DINING ETIQUETTE

AMERICAN DINING & ENTERTAINING ETIQUETTE

American Dining and Entertaining Etiquette; Manners for the Table by Ruth L. Kern (DVD - Oct 4, 2002)

June 16, 2008

Etiquette: general rules and guidelines by which people should conduct their lives (usually unwritten and unspoken, and tied to culture)

To conduct means the ways, manner in which something is carried out

The author was from a time in America when Sunday dinner was served after church, in the dining room and on a properly set table. – Traditionally, in the early days of American history until about the age of technology, Sunday was the day that whole families would gather together around a proper full course meal in the afternoon, usually right after church. A properly set table refers to the correct table ware and place settings, from salad forks to desert plates, etc.

Sunday Best: your nicest clothes, you look your best, in your send your best

Formal Dinner

Butler: male servant, attends to most needs, usually for one family

RSVP: Respondez s’il vous plait, please respond as it pleases you (respond either way)

ASAP: as soon as possible

Respond to an invitation within 3 days if possible

Valet parking: when there is someone else to park the cars, you get out at the door and hand your keys over

The party spirit: the feelings and environment of a lively party, easier to do with a drink in your hand and with your coat taken care of (put away)

Hors d’oeuvres: small bite sized snacks eaten in about two bites before the meal

Vain: full of yourself and overly concerned with how you look

Utensils: the equipment used for eating, including forks, spoons, etc

Goblet: tall stemmed fine dining glassware

May I have the ____ please: the proper way to ask for something, NOT can I

Doily: a lace cut out, looks like a paper snowflake cut out in a pattern or design

Foyer: the entry way into a building, called a lobby in a commercial building, a foyer in a home

MAIN THINGS TO REMEMBER:

1) For silverware, work from the outside towards the inside

2) For glasses, work from the shortest one up

3) PUT your napkin ON YOUR LAP!!

4) Don’t gobble, or eat your food quickly!!!