How to Eat at a Formal Dinner Party

Whether you are dining with the Queen of England tonight or doing business over supper at a posh up-scale restaurant, it is helpful to already be comfortable with the various manners required. When presented with various plates, bowls, cups, glasses and utensils, you must know your way around a formal table, or your behavior may be distracting to the other diners.

The glasses. The tallest glass will always be your water glass. Since water is clean, flavorless and alcohol-free, it will be available in the largest amount. If there are two kinds of wine, the red wine will be in the larger wine goblet and the white wine will be in the smaller. There may be a large, wide champagne goblet.

The bowls, plates and saucers. A small saucer to the upper left of your plate will be your bread plate, and it should have a butter knife resting on it. Typically, your salad will be served first, your dinner and soup second, and your dessert third. Your salad plate will be slightly smaller than your dinner plate, but it may be set in front of you and removed later to put down your dinner plate. Your soup bowl may arrive at the same time as your dinner plate, or it may be served directly before or after dinner. It is typically large. There will be a small finger-bowl above your plate and it will contain water with which to rinse your fingers off after eating finger-food or fruit. Your dessert plate will be a smaller plate at the end of your meal.

The utensils. You will always use your utensils to the farthest left and right of your plate, gradually moving in toward your plate during the course of dinner. To the farthest left of your plate, working in toward your plate, there will be your napkin, your salad fork, your dinner fork and your dessert fork. You will notice that these are in the same order as the courses to be served. To the farthest right of your plate, there will be your larger soup spoon, your smaller teaspoon and your dinner knife will be right next to your plate.

The manners. When presented with an unappealing dish, it is not appropriate to sneer and ask, "What is That?" To be polite, always try a few bites of each piece of the meal provided by your host. You may even enjoy the dish which you thought better of tasting a few moments before. Once used, your utensils should not touch the table again, but instead rest on your plate or in your bowl. Do not begin eating until everyone at the restaurant has been served or, if you are at a private party, until your host picks up their utensils. When finished, leave your utensils across the upper left corner of your plate and leave your napkin, loosely folded, to the left of your plate. Never refold it or leave it in the chair.

Formal dinner parties and outings are elegant, tasteful and classy. This is a time during which you must look your best, tip generously and smile engagingly. If you do not know your manners, you may never be invited out among such company again, but if you do mind your behavior, you will be an added and appreciated blessing to every future engagement.

Sources:

http://whatscookingamerica.net/Menu/DiningEtiquetteGuide.htm, WhatsCookingAmerica.net