Table Etiquette

“Table etiquette” teaches us the various aspects of desirable dinning-related behavior. This article begins with the basic, rudimentary aspects of dining with the family, dining in a restaurant and some general but critical tips about food handling. Basically, these are all pure common sense actions. However, we need to talk about them because, as we all know, common sense is probably the most uncommon in nature.

When a family sits down for a meal at the dining table, the head of the family sits at the head of the table. For example, in a family of four, the father, head of the family sits at the head of the table; the mother usually sits on the right, the eldest child on his left and then the younger child. In a restaurant, normally two kinds of covers are laid out. One is for the fixed menu and the other for a la’carte service.

For a la’carte service, usually knife and fork are laid out in addition to a quarter plate on left hand side (also called side plate) and a water goblet (or tumbler). The goblet, turned upside down, is positioned just above the tip of the knife. In this service, the other cutlery required for various courses of meal would be brought in by the waiter as the dining progresses.

Some food handling tips

Ø  While dining on a table, always ensure not to make a cluttering sound with the cutlery and the plate.

Ø  Do not try to lift too large a piece of food with the fork. The result can be embarrassing and perhaps disastrous.

Ø  Noodles or spaghetti should be rolled on to the fork before eating.

Ø  When having soup or corn flakes / porridge/ in a soup plate/bowl with only a small quantity of the food left in the soup plate/bowl, then the soup plate/bowl may be tilted a little, but away from you. Do not tilt it towards yourself, lest you will spill the contents.

Ø  While having food items such as peas, with only a few peas left on the plate, take them on to the upturned fork with the help of a knife. Do not try to pierce the peas with the fork; you may either make a spectacle of yourself or send peas shooting around the table.

Ø  At the end of the meal, when you have finished eating, always keep the pieces of cutlery (knife, fork or spoon-fork) parallel to each other in the centre of your plate, perpendicular to you. That is, the handles of the cutlery pointing towards you.

Ø  While having a buffet, make sure that after taking food on to your plate, you do not start eating near the buffet table. This obstructs other guests from serving themselves. It is a polite gesture to move away.