The ladies menus should arrive first followed closely
by the men's. In the
days of old, men always ordered for the ladies. This is still
a very
acceptable practice however; it has now become commonplace
for the ladies to
order for themselves. Men should simply ask their lady companions: "Would
you like me to order for us?" If her response is affirmative,
proceed. If
she chooses to order for herself, so be it. You've done your
part.
The science
of flat ware comes down to this: When in Rome do as the Romans.
It may seem cliché but that is the sum of things. Different
cuisines have
different rules. If you are eating Ethiopian, you will be
using your hands
throughout the meal. On the other hand, if you are imbibing
in a European or American cuisine, just work your way through
your utensils from the outside
in. (Click here for full description of the formal place
setting
http://www.cuisinenet.com/glossary/setting.html) If you are
eating Chinese,
proper use of chopsticks is essential. If you are dining
in a foreign local,
you'd better do your homework because the rules may be very
involved. Check out
our links page to see the cultural intricacies of dining
abroad.
There are
a few more basics you need to be aware of. Napkins
go in your lap
not on the table. When you drop your napkin on the floor
it is acceptable to request another.If
none is available, then
by all means make do until you can acquire another. (More
on napkins here
http://www.cuisinenet.com/glossary/napkin.html)
Once a
utensils has been used, it never goes back on the table.
Forks, knives
and spoons should remain on your dish to be taken away
with all the other
soiled objects. The waiter should never have to pick
up your silverware off
the table to be carted away. When finished eating,
the fork and knife are placed across the center of
the plate
with
the fork tines facing upward. Place the knife to the
right of the
fork with the blade facing in. (the real scoop on utensils
can be found here
http://www.cuisinenet.com/glossary/use.html)
In groups
of 4 or less, don't begin eating until everyone has their
food. If
your fellow guests encourage you to dive in then
by all means feel free to
do so. In larger groups, make sure at least 4 people
have received the food
before you begin. It is always polite to ask first.
A simple "Do
you mind if
we eat while our food is hot?" will do.
If you
need to get the server's attention during the meal, it is
best to use
a small gesture to get their attention or call
them by name. Never call a
server honey, baby, sweetie, dear or any other
name that could be construed as
demeaning. They are your server not servant. There
is also the possibility that you may end up with
an entrée
in your lap instead of on the table.
Sharing
food is very much within the confines of good etiquette.
Sharing
plates and utensils is not. If you choose to
share a substantial portion of
your meal with other guests at the table, it's
best to ask your server for
another plate. If the portion you're sharing
is just a bite or smaller, cut
or spoon some aside and deliver it on to their
plate. Never feed another
guest at the table with yours or anyone else's
utensils.
Dessert
is often shared; just be sure to use your own set of utensils.
