Formal Etiquette: How to Eat Off Haviland China and Wedgwood Dinnerware

Mark Etinger Platinum Author Joined: August 18, 2008 1028 Articles

If you were going to eat dinner with the Queen of England, would you feel comfortable keeping her company? If you have to think about it, read on.

1. Napkins: At a restaurant, as soon as you're seated, unfold your napkin and place it on your lap. Don't shake it open. When getting up, loosely fold your napkin and place it on either side of your plate. Never place it on your chair. At a dinner party, unfold your napkin when the hostess unfolds hers.

2. Eating: Only eat after everyone has been served. If at a dinner party, wait until the hostess has sat down. Eat to your left, drink to your right. Your salad fork is on the outside of the silverware, your dessert fork is on the inside. Your Wedgwood dinnerware will be arranged so you work your way in. Your water cup will be on the inside, followed by red wine glass, then white wine or dessert wine glass.

3. Fork and Knife: Americans eat differently from Europeans. The former style is with knife in right hand and fork in left. This works well for left handers. Right handers have to switch between cutting and eating. The opposite hand should be resting on your lap the while and your knife should rest on your Wedgwood dinnerware blade in. The Continental style dictates that you don't switch hands, again making it easy for left handers. Fork prongs should go downward the entire meal. If you take a sip of water or wine, put both utensils down with fork crossed over knife on your Haviland china. When finished, rest your utensils on the side of your Wedgwood dinnerware, fork tines up with handles resting at five o'clock and tips pointing to ten o'clock.

4. Table etiquette: Always pass the salt and pepper together, even if someone only asks for one. This makes it so one doesn't have to search for the mate. Scoop food and soup away from you. Eat small bites, slowly and pace yourself with the rest of the table. Don't pick things up from the floor. Men are supposed to stand when a woman leaves from or returns to the table.

5. Wine: If you don't want wine, hold your hand over the glass. Always hold your glass by the stem. If a different wine is served for another course, it is okay to not finish your wine.

6. Other rules: Arrive ten minutes early, never late. Bring a gift, and don't expect your hostess to put it out. Coffee or tea means that the formal event is over; you can leave or linger as you desire. Always send a thank you note to the hostess after a formal dinner party.

The way you eat off your Vera Wang china at home differs slightly from the etiquette you display at a restaurant. But now that you have a basic understanding of what's what, you should be ready to dine with kings and queens.

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