DINNER ETIQUETTE!

For MBA/PGDM students

SESSION CONTENT

The Place Setting Forks & Flatware Knives Dessert Silverware Glassware The Seating Your Sitting Posture Using The Napkin Beginning the Meal Ordering Alcohol Asking for Something When you finish Eating Avoiding Pitfalls!
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7/30/2013

The Place Setting

7/30/2013

An Atul Sharma Presentation

The Place Setting

The spoons and knives are placed to the right of each plate and forks to the left. The prongs of the forks should point upwards and the knife blades inwards. The pudding spoon and fork are placed at the top of the place setting with the spoon handle to the right and fork to the left. Glasses are kept just above the dinner knife. Separate glasses for water & wine. Cutlery is used from the outside inwards.

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Forks & Flatware

Handles of the flatware are aligned at the bottom. Forks, no more than three, are at the left of the place plate, placed in order of use. A shellfish fork is the only fork on the right side, angled across the soup spoon. The salad fork would be the fork placed furthest to the left of the plate if the salad was served before the main course. It would be the nearest if vice versa.

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Knives
Knives, no more than three, are at the right of the place plate, in order of use. The only spoon, in many settings, is the soup spoon placed to the extreme right. When more than three courses are planned, the knives and forks are brought in with the serving a steak knife. A butter knife may be placed before the soup spoon or on the butter dish placed separately above the place setting.

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Dessert Silverware
The dessert fork and spoon are above the place plate, the bowl of the spoon facing left and the tines of the fork facing right. For a formal dessert service, a waiter brings each guest a finger bowl, a dessert knife and fork on the dessert plate. The guest dips his fingers in the bowl & then removes the bowl to the upper left of the place setting. He then moves the fork and spoon to the left and right respectively. He is then ready to receive a helping.

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Glassware
From left to right are glasses for: White Wine, Red Wine, Champagne Flute, Hock Glass, and a Paris Goblet. Note how much drink is poured into each.

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An Atul Sharma Presentation

The Seating
The host and hostess sit at either end of the table. A male guest of honor sits at the hostess right and a female guest of honor at the hosts right. All other guests are escorted to their places by the host or hostess. Place cards are optional. Wait to be asked to take your place.

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Your Sitting Posture

Proper posture at the table is very important. Sit up straight, with your arms held near your body. You should neither lean on the back of the chair nor lean forward to place your elbows on the table. Elbows, elbows, if youre able, Keep your elbows off the table.

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Using The Napkin

As soon as you are seated unfold the napkin and place it across your lap. Dont pick up your napkin if it falls on the floor. Ask for another one. Use the napkin to gently dab at the ends of your mouth. Not for blowing your nose! When leaving leave your napkin loosely to the left of the plate. Do not crumple or fold it. Do not leave your napkin on the chair.

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Beginning the Meal

Some etiquette critics say you must wait for the hostess to unfold her napkin before you do so. Wait until everyone is seated and has received a serving and the hostess begins to eat. Never begin a meal until all members of your party are ready, unless they indicate that you may begin without them. RULE: Begin only when asked to begin.

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Ordering Alcohol
Ordering alcohol at formal dinners is not always much appreciated. Feel free to enjoy a glass of wine with your meal. Enjoy an after dinner drink with dessert. Make sure you dont over do it. Know your limit. It may make you feel more confident but in reality you will look less attractive.

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Asking for Something

Always say please when asking for something. Be sure to say thank you to your server and to the bus boy after he has removed any used items. Always make eye contact with your server. When asked to pass something pick it up and place it within reach of the person closest to you. He will then do the same.

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When You Finish Eating

When presented a finger bowl at the end, gently dip your fingers in the water, no scrubbing, and dab them with the napkin. Place the finger bowl to the top left of the place setting. When the diner has finished signal this by setting the fork and knife parallel to each other, so they lie either horizontally across the center of the plate or are on the diagonal, with the handles pointing to the right. The cutting edge of the knife blade should face toward the diner, and the fork may be placed with the tines either up or down.
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Avoiding Pitfalls
Dont use your fork to pick your teeth at the table If someone asks you a question in midchew, smile, swallow your food and then answer. If you are being treated at a restaurant dont order the most expensive item on the menu. Gently remove bones, pits etc. and keep them on the side of the plate.

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