6 Rules for Fine Dining
No, you probably won’t use these tips and tricks at your niece’s 3rd birthday party or at the spaghetti house, but whether you’re a high-paid city slicker who is a frequenter on the gourmet scene or simply trying to prepare for a work awards banquet or high-class date, these rules are going to apply to you.
1. Soup and Pudding- While eating soup, your bowl should always stay on the table, never pick it up and slurp like you would your fruity pebbles on a Saturday morning. Soup spoons come in two shapes, one shaped like a bowl, the other like an egg. Do not slurp, and never put the entire spoon in your mouth–simply drink from the edge.
2. Knives and Forks- If setting a table, always remember that forks go on the left side of the plate while knives and spoons go on the right. If a table has been set with several of each utensil, it’s generally safe to move from the outside in. Begin with the sliverware furthest from your plate for the first course, and work your way in.
3. Body and Seating- If your table has no seating chart or place cards, wait to be seated by your hostess. The host always sits at the end of the table and his wife will sit to his right. Never sit in either of these two seats. When seated, always leave your feet firmly panted on the floor, sit up straight, and never put your elbows on the table.
4. Bread- Use your bread plate that should be displayed on the left hand side of your main plate. If there is no bread plate (and this may sound surprising), it’s acceptable to place your bread on the table next to your dinner plate. You should never put bread directly onto your dinner plate.
5. Conversation- Topics to never discuss at the table unless with a group you know very well: religion, politics, or sex. These subjects often spark controversy and are better shared over drinks at the bar or over coffee in your own home. Fine dining should always be a pleasant experience, do not ruin the dining experience of others by imposing your opinions on them while you eat. Also, it’s important to carry on coversations that everyone at the table can participate in. Save inside jokes, private conversations, gossip, and secrets for the playground please.
6. Fine Dining Dont’s:
-Don’t complain if you don’t like a certain dish
-Don’t blow on a dish to cool it down, wait for it to cool
-Don’t photograph the table (it’s isn’t classy)
-Don’t treat servers poorly
-Don’t overstay your welcome
With these simple etiquette rules and tips, no one will be able to tell if you frequent fine restaurants or if you usually go through the drive-through. Test yourself at a casual dinner sometime, etiquette rules can become quite the game.