Dining Etiquette: A simplified guide.

“Manners are a sensitive awareness of the feelings of others. If you have that awareness, you have good manners, no matter what fork you use”

• When you are invited for a diner, the first thing to do is to respond to the invitation. Let the host know if you are coming or not. If the invitation does not make an offer of bringing extra guests, then don’t bring anybody.
• It is a good idea to bring a gift for the host or hostess.
• Take a seat pointed out to you by the host/hostess or the waiter, as soon as it is offered.
• When you are taking your seat, make sure that your chair does not stand upon the dress of the lady next to you, to avoid tearing her dress when she is standing up.
• Sit gracefully at the table, don’t make awkward movements.
• Once the host unfolds his or her napkin, you should remove your napkin from the table and place it in your lap.
• Keep the napkin on your lap until you are through with the eating.
• If you must get up to do something during the meal and plan to return, then place the napkin on either side of your plate.

• When you are through with the meal, place the napkin to the left of your plate.
• Do not make remarks upon the guests or the dishes if not necessary, it is rude to do so.
• Never touch anything to eat with your fingers, except it is bread or fruits.
• Do not look at the time always. It gives the impression that you are bored. It is very rude to do so.
• Do not eat every morsel upon your plate or scrape your plate.
• Do not munch or smack the lips when eating, it is rude and irritating.
• Never eat so fast or so slowly as to make those around you uncomfortable.
• If there is a conversation that is general at the table, before the food is served, speak loudly enough to be heard by those around you. At the same time, avoid raising your voice too much.
• To laugh in a suppressed way, makes those around you think you are laughing at them. A loud boisterous laugh is never lady-like.
• Converse cheerfully, laugh quietly and freely.
• When food is serve, avoid making noise in eating, it is a disgusting habit.
• Never put large piece of food into your mouth. Cut your food into small pieces before putting it into your mouth, eat slowly too.
• Use the fork or spoon to put food into your mouth. Never use a knife for that. Do not blow the soup, wait until it cools down before eating.
• Use the butter-knife for butter, the salt-spoon for salt and the sugar-tongs for sugar. Do not mistaken any of these for another thing.
• Do not begin to eat until others have theirs served and are ready to start eating.
• Sit easily and comfortably in your seat, not far from the table and not too near to the table.
• Do not put your arms on the table or lean lazily in your chair.
• Do not play with your fork, spoon or knife.
• Do not pile food on your plate, take the right proportion for yourself.
• If you wish to cough, rise from the table, leave the room or go to the ladies room for that.
• If you urgently need to cough, then turn your head aside from the table, cover your mouth with a handkerchief and do it as quickly as possible in a quiet way.
• Do not make any gesture at the table, converse quietly, if the need arises.
• You can leave the dining room only when the other guests are ready to leave.