Dining Etiquette: how to master the basic table manners

Summary

In this video, international social etiquette consultant Jamila Musayeva shares essential dining etiquette tips. She covers table manners, seating arrangements, and proper use of cutlery and napkins. Jamila advises on phone and bag etiquette, explains the placement of various table settings, and guides viewers through the meal process, from soup to dessert. She emphasizes the importance of sending thank-you notes after a dinner invitation, ensuring viewers are equipped to navigate formal dining with grace.

Takeaways

• 🍽️ Table manners are crucial for comfort and etiquette during meals.
• 📍 As a guest, wait for the host to indicate where to sit.
• 💺 The guest of honor should be seated with the best view.
• 🙅‍♀️ Maintain proper posture; do not slouch or lean back fully.
• 🙌 Avoid resting elbows on the table while eating, but it's okay during breaks.
• 📱 Keep phones and bags away from the dining table.
• 🍽️ Use the correct utensils for each course to adhere to dining etiquette.
• 📜 Fold the napkin appropriately and use it to wipe fingers or dab lips.
• 🥂 Hold glasses by their stems to prevent warming the drink.
• 🍞 Use the bread plate and butter knife for bread, taking one bite at a time.
• 🍲 For soup, scoop from the center to the edge to avoid spills.
• 🍽️ After finishing the meal, signal for the bill by catching the waiter's eye or raising your hand.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of table manners?

Table manners are your behavior around the table, including how you hold cutlery, how you eat, and the kind of conversation you hold. They are essential for making you feel more comfortable and putting others at ease.

Why are good table manners important even in casual dining settings?

Good table manners are important for your own good as they contribute to your comfort and the comfort of others at the table, regardless of the dining setting's formality.

What should guests do when it comes to seating arrangements at a dinner?

Guests should wait for the host or their date to gesture to the seat before taking it. The rule of thumb is that guests get the best seats, usually facing the main area or the entrance.

How should one sit at the dinner table according to etiquette?

One should sit straight without slouching, not press their back against the chair, and avoid placing elbows on the table while eating. However, elbows can be on the table during breaks in the meal for conversation.

What is the proper way to handle one's phone and bag during a formal dinner?

Phones should be silenced and placed away from the table, and bags should not be placed on the ground as it can be seen as disrespectful. Instead, they can be placed on a special chair, hung on a bag holder, or placed on an empty chair nearby.

What is the significance of the bread plate and butter knife during a meal?

The bread plate is used for enjoying bread, and the butter knife, which has a dull blade, is used to scoop and spread butter rather than cut it.

How can you avoid confusion about which glass is for what during a meal?

To avoid confusion, glasses are often arranged in order of their height from tallest to shortest. The taller glasses are behind the shorter ones, and the waiter usually fills them accordingly.

What is the correct way to hold different types of glasses during a meal?

Water goblets are held by the bottom of the bowl, champagne glasses by the stem to prevent warming the drink, and white wine glasses by the stem to avoid warming the wine.

How should you indicate to the waiter that you are expecting the bill at the end of the meal?

You can indicate to the waiter by making eye contact or raising your hand at your elbow.

What is the appropriate way to end a dinner and leave the table?

After paying the bill, you should take your napkin, fold it, and place it on the left side of your plate before leaving. If you're the host, you should indicate to your guests that it's time to leave.

What is the etiquette for thanking the host after being invited to a dinner?

It is polite to send a thank-you message to the host the next day, and if you truly enjoyed the dinner, you might consider sending flowers along with a handwritten thank-you note.