Meals

The abc of Table Manners

Good table manners avoid ugliness. All rules of table manners are made to avoid ugliness. To let anyone see what you have in your mouth is offensive. So is to make a noise. To make a mess in the plate is disgusting. Look at the following list of table etiquette rules. What else can you recommend people to do at the table?

Do not attract undue attention to yourself in public.
When eating take as much as you want but eat as much as you take.
Do not eat too fast or too slowly. Cut as you eat.
Take a little of every dish that is offered to you.
Don’t encircle your plate with the left arm while eating with the right hand. Don’t push your plate back when finished. It remains exactly where it is until someone removes it. Don’t lean back and announce ‘I’m through.’ The fact that you have put your fork and spoon down shows that you have finished. To indicate that you have enough, place knife and fork together, not criss-cross.
Do not reach across the table – simply say: ‘Would you pass me the salt, please.’
At a small party do not start eating until all are served. At a large party it is not necessary to wait for all. The hostess gives the signal to her guests by saying: ‘Start eating, please, your food will get cold.’
There is no rule about eating everything in your plate. All juicy or soft fruit or cake is best eaten with a fork. If you are able to eat a peach or a ripe pear with your fingers and not slop your face, let the juice run down your fingers or make sucking noises you are one in a thousand who may continue to do so. But if you can not eat something no matter what it is without getting it all over your fingers, you must use a fork, a knife or a spoon.
Do not leave spoon in your cup when drinking tea or coffee.
Do not empty your glass too quickly it will be promptly refilled.
Don’t put liquid into your mouth if it is full.

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