Category: Dining

Dining

Basic Dining Etiquette

Eating meals

When people think of etiquette, most minds automatically go to proper dining etiquette. And though my definition of etiquette encompasses much more, how we choose to dine is definitely important.

When you are sitting at home on the couch by yourself, how you eat is of no consequence. Feel free to do what is most comfortable. But when you are eating in the company of others, whether it is your family, friends, or work associates, how you present is a reflection of you and your relationship with the other diners.

In order to present without offending (which should be the goal), practice is necessary. Even if you think it isn’t important, even if you don’t care how you are perceived, it is nice to know the expectations. It is nice to have those tools available to you should you want to use them one day.

The guidelines around dining etiquette are simple. They center around what people see and hear when dining with others. So, think about a lunch meeting with your supervisor. What could you see or hear at this meal that might make you cringe? The obvious offenders are hearing smacking sounds and seeing food in the process of being ground by someone’s teeth. But what about the lesser mentioned, but just as irksome, fork scraping on the plate or food lingering in the corners of the mouth.

We could formulate a list of potentially offensive acts that could fill this page in no time. But a better use of our energy would be to recognize those acts so that we can adjust them. Notice, not just what bothers you when people are eating, but what you may be doing to upset the dining experience of others. Do you allow the fork to scrape against your teeth audibly when you eat? Do you use your fingers with non-finger foods? Is it normal for you to drink all of your beverage at the end of your meal in three giant gulps?

Practice at home the behaviors you want to display out in public so it becomes natural. When you are out to dinner with your Boo, you don’t want dining etiquette to be your focus. Nor do you want the focus of your Boo to be on your unique mashed potato shoveling technique.

I am interested in your thoughts. What annoying eating habits have you observed in yourself and others? How do you address these? What dining faux pas have you personally struggled with?

Tags Business, Dining, Etiquette, Meals, Presentation, relationships, social

Dining

Setting the Table, Simplified

Post author By Margarette Coleman, MSW
Post date January 27, 2022
No Comments on Setting the Table, Simplified

Table set

“Back in the day,” setting the table used to be automatic in most homes. From recent observations, most families do not make this a regular practice any longer. It has been described as intimidating and unnecessary. What is the point anyways? Why is setting the table even a thing?

Setting the table for a meal allows the diners to have all the utensils they will need at their fingertips. By putting the dishes, silverware, and glassware on the table before the meal is served, there is no need to disrupt the flow of conversation to retrieve or request these things. And conversation is the real purpose of dining with others. (This will be addressed in a future blog.)

Though many are intimidated by the actual setting of the table, it can be simplified to this: Only put on the table the items you will need for the meal that is being served. So, if you are serving oatmeal, fresh fruit, and milk, all you would need is a bowl (for the oatmeal), a small plate/bowl (for the fruit), and a cup/glass (for the milk). For silverware, you can just provide a spoon or a spoon and a fork.

Let’s try another example. If you are serving steak, a baked potato, vegetables, and wine, your silverware should definitely include a steak knife for the steak. But you may need a butter knife as well, for the baked potato, especially if there is butter involved (and shouldn’t it be?). Obviously, you will also need a plate, a fork, and a wine glass. You might also want to keep salt and pepper as staples on the table in case it is needed at any meal.

I think you get the idea. It shouldn’t be intimidating. And it is a great way to get the whole family involved. If you are not contributing to the meal preparation, I am sure it would be appreciated if you took on the role of table-setter. Oh, and one other thing, your table can be dolled up and protected by a tablecloth and/or placemats. But napkins are not optional. They are staples and should be at every single meal. (This will also be addressed in a future blog.)

So, try it out. Whether the meal is for two or ten, you will see how simple it can be. Let me know how it goes.

Tags Blog, connecting, Conversation, Family, Friends, Preparation, Setting the Table, social

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