, place your napkin in your lap (not in your shirt collar).
If you leave the table during the meal, place your napkin on the chair.
At the end of the meal, place your napkin next to your plate, on the left.
Start with outside silverware and work your way in.
Place used silverware on your plate.
Hold your knife and spoon as
you would a pencil.

11. Minding Your Manners
Wait for the host/hostess to be seated before you begin.
Watch your elbows!
Pay attention to your posture.
No rocking in your chair.
Do not talk with your mouth
full or chew with your mouth
open. Chew quietly.

12. When You Are a Guest
If you do not know what to do, follow your host or hostess.
You should be on time, or a few minutes early.
Dress appropriately for the occasion.
If you are not paying, do not order the most expensive item on the menu.

13. Handling Bread
Break a roll or slice of bread into pieces with your hand.
Butter one small piece of roll or bread at a time. Hot rolls may be separated and buttered all at once.
It is okay to use a small piece of bread as a “pusher” to guide food onto your fork.

14. Eating Soup Sip, don’t slurp, from the side of your soup spoon.
Tip the soup spoon away from you when you are filling it with soup.
“As little boats go out to sea I scoop my soup away from me.”
To get the last drops, you may tilt the bowl away from you.

15. HOW RUDE!!!! Combing your hair or applying makeup at the table.
Not turning your head away from the table when you cough or sneeze.
Placing your purse on the table.
Taking a phone call or texting at the table
Pushing your plate away from you.
Reaching across the table for something.
Not leaving a tip.

16. And don’t forget…….