Use Proper Manners and Etiquette at a Formal Meal to Impress
I remember the first time I sat down to eat at a formal meal. It was quite the experience as I was coming into the situation unprepared.
Although my parents had taught us to be polite, we never were taught how to eat at a formal meal. Our meals were always very "normal" and did not require any special type of behavior.
Naturally, the first time I experience a formal meal I felt like a fish out of water. I am sure that I am not the only one with that experience and so I want to pass on the proper table setting etiquette.
Table Setting
It this is your first time like it was mine, you are going to wonder why there are so many forks, knives, plates, and glasses. Let me try and break this down very simply so that you can quickly understand what proper etiquette will be at a table setting.
1. Always start with the outside of the silverware and work in. Please note that this rule only applies to the silverware. The rules are different for the glasses. There will normally be enough silverware for each course of the meal. So, you will have one fork for the appetizer, one of the salad (if one is being served), and one for the main dish. Start with the fork furthest from the plate and work in as each new dish is served.
2. With glasses, start with the left glass and work to the right. Depending on what is being served, there could be as many as five glasses. Yes, that is probably going to be overwhelming, but let me help you keep it simple. The most important glass is the water glass. This one is usually placed directly above the knives. That makes it easy to identify. The other four glasses go as follows from left to right: champagne flute, white wine glass, red wine glass, and dessert wine glass. If there are fewer glasses, then not every type of wine is being served.
3. Silverware above the main plate are for dessert only. They are cute and small. You will probably want to play with them, but that is not proper etiquette. Save them them for the dessert to do things the right way.
4. The smaller plate and knife are for bread or rolls. That is the only thing this plate is used for. When you have a partially eaten piece of bread or roll, it should be kept on this plate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Smullin
Although my parents had taught us to be polite, we never were taught how to eat at a formal meal. Our meals were always very "normal" and did not require any special type of behavior.
Naturally, the first time I experience a formal meal I felt like a fish out of water. I am sure that I am not the only one with that experience and so I want to pass on the proper table setting etiquette.
Table Setting
It this is your first time like it was mine, you are going to wonder why there are so many forks, knives, plates, and glasses. Let me try and break this down very simply so that you can quickly understand what proper etiquette will be at a table setting.
1. Always start with the outside of the silverware and work in. Please note that this rule only applies to the silverware. The rules are different for the glasses. There will normally be enough silverware for each course of the meal. So, you will have one fork for the appetizer, one of the salad (if one is being served), and one for the main dish. Start with the fork furthest from the plate and work in as each new dish is served.
2. With glasses, start with the left glass and work to the right. Depending on what is being served, there could be as many as five glasses. Yes, that is probably going to be overwhelming, but let me help you keep it simple. The most important glass is the water glass. This one is usually placed directly above the knives. That makes it easy to identify. The other four glasses go as follows from left to right: champagne flute, white wine glass, red wine glass, and dessert wine glass. If there are fewer glasses, then not every type of wine is being served.
3. Silverware above the main plate are for dessert only. They are cute and small. You will probably want to play with them, but that is not proper etiquette. Save them them for the dessert to do things the right way.
4. The smaller plate and knife are for bread or rolls. That is the only thing this plate is used for. When you have a partially eaten piece of bread or roll, it should be kept on this plate.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Smullin
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3:03 AM
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