THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

1/22

The 10 New Rules of DiningEtiquette

by Tim Zagat

Chivalry is dead. Maybe thats not so great. At least the old rules of etiquette were clear-cut andmade life easy. For example, in yesteryear when dining, men did the inviting, held doors, chairsand coats for women, tasted the wine, paid the bills and gave the tips. Women in turn were

supposed to be pleasant companions. Clearly things have changed since then. Here are 10proposals for new rules:

1. EQUALITY

1

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

2/22

Women and men should be treated as equals. Still, a plurality of diners says that men aretreated better than women. The explanation given is that men are more likely to pay the bill andtip. How dated can you be? She probably earns more than you.

2. PAYING FOR IT

Whoever initiates a dinner date pays. Long ago, women were handed menus with no prices onthem. Nowadays, whoever did the inviting should be expected to pay for the meal, unless youveworked out another arrangement in advance.

3. ORDERING FOOD

Forget gender people should order when ready. Sorry, Emily Post, but gone are the dayswhen women were expected to go first. Since menus can be long and complex, regardless of

your sex its a courtesy to order first and buy your tablemates a bit more time to decide.

4. HANDHELD VICES

Do not talk, text, tweet, e-mail or surf the web at table. Its rude, say 63% of diners. Awhopping 73% advise turning off ringers. If you have urgent business to deal with, step awayfrom the table briefly to handle matters.

5. KIDS, KIDS, KIDS

Its fine to bring children to dinner in most restaurants. But dont do it at places wheretheyd elevate the decibel level or that are meant to be romantic. Zagat surveyors split over theage at which children should be allowed: 38% say from birth while the same percent argues fiveyears or older. Tellingly, 61% believe restaurants should be able to ban children.

6. DRESSING DOWN OR UP

Dress casually. This is known as the Los Angelization of dining. Hardly any restaurantsrequire ties and jackets anymore. Even the tiny minority that do wont object if you put yourjacket over the back of the chair. About the only rule left is dont be a slob. Alternatively, youmay want to dress up to impress your companion.

2

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

3/22

7. SERIOUS RESERVATIONS

Honor your restaurant reservations or cancel them on time. People should treat diningreservations as the important commitments they are. Holding an empty table for a no-show doesreal damage to a restaurant. If you make reservations and fail to cancel in advance, youll

deservedly become persona non grata at the restaurant.

8. OK, NOW GET OUT

Dont overstay your welcome at a busy restaurant. To clarify: Take your time and enjoy yourfood, wine, conversation and after-dinner treats. Nobody should ever feel rushed. Butinterestingly, 60% of Zagat surveyors nationally support restaurants setting time limits on tablesduring peak hours. Remember, next time you may be the one waiting in line.

9. LONG LIVE CHIVALRY

Men go through doors first, and then hold them open for women. We know, we know. Thisis the one rule of chivalry that will never die, even if its been updated (men used to allowwomen to go first). Bottom line: two people cant go through a door at the same time. So to thewomen out there who find this notion antiquated, please, humor these poor men. Let them get thedoor theyll let you get the bill or walk on the outside once out on the street.

10. REMEMBER YOURE THE CUSTOMER.

And the customer is always right. Too often customers feel they are being judged by the waitstaff. Thats exactly wrong. Short of berating the waiter, you should expect to receive hospitable,efficient service and good food at any restaurant. If that doesnt happen, take your moneyelsewhere and tell the next 10 people that you meet.

Posted on July 20, 2011 08:00Tags: Tim Zagat, Zagat

http://www.zagat.com/buzz/the-10-new-rules-of-dining-etiquette

accesat pe 19 decembrie 2011

3

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

4/22

Dining Etiquette GuideDining Etiquette Guide article

by Linda StradleyofWhat's Cooking America

Table manners play an important part in making a favorable impression. They are visiblesignals of the state of our manners and therefore are essential to professional success.The point of etiquette rules is to make you feel comfortable - not uncomfortable.

Making Restaurant Reservations:

Restaurant reservations are like any other appointment. If you make a reservation, stick to

it. Call ahead if youre going to be more than 15 minutes late, and cancel as far in advanceas possible if your plans change so that someone else can get a table. Some restaurantstake credit card numbers to hold reservations and charge no-show fees.

How to use napkins:

In a restaurant:

As soon as you are seated, remove the napkin from your place setting, unfold it, and put itin your lap. Do not shake it open. At some very formal restaurants, the waiter may do this

for the diners, but it is not inappropriate to place your own napkin in your lap, even whenthis is the case.

The napkin rests on the lap till the end of the meal. Don't clean the cutlery or wipe yourface with the napkin. NEVER use it to wipe your nose!

If you excuse yourself from the table, loosely fold the napkin and place it to the left or rightof your plate. Do not refold your napkin or wad it up on the table either. Never place yournapkin on your chair.

4

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

5/22

At the end of the meal, leave the napkin semi-folded at the left side of the place setting. Itshould not be crumpled or twisted; nor should it be folded. The napkin must also not be lefton the chair.

At a private dinner party:

The meal begins when the host or hostess unfolds his or her napkin. This is your signal todo the same. Place your napkin on your lap, completely unfolded if it is a small luncheonnapkin or in half, lengthwise, if it is a large dinner napkin. Do not shake it open.

The napkin rests on the lap till the end of the meal.

The host will signal the end of the meal by placing his or her napkin on the table. Once themeal is over, you too should place your napkin neatly on the table to the left of your dinnerplate. (Do not refold your napkin, but don't wad it up, either.)

When to start eating:

In a restaurant:

Wait until all are served at your table before beginning to eat.

At a private dinner party:

When your host or hostess picks up their fork to eat, then you may eat. Do not start beforethis unless the host or hostess insists that you start eating.

How to use your

silverware anddinnerware:

Dinner Setting Photo by

Replacement, Ltd.

Use the silverwarefarthest from your

plate first.

Here's the

Silverware anddinnerware rule: Eatto your left, drink toyour right. Any fooddish to the left is

5

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

6/22

yours, and any glass to the right is yours.

Starting with the knife, fork, or spoon that is farthest from your plate, work your way in,using one utensil for each course. The salad fork is on your outermost left, followed by yourdinner fork. Your soup spoon is on your outermost right, followed by your beverage spoon,salad knife and dinner knife. Your dessert spoon and fork are above your plate or brought

out with dessert. If you remember the rule to work from the outside in, you'll be fine.

Use one of two methods when using the fork and knife:

American Style:Knife in right hand, fork in left hand holding food. After a few bite-sizedpieces of food are cut, place knife on edge of plate with blades facing in. Eat food byswitching fork to right hand (unless you are left handed). A left hand, arm or elbow on thetable is bad manners.

Continental/European Style: Knife in right hand, fork in left hand. Eat food with fork stillin left hand. The difference is that you don't switch hands-you eat with your fork in your lefthand, with the prongs curving downward. Both utensils are kept in your hands with thetines pointed down throughout the entire eating process. If you take a drink, you do not justput your knife down, you put both utensils down into the resting position: cross the forkover the knife.

Once used, your utensils (including the handles), must not touch the table again. Alwaysrest forks, knives, and spoons on the side of your plate.

For more formal dinners, from course to course, your tableware will be taken away andreplaced as needed. To signal that your are done with the course, rest your fork, tines up,and knife blade in, with the handles resting at five o'clock an tips pointing to ten o'clock onyour plate.

Any unused silverware is simply left on the table.

General social and dining etiquette rules:

Follow whatever dress code is requested on the invitation or suggested by the host/hostess.

Arrive at least 10 minutes early unless otherwise specified. Never arrive late!

It is proper to bring a small hostess gift, one that the hostess is not obliged to use that veryevening. Gifts such as flowers, candy, wine, or dessert, are not good hostess gifts, as thehostess will feel that it must put it out immediately. You must not never expect your gift tobe served at the dinner party.

At a dinner party, wait for the host or hostess sits down before taking your seat. If thehost/hostess asks you to sit, then do. At a very formal dinner party, if there are no namecards at the table, wait until the host indicates where you should sit. The seating willtypically be man-woman-man-woman with the women seated to the right of the men.

6

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

7/22

A prayer or 'blessing' may be customary in some households. The dinner guests may join inor be respectfully silent. Most prayers are made by the host before the meal is eaten.

Sometimes a toast is offered instead of a prayer. Always join in with a toast. If the hoststands up during the toast, also stand up.

Serving tea or coffee signifies that the formal part of the evening is over. Guests may nowfeel free to leave, or linger if the host or hostess encourages them to do so.

After a formal dinner party, a thank you note should be sent to the hostess.

Serving food:

Food is served from the left. Dishes are removed from the right.

Always say please when asking for something. At a restaurant, be sure to say thank you toyour server and bus boy after they have removed any used items.

Butter, spreads, or dips should be transferred from the serving dish to your plate beforespreading or eating.

Passing dishes or food:

Pass food from the left to the right. Do not stretch across the table, crossing other guests,to reach food or condiments.

If asked for the salt or pepper, pass both together, even if a table mate asks for only one ofthem. This is so dinner guests won't have to search for orphaned shakers.

Set any passed item, whether it's the salt and pepper shakers, a bread basket, or a butterplate, directly on the table instead of passing hand-to-hand.

Never intercept a pass. Snagging a roll out of the breadbasket or taking a shake of saltwhen it is en route to someone else is a no-no.

Always use serving utensils to serve yourself, not your personal silverware.

Eating:

Do NOT talk with food in your mouth! This is very rude and distasteful to watch! Wait untilyou have swallowed the food in your mouth.

Always taste your food before seasoning it. Usually the hostess has gone to a lot of workmaking sure the food served is delicious to her standards. It is very rude to add salt andpepper before tasting the food.

7

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

8/22

Don't blow on your food to cool it off. If it is too hot to eat, take the hint and wait until itcools.

Always scoop food, using the proper utensil, away from you.

Cut only enough food for the next mouthful (cut no more than two bites of food at a time).

Eat in small bites and slowly.

Do eat a little of everything on your plate. If you do not like the food and feel unable to givea compliment, just keep silent. It is acceptable to leave some food on your plate if you arefull and have eaten enough. If the food served is not to your liking, it is polite to at leastattempt to eat a small amount of it. It is never acceptable to ask a person why they havenot eaten all the food. Don't make an issue if you don't like something or can't eat it - keepsilence.

Even if you have dietary restrictions, it is inappropriate to request food other than thatwhich is being served by the host at a private function. If you have serious dietaryrestrictions or allergies, let your host know in advance of the dinner.

Do not "play with" your food or utensils. Never wave or point silverware. Do not hold foodon the fork or spoon while talking, nor wave your silverware in the air or point with it.

Try to pace your eating so that you dont finish before others are halfway through. If youare a slow eater, try to speed up a bit on this occasion so you dont hold everyone up.Never continue to eat long after others have stopped.

Once used, your utensils, including the handles, must not touch the table again. Always restforks, knives, and spoons on the side of your plate or in the bowl.

Table Manners:

Unfold your napkin and place it on your lap. When you are finished, place it loosely on thetable, not on the plate and never on your chair.

Keep elbows off the table. Keep your left hand in your lap unless you are using it.

Do not talk with your mouth full. Chew with your mouth closed.

Guests should do their best to mingle and make light conversation with everyone. Do nottalk excessively loud. Give others equal opportunities for conversation. Talk about cheerful,pleasant things at the table.

Don't clean up spills with your own napkin and don't touch items that have dropped on thefloor. You can use your napkin to protect yourself from spills. Then, simply and politely askyour server to clean up and to bring you a replacement for the soiled napkin or dirty utensil.

Loud eating noises such as slurping and burping are very impolite. The number one sin ofdinner table etiquette!

Do not blow your nose at the dinner table. Excuse yourself to visit the restroom. Wash yourhands before returning to the dining room. If you cough, cover your mouth with your napkin

8

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

9/22

to stop the spread of germs and muffle the noise. If your cough becomes unmanageable,excuse yourself to visit the restroom. Wash your hands before returning to the dining room.

Turn off your cell phone or switch it to silent or vibrate mode before sitting down to eat, andleave it in your pocket or purse. It is impolite to answer a phone during dinner. If you mustmake or take a call, excuse yourself from the table and step outside of the restaurant.

Do not use a toothpick or apply makeup at the table.

Say "Excuse me," or "I'll be right back," before leaving the table. Do not say that you aregoing to the restroom.

Whenever a woman leaves the table or returns to sit, all men seated with her should standup.

Do not push your dishes away from you or stack them for the waiter when you are finished.Leave plates and glasses where they are.

Wine:

Never turn a wine glass upside down to decline wine. It is more polite to let the wine bepoured and not draw attention. Otherwise, hold your hand over the wine glass to signal thatyou don't want any wine.

Hold your wine glass by the stem, not the rim. See How To Successfully Taste Wine - WineTasting Basics.

Where a different wine is served with each course, it is quite acceptable to not finish eachglass.

Dividing or sharing the restaurant bill with others:

Always assume that if youre dining in a group of more than 6 people (3 couples), that thecheck is going to be divided evenly among everyone.

When dining when other couples, If you knowyoure going to ask for a separate check, tellthe server before you order so that the process is simplified later.

Take into account any significant ($15 or more) price differences in orders. If someone onlyorders soup and everyone else orders 2 to 3 courses, its not fair to make them pay thesame.

If there are a couple people not drinking alcohol while the rest of the group is, separate thebeverage total to take this into account and dont overcharge the non-drinkers.

9

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

10/22

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

11/22

If you're provided with a dip such as a vinaigrette or mayonnaise, put a small part of theedible portion of the leaf in the dip and scrape with your teeth as directed above. Don'toverdo it on the dip or you won't taste the artichoke.

Asparagus:

Most etiquette books say that you can eat whole asparagus spears, without a sauce, bypicking up with your hand. However, if you do this at a restaurant or dinner party, you willdraw strange glances. Be safe and use your knife and fork to cut and eat them. Only pickasparagus up with your hands if the hostess does.

Avocado:

If the avocado is served in its shell, it is eaten with a spoon.

If it is sliced on a plate or in a salad, eat it with a fork.

Bacon:

Bacon can be consider finger food if it is dry, crisp and served whole.

If bacon is broken into pieces, served in thick slices, or cooked but still limp, it should beeaten with a knife and fork. The rule is simply that bacon with any fat on it should be eatenwith a knife and fork.

Berries:Generally, eat berries with a spoon, whether they have cream on them or not.

Bread:

Use your fingers to remove bread from the serving plate. When a bread and butter plate ison the table, use it appropriately.

Break slices of bread, rolls and muffins in half or in small pieces never larger than one bite.Butter each bite at a time. Small biscuits do not have to be broken. It is never appropriateto cut a roll with a knife.

When the rolls are served in a basket, take one, and always pass the basket to your right.Place the roll on the break plate, which is located on the left side. Never tear your roll in halfor into many pieces.

Use your own butter knife and the butter on your plate; buttering should be done on theplate or just above it. Use your butter knife for spreading and not as the butter server. Thebutter knife remains on the bread and butter plate at the end of the meal.

Caviar:

11

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

12/22

To preserve the full flavor of caviar, scoop it out using mother-of-pearl utensils, and NEVERuse a metallic spoon metal oxidizes the eggs), which will create an unwanted (and prettyhorrid) metal bite. If necessary use a wood or plastic spoon.

Dont mush caviar up while youre serving yourself or other, lift the spoon carefully. Caviarshould be scooped from the container vertically from top to bottom to avoid crushing the

egg.

If caviar is passed to you in a bowl or crock with its own spoon, serve a teaspoonful ontoyour plate. As the following accompaniments are offered, use the individual serving spoon ineach to take small amount of minced onion and sieved egg whites and yolks, as well as afew lemon slices and a couple of toast points. Assemble a canap to your taste with a knife,then use your fingers to lift it to your mouth.

If you're at a cocktail party or reception, where prepared caviar canaps are being passedon trays, simply lift one off the plate and pop it into your mouth.

When served caviar as an hors d'oeuvre, no matter how much you might be tempted by its

luscious flavor. It's considered bad taste to eat more than an ample serving of about twoounces, or about two spoonfuls.

Cheese:

Informal Meal: When sliced cheese is served as an accompaniment to a dish, such asapple pie, it is eaten with a fork.

Appetizer: If cheese is served as an appetizer, such as cubes on toothpicks, it is eaten withfingers. If served a wedges of cheese, such as on a cheese plate, a slice of cheese is cutfrom a wedge, placed on a cracker, and brought to the mouth with the fingers.

Chicken:

It once was acceptable to pick up food on a bone, such as chicken, if it could be held withtwo fingers. I don't recommend that you do this in a public setting.

When dining at the restaurant or in a public place, chicken should always be eaten with afork and knife.

If you are at an informal barbecue, in the fast food restaurant where you bought thechicken, and/or at your own home, it is perfectly acceptable to eat chicken with yourfingers.

Clams and oysters in the half shell: Hold the shell with the left hand and lift the clam outusing your oyster fork.

Corn on the Cob: Corn on the Cob is usually not served in a formal setting, but if it is, it isperfectly acceptable to pick it up and eat it.

12

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

13/22

Crab, shrimp and lobster cocktails: These are always eaten with a cocktail fork.

Crab/lobster claws:Crack them with a nutcracker and the meat taken out with anminiature or oyster fork.

French Fries:

In a fine dining restaurant, use your knife and forks.

When dining at a dinner party and the setting is very formal, you should use a fork. Thebest tactic is to watch what your host or hostess does, then do the same.

In the vast majority of eating situations in the United States, French fries are eaten with thehands. It doesn't matter which hand. If served with a hamburger in a casual atmosphere,use your fingers and pick up a whole French Fry. Exception: If they are covered with

something (like cheese, gravy, chili, etc.), they are considered utensil foods (use your fork).

Olives:

Generally, olives are considered a finger food. It is perfectly acceptable to pick up and eatan olive with your fingers. Remove pit with your fingers. If you prefer not to use the fingermethod, use a small fork to stab olive and remove olive from your mouth.

Depending on your dining situation, you can either choose to eat olives or leave them onthe plate. If you are on a job interview, dont eat them. Also, in a highly formal dinner, donteat them unless you host or hostess does. The best tactic is to watch what your host orhostess does, then do the same.

Emily Post indicates that, where olives are part of a salad, they are treated like the rest ofthe salad and taken in by fork and the pit deposited on the fork to return.

Pasta or Spaghetti:

The perfect method for eating spaghetti or other long stringy pasta is to twirl it around yourfork. Use a spoon to help if needed.

It is also acceptable to cut pasta with a knife and fork. You can get some leverage byturning the pasta while holding the tines of your fork against the edge of your plate. It's

even correct to neatly cut the pasta if twirling is too hard.

What is undeniably bad manners is slurping in a mouthful of trailing pasta without benefit oftwirl or knife. It's often loud, and it's never pretty.

If possible, serve warm pasta in warm, shallow bowls instead of on dinner plates. The sidesof the bowl aids in turning pasta noodles on the fork.

13

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

14/22

Pineapple:Use a knife and fork to eat fresh pineapple slices.

Potatoes:

Baked potatoes are most often served already slit. If not, cut across the top with a knife,open the potato wider with your fork, and add butter or sour cream and chives, salt, andpepper.

You may eat the skin as you go along. Don't take the insides out and put the skin aside (ortake the foil off). Eat it by scooping out the insides bite by bite.

Risotto:

Using a fork or a spoon, push the grains of cooked rice out slightly toward the edge of thebowl, eating only from the pulled out ring of rice.

Continue spreading from the center and eating around the edges in a circle. This will keepthe risotto hot as you enjoy your risotto.

Salad:

If you are served large pieces or a whole wedge of lettuce, cut one bite at a time, using theknife provided.

If the salad is served before or after the main course, use the smaller fork. If the salad isconsidered the main course, use the entre fork (large fork).

Sandwich:

Small Sandwiches: Such as tea sandwiches or canaps, may be picked up and eaten withyour fingers.

Large Sandwiches: If not cut in halve, should be cut with your knife before lifting andeating.

Hot Sandwiches: Any hot sandwich or open-face sandwich that is served with a gravyrequires a knife and fork.

Wraps: Such as burritos and other sandwiches in which the filling is wrapped in thin flatbread (usually tortillas or pita bread) are eaten with the hands. Any sandwich filling thatfalls from the sandwich to the plate is eaten with a fork.

Shish-kabob:

14

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

15/22

Appetizers: Shish kebab are eaten directly from the skewer only if they are served as anappetizer.

Dinner Entree: Hold the tip of the shish-kabob in one hand and use the dinner fork toremove the pieces with the other. When all the food has been removed from the stick, placethe emptied skewer on the edge of your plate. Always eat the meat with your utensils

Shrimp:

Shrimp Cocktail: If large shrimp are served in a stemmed glass, pick them up with anoyster fork or whatever fork is provided and bite off a mouthful at a time, dipping into thesauce before each bite.

Large Shrimp: If large shrimp are served on a platter with sauce and no fork, pick up withyour fingers, dip into sauce and put to your mouth. When eating shrimp with the tail still on,hold the shrimp by the tail and dip it into the sauce once. Eat it in one bite if it is not toolarge. Otherwise, eat it in two bites. Do not dunk the second bite into the sauce! Then

discard the tail as you would olive pits or toothpicks.

Deep-Fried Shrimp: Tail-on deep-fried shrimp is meant to be eaten with the fingers.

Skewered Shrimp: If eating shrimp on a skewer, slide the shrimp off onto a plate (even ifit is a paper plate at a cook out). Skewered shrimp should never be eaten like a corn dog.

Oriental Dishes:When eating shrimp with the tail that are part of some orientail dishes orfried foods, remove the tail with a fork and set to the side of your plate or on a separate"discard dish" if one is provided.

Soup:

Dip the spoon into the soup, moving it away from the body, until it is about two-thirds full,then sip the liquid (without slurping) from the side of the spoon (without inserting the wholebowl of the spoon into the mouth).

It is perfectly fine to tilt the bowl slightly (again away from the body) to get the lastspoonful or two of soup.

To eat bread while eating your soup, don't hold the bread in one hand and your soup spoonin the other. When ready to eat a bite of your bread, place the spoon on the under plate,then use the same hand to take the bread to your mouth.

Sushi:

At most sushi bars, the waitress will offer a hot towel to wash your hands so you canpick up sushi with clean fingers. At home use hot washcloths.

With your Sushi order, you will be served some pickled ginger, a small mound ofwasabi, and soy sauce. Eat a slice of pickled ginger after each variety of sushi tocleanse your palate. It is not proper to mix the wasabi with the soy sauce.

15

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

16/22

Don't rub your chopsticks together to remove any splinters. It is considered rude!

Sushi is meant to be finger food, quick and tasty. It is preferable to eat sushi withones hands rather than with chopsticks, but both ways are acceptable in America.

Eat the whole sushi roll at once. It is not appropriate to eat part of a piece of sushi

and place the other piece back on a plate. Once you have picked something up youshould eat all of it. Exception: If the sushi is just too big to eat at once, bite thesushi in half and place the remainder back on the plate.

Do not dip the rice portion of the sushi pieces into the Soy sauce as it becomes toomoist and can cause sushi to fall apart. Simply dip the topping or the seaweed (Nori)in the soy sauce before eating.

If a piece of fish is on top of your sushi, put the whole portion in your mouth, holdingthe sushi so the fish part touches your tongue (turn sushi upside down).

Wine:How To Successfully Taste Wine - Wine Tasting Basics

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Menu/DiningEtiquetteGuide.htm

Dining Etiquette

Etiquette affects almost every aspect of dining. Dining etiquette rules apply before you ever takeyour seat and continue after you excuse yourself from the table. This dining etiquette reference isdivided into six (6) sections: Table Manners, Table Setting,Restaurant Etiquette, BusinessDining Etiquette, Wine Etiquette and International Dining Etiquette. Under each section heading,you will find a link to take you to more detailed rules on each dining etiquette subject.

Table Manners

The Basics

For almost all meals, if you are wondering what utensil to use, start from the outside and workyour way in. So, if you are served a salad first, use the fork set to the far left of your plate.

Your water glass is the one above your knife in your place setting.

Don't chew with your mouth open.

16

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

17/22

For the rest, visit ourtable mannerssection. The following links will take you to more detailedinformation to help refine your dining etiquette skills.

handling utensils

napkin etiquette

serving etiquette

bread-and-butter etiquette

when to start eating

hard to handle foods

Table Setting

informal table setting

formal table setting

general table setting guidelines (all table settings)

table linens

dinnerware

flatware

glassware

17

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

18/22

serveware

Restaurant Etiquette

Sometimes, proper dining etiquette, whether in a restaurant or at home, is not

obvious. Making a dining etiquette mistake, and everyone's attention is drawn to

that mistake. Most of us need a dining etiquette refresher from time-to-time.

getting VIP treatment

who is who in the restaurant

planning

arrivals

how and what to order

paying the bill/ tipping

Business Dining Etiquette

Dining etiquette and table manners might be more important to your career success then youthink. Proper table manners are associated with professionalism. Bad table manners areassociated with a lack of professionalism.

business meal basics

18

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

19/22

eating at the office

job interviews

corporate events

business entertaining at home

business toasts

Wine Etiquette

Despite all its apparent complexities, wine is essentially fermented grape juice. In ourwineetiquettesection, we try to make wine tasting, selection and serving as easy as possible byproviding step-by-step guidance.

ordering wine in a restaurant

food and wine pairings

wine tasting

wine temperature

decanting wine

wine basics

International Dining Etiquette

Dining etiquette is based on courtesy, comfort, and common sense, providing a tool to help usinteract with each other. But the prevailing customs in the West might not be appropriatebehavior in the East. In the West, finger food may be taken with either hand, but in the East, it isalways taken with the right hand. While an audible belch is poor dining etiquette in Westerncountries, in Asia it praises the host. In China, smacking your lips is an expression ofappreciation, but in the West the sound is considered impolite. See theinternational diningetiquettesection to avoid falling into an international dining etiquette pitfall.

19

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

20/22

europe

asia

latin america

africa

middle east

- Mike Lininger, Editor, Etiquette Scholar

If you find any typographical errors, inaccuracies, or inconsistencies, or if you just havesomething to add, please email us.

http://www.etiquettescholar.com/etiquette_scholar/dining_etiquette.html

10 Dos and Don'ts of RestaurantEtiquette

The Oprah Winfrey Show | August 14, 2009

If your steak has ever been spoiled by a side of rudeness, we've got news for you

it might your fault. When it comes to restaurant table manners, veteran servers saythe customer isn't always right.

Here are 10 ways to be the best customer you can be:

20

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

21/22

Tip 15 percent or more. Waitresses depend on tips for about 90 percent of their

income, as they can earn as little as $2.15 an hour. They must also share their tips

with bus staff, bartenders, hostesses and food runners. "We may keep only 80 to 70cents of every dollar we get, sometimes less," says Steve Dublanica, author of

Waiter Rant.

Tip at buffets. If you've ever left a buffet without tipping, consider yourself

warnedstandard tipping rules absolutely apply. Your server still brings drinks,

gives great service and has to clear three times as many plates.

Treat your waitress with respect. Just because she's serving you food doesn'tmean she's a servant. "When you go to a restaurant, you want what you want when

you want itand to some degree that's what you should get at a restaurant," Steve

says. "But when people start thinking that we're not human ... it hurts."

Put down the cell phone. If you absolutely have to make a call, wait until after

you've heard the specials and everyone has placed their order. Otherwise, you'll

hold up your dinnerand everyone else's.

Don't place blame where it doesn't belong. Your waitress doesn't mix every

drink and sear every steak. If you don't like something, it isn't her fault. "If your

steak is undercooked, I'll be happy to get you another one," says Tara, a waitress at

Carmichael's in Chicago. "Just let me know, and I'll get it out as soon as I can."

Urge your kids to be on their best behavior. There's nothing more frustrating

than going out to dinner and having the night ruined by the screaming kids at the

next table. Teach your children to be respectful and courteous at every meal

especially in public. Your waitressand fellow dinnerswill thank you.

Don't ask to change tables. Seating on a busy night is like a house of cardsone

wrong move and the whole thing comes tumbling down. "Two people take less

time to eat than four people. Six people take more time to eat than four people. So

we plan according to those times," Steve says. "If you change one table, everything

21

8/3/2019 THE 10 NEW RULES OF DINING ETIQUETTE

22/22

gets thrown off."

Ask for the check. On a calm night, it's actually impolite for the waiter to drop the

check on the table. "If you're having a wonderful evening, the last thing I want to

do is go, 'Bang, here's the check,'" Steve says. Speak up when you're ready to go.

Don't overstay your welcome. The only time it's acceptable for a waiter to hand

you the check is during a busy night. "If I've got to get you out of there, I will drop

the check on your table," Steve says. "Getting another table means the waiter

makes more money, the restaurant makes more money, everyone there makes more

money because it's a business and we've got to move things along."

Let the waiter know when you're ready to pay. Waiters aren't psychic, so let alittle money or a credit card peek out of the bill when you're ready to settle. "You

don't want us hovering over your table," Steve says.

Waitresses dish on their biggest pet peeves.

Read more: http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Restaurant-Etiquette#ixzz1gvpt6IlF

22