TABLE ETIQUETTES

Table Etiquettes

If you are having a formal dinner, you must always have some basic etiquettes in mind as these dinners are generally taken up by High ranked officials, Military or Royals , an invitation to formal dinner shall never be missed.
The attire is strictly formal and elite, generally the food is served pre plated from the kitchen itself,as there is no passing of the dishes at the dining table, there are no serving platters and the entire services are carried by the personal Butlers and other servers
A formal dinner is different from other dinners by the order of services and seating protocols.

Although I have not been to any of these formal dinners but here I could share some generic etiquettes while having a formal dinner speaking of you being a guest which need to be followed judiciously:

Invitations to be carried at the venue itself, and try showing up at the mentioned time, there is no offence in acting punctual.

When to have your seat:

• Wait to be seated at the table until the time the host asks to sit, or you are given a signal to sit.
• If you are a host point out the chairs arranged for the guest to sit.
• Never start the meal in the absence or before presence of the host.

Meal time:

• Avoid slouching. Be comfortable and sit erect.
• Keep your mobile phone away from the table.
• Once you pickup the silverware from the  table, it should be kept on the plate after.
• Use the utensil that is farthest and work your way to the center.
• The knife and fork are supposed to be held with handle in hand, forefinger on top and thumb underneath.
• Never use your fingers to push your food into your spoon.
• Always keep your mouth closed while chewing the food. Do not talk with your mouth full.
• Do not drink while chewing your food.
• Never add salt or seasonings before even tasting the food.
• Avoid placing elbow on the dining table.
• If the food is too hot to be consumed, do not blow your food or spill it ,wait for it to be cool down.
• It is best to order food that can be eaten with silverware, finger foods turns messy and best left for informal dining.
• If a piece of silverware falls on the floor,pick it up if you can reach it & let the server know you need a clean one, if it is beyond your reach ask the server that you dropped one and bring you a clean one.
• Place the napkin on your chair if you go to the washroom in the middle of the meal.
• Never spit into your napkin, remove the food from your mouth with same silverware it went in mouth with, place this peice in the edge of your plate.
• Do not look over your glass while drinking but into it instead.
• Always try to match your eating pace with others.
• Never lick the plate and spoon after eating.
• Once you are done with dinner, place the fork and knife in the center of the plate.
• Dont pick your teeth at the table.
• Say 'No Thank you ', if you dont like or want something.
• Thank the host before you leave.