Dining Etiquette By: Cassie Klumpp

How to use a napkin… As soon as seated, unfold napkin Place napkin in lap Keep napkin until done with meal Don’t clean silverware or wipe face NEVER use to wipe your nose Don’t leave the napkin on the chair -As soon as you are seated, unfold your napkin but do not shake it -place the napkin on your lap -keep the napkin on your lap until everyone is done with the meal -do not clean your silverware with the napkin -do not wipe your face with the napkin -NEVER use the napkin to wipe your nose -if you have to excuse yourself from the table, loosely fold your napkin and place it on either the left or right of your plate -Do not refold your napkin or wad it up on the table either -never place your napkin on your chair - At the end of the meal, leave the semi-folded napkin to the left of the place setting

When to start eating… Restaurant Wait until everyone is served Private Dinner Party After the host picks up silverware Not unless insisted by host Restaurant Wait until everyone at the table is served Private Dinner Party After the host picks up their silverware you can start to eat Never eat before the host unless they insist that you eat

How to use your silverware… Start from the outside, work in Dessert fork or spoon above plate When eating you start from the outside of the silverware and work your way in. Salad fork is on the outside left then you would use your soup spoon on the outside right Next would come your dinner so you would take the fork that was after the salad fork The desert fork can be on your left next to the plate, above the plate or brought out with your desert The smaller spoon after the soup spoon is the teaspoon used for your drinks The plate to the upper left is for your bread or rolls with the butter spreader The water glass is the biggest glass of the three

General dining etiquette rules… Follow dress code on invitation Never arrive late Sit man-woman-man at table Join in with a toast Send a thank you note Follow the dress code on the invitation or specified by the host Arrive 10 minutes early, never arrive late! If there are no name cards at the table, sit man-woman-man at the table Sometimes a host says a toast, you should join in on the toast. You should send a thank you note to the host after the party.

Serving Food Food served from left Plates taken from right Always say please “Thank you” to waiter Dip transferred to plate first The food is served to your left Plates are taken from your right Always say please when asking for something Say “thank you” to the waiter or bus boy that takes your plates Butter, spreads, or dips should be transferred to your plate before you place it on food

Passing dishes or food Pass food from left to right Pass both salt and pepper Set food on table to pass Never intercept a pass Always use serving utensils Pass the food to the right never across the table or to the left. When someone asks you to pass the salt or pepper, pass both so people don’t have to search for both. When you pass food to someone, place it on the table instead of passing hand-to-hand When passing someone food, never take some before passing it to them if they asked for it first When taking food, use the serving utensils to get the food, not your personal silverware.

Eating Don’t talk with your mouth full Don’t blow on your food Cut bite size pieces Only one or two pieces Don’t play with food Never talk with your mouth full, always wait until you are done chewing your food before talking. If your food is too hot, wait for it to cool, don’t blow on it. Cut your food into bite size pieces, and only cut off one or two pieces. Don’t play with your food.

Table Manners No slurping or burping Keep your elbows off the table Mingle, don’t talk too loud Say “excuse me” when leaving No toothpicks or apply makeup No cell phones Keep your elbows off the table You can mingle with the people at the table, but don’t talk too loud. No slurping or burping when eating at table. Say “excuse me” or “I’ll be back” when leaving the table Do not use toothpicks at the table, also do not apply makeup No cell phones at the table, it is not polite to have your cell phone go off in the middle of a dinner.

Proper tipping in a restaurant… At a restaurant, always leave a tip. Tips can vary from 15% to 25%.  Waiter: 15% to 20% of the bill; 25% for extraordinary service Wine steward: 15% of wine bill Bartender: 10% to 15% of bar bill Coat check: $1.00 per coat Car attendant: $2.00 to $5.00

Dividing or sharing the bill… 6 or more people, divide bill If dividing, tell before hand If order less, make payment smaller If there is going to be 6 or more people, then you will want to divide the bill If you know that you are going to be dividing the bill before hand, then tell the waiter before hand, this will make the payment easier in the end If someone orders less than everyone else, then have them pay less towards the bill so it is fair for them

Sources "Dining Etiquette Guide, Table Manners, Dinner Party Manners, United States Dining Table Manners, Dinner Etiquette, Restaurant Dining Etiquette, Food Etiquette Guide." What's Cooking America, Fathers Day, Fathers Day Recipes, Memorial Day Picnics, Old Fashion Picnic Foods, Healthy Eating, Weight Loss, Healthy Diets, Beauty Articles, Food Articles, Diet Articles. Web. 20 May 2010. <http://whatscookingamerica.net/Menu/DiningEtiquetteGuide.htm>. YouTube - Basic Dining Etiquette - Table Taboos. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDFgw9OkN-k>. Photograph. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://blogs.mspmag.com/foodiefile/restaurant-bill.jpg>. Photograph. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.raferbilliards.com/Rules_Graphic.gif>. YouTube - Bad Table Manners. YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. Web. 18 May 2010. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unXKYK0uRJ8>.