Table manners

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Banquet · Buffet · Cuisine · Eating · Etiquette · Food · Global cuisines · Outline of cuisines · Snack

Table manners are the rules of etiquette used while eating, which may also include the appropriate use of utensils. Different cultures observe different rules for table manners. Each family or group sets its own standards for how strictly these rules are to be enforced.

United Kingdom

• All food should be served and everyone seated before food is eaten by anyone, with the host taking the first bite. If a host instructs guests 'not to wait' this rule is vetoed.^[1]

• When eating soup, you should hold your spoon in your right hand and tip the bowl away from you, scooping the soup in movements away from yourself. The soup spoon should never be put into the mouth, and soup should be sipped from the side of the spoon, not the end.^[2]

• Wine glasses should be held by the stem in the case of white wines, and by cupping the bowl in the case of red wines.^[3] Wines should be served in the sequence "white before red, light before heavy, young before old", and it is impolite to ask for, or to offer, "more" wine. ^[4]

• It is considered impolite to rest your elbows on the table at any point during the meal.^[1]

• A knife should never enter the mouth or be licked.^[1]

• Food should always be chewed with your mouth closed.^[5]

• It is impolite to reach over someone to pick up food or other items. Diners should always ask for items to be passed along the table to them.^[1] In the same vein, diners who are passing items along the table should not use it on the way, but pass it directly to the person who asked.^[6]

• Talking with food in your mouth is seen as very rude.^[1]

• Food should be tasted first before salt and pepper are added. Applying garnishes before the food is tasted is viewed as an insult to the cook, as it shows a lack of faith in their ability to prepare a meal.^[6]

• It is impolite to slurp your food or eat noisily.^[1]

North America

• A table cloth extending 10–15 inches past the edge of the table should be used for formal dinners, while placemats may be used for breakfast, luncheon, and informal suppers.^[7]
• Modern etiquette provides the smallest numbers and types of utensils necessary for dining. Only utensils which are to be used for the planned meal should be set. Even if needed, hosts should not have more than three utensils on either side of the plate before a meal. If extra utensils are needed, they may be brought to the table along with later courses.^[8]

• Candlesticks, even if not lit, should not be on the table while dining during daylight hours.^[9]

• Men's and unisex hats should never be worn at the table. Ladies' hats may be worn during the day if visiting others.^[10]

• Do not talk on your phone or "text" at the table, or otherwise do something distracting, such as read or listen to a personal music player. Unless you are alone, reading at the table is permitted only at breakfast.^[11] If an urgent matter arises, apologize, excuse yourself, and step away from the table so your conversation does not disturb the others.

• If food must be removed from the mouth for some reason, it should be done using the same method which was used to bring the food to the mouth, i.e. by hand, by fork, etc., with the exception of fish bones, which are removed from the mouth between the fingers.^[12]

• The fork may be used either in the "American" style (use the fork in your left hand while cutting; switch to right hand to pick up and eat a piece; this is common practice in the US) or the European "Continental" style (fork always in left hand). (See Fork etiquette)

• Leave the napkin on the seat of your chair only if leaving temporarily.^[13] When you leave the table at the end of the meal, loosely place the used napkin on the table to the left of your plate.^[14]

India

• In formal settings, it is expected that everyone will wait for the host or the eldest person - the elder taking priority over the host - to begin eating before everyone else starts.^[15]
• Similarly it is expected that one should not leave the table before the host or the eldest person have finished their food. It is also considered impolite to leave the table without asking for the host's or the elder's permission.
• The cardinal rule of dining is to always use the right hand when eating or receiving food^[16].

• Everyone must wash their hands before sitting at the table as many Indian foods are eaten by hand. One must wash one's hands after eating the food. Cleaning with cloth or paper tissue is considered unhygienic.^[17]
• Take a small amount of food each time, and ensure that food does not reach your palms.
• It is not necessary to taste each and every dish prepared, but you must finish everything on the plate as it is considered a respect for served food, and food is sacred. For this reason, take only as much food on the plate as you can finish^[18].
• Generally it is not accepted to burp, slurp, or spit.
• Always eat food as it is served. It is not a good idea to ask for salt or pepper. It is however now acceptable to ask for salt or pepper with a mention that you like more of it.
• Playing with food or in any way distorting the food is unacceptable. Eating at a medium pace is important as eating too slowly may imply that you dislike the food, whereas eating too quickly is rude.
• In some parts of India, if a diner finishes earlier than the rest, they may need to wait until everyone has finished. Occasionally in these parts, it is acceptable for the diner who has finished to wash their hands, however, they are expected to return to the dining area immediately after. In most parts it is acceptable to leave after the elders have finished.

See also

• Eating utensil etiquette
• Intercultural competence
• Montreal-Philippines cutlery controversy
• Social graces

References

External links

• Japanese Table manners
• Malaysian dining etiquette
• US job interview dining etiquette
• US job interview dining etiquette Q&A
• General US dining etiquette
• Cultural Dining in The Philippines
• Table manners for kids