Table Etiquette

We are all creatures of habit. We tend to go to the same set of restaurants over and over. If you want to get the best service then you need to stay in the good graces of the staff. If you are...

Banquet tables and chairs provide seating for guests at dinners, business meetings, conferences, family reunions, graduation parties, community expositions, art fairs, and more. The arrangement of...

A simple way to make any mealtime feel more elegant is to use folded cloth napkins at your place settings. A pocket folded napkin is a simple folding technique even the children can master...

Folded cloth napkins can add an elegant and refined touch to any dinner party or Sunday brunch. Imagine taking her on a picnic in the country, complete with red and white checkered tablecloth and...

Whether you are setting a basic table for a family dinner or entertaining a large party of guests, a proper table setting makes a good impression. All place settings follow a few basic rules....

A table setting includes all the flatware, stemware and dishes that will be used at the meal. Placement is simple and relatively similar for both basic and formal situations.

Familiarizing yourself with proper dinnerware is helpful not only when you dine out, but also when you set your own table. Generally, there are three types of settings: basic, informal and...

You're sitting at a restaurant in a beautiful dinner setting surrounded by flickering candles and elegance. The way you move, act and even use your table napkin all add to the ambiance. The...

Modern diners may take napkins for granted, not realizing the revolutionary changes this dining item has experienced over the years. Developed in a vast array of styles, and for some varying...

A napkin folded in half is entirely forgettable, but one folded into a fan, rose, candle or pyramid shape will be worth remembering. The way you present place settings at a business lunch or...

A busboy's main function is to serve food, clear tables, pour and refill water glasses, set tables and help the restaurant wait staff as needed. Other terms for busboy include busser, dining room...

Though banquet serving can seem easy for most experienced wait staff, serving etiquette at banquet events is especially important. Banquet catering is often used at the most important events of...

Are you the kind of person who gets in an argument and just keeps digging a hole and flaring the whole thing until it blows up into something horrific? With this guide I will teach you the basics...

German and American table manners have a lot of similarities but also many differences. This article explains how to make a good impression when dining in Germany.

Eating out is a great American past time, a fantastic way to spend time with friends, try new foods or perhaps fall in love. Regardless of the occasion, these tips will help you have a fantastic...

Table etiquette is elusive. With all its dos and don'ts, it's hard to memorize all the faux pas. Most people know the bare essentials: don't talk with your mouth full, keep your elbows off the...

Flatware or silverware are the utensils used to butter your bread, serve the meal and lift the food from your plate to your mouth. In other words flatware consists of forks, knives, spoons and...

The dining room table is a place where family and friends convene to eat, talk and entertain. In the Middle Ages, the size and positioning of the tables were used to denote social class among...

The custom of touching glasses before drinking has become a part of the ritual toasting at group gatherings. This simple gesture actually serves many purposes that are meant to enhance both the...

Nonstick cooking pans revolutionized the kitchen by providing a way to cook without having food stick to the surface. While they are easy to use and easy to clean up most of the time, when...

Although it might be fun to eat like a pirate, stabbing your food on the end of a knife all willy-nilly, this sort of dining habit would be frowned upon by most society. When alone, most people...

If you are planning a fancy dinner party, silverware placement is very important in detailing a eloquent dinner. There are a ton of rules of etiquette; however, silverware placement has a...

Because of constant use, a kitchen counter can easily become messy and chaotic. A cluttered counter will discourage you from cooking and fully enjoying your kitchen. If you have this issue, set...

Proper etiquette and manners are important when having dinner at a restaurant or as a guest in someone's home. Knowing what to do with your napkin during the meal will help you avoid an awkward...

Sometimes, simple decorations are best when it comes to a dining room table. You can go traditional with the table, such as with a formal place setting, or you can decorate it with napkins,...

Given the range of choices available in stemware, selecting the proper pieces to set at a table can be daunting for a host. With a little study, both stemware selection and table placement are...

From the formal to the whimsical, cheese knives and cutting boards are always useful serving tools. Usually much smaller than a full-sized bread or cutting knife, the etiquette surrounding these...

Sterling silver objects contain silver and another metal, which helps the object retain its shape, since pure silver is soft and easily shaped. Silver-plated items, compared to sterling objects...

Demonstrating good manners can make a big difference in business and social settings. Dining is one area in which the rules can be confusing, but learning what to do with your napkin is quick and...

While I like restaurants and fast food joints as much as the next guy, sometimes it is nice to have a nice dinner at home. Occasionally, that nice dinner is a more formal affair. If you intend to...

Does the fork go on the left or the right? I have two forks at my place; which do I use first? In our casual world, the thought of setting a proper table seems archaic. However, there are...

Quarters, or speed quarters is probably the most fun you can have playing a drinking game. Obviously use caution when drinking alcohol. This article tells you everything you need, and all the...

If you just got a new job at a fancy restaurant, or you're catering an event or hosting a dinner party, knowing how to properly set a table is the first rule in table etiquette.

Dining out should be a delightful experience for you and for guests seated around you. Here are some guidelines for how to behave when your out in public eating.

Although long forgotten, there is a certain etiquette that goes with a long pasta dinner. It varies a little from culture to culture but here are the basics.

A fine dining restaurant expects its customers to have good table manners. Good table manners are an important part of life. The manners you have while dining are noticed by others. These tips...

Perhaps you rarely give a thought to the plate on which your meal is served, especially if you happen to be eating from a paper plate. Today there is a huge selection of dinnerware ranging from...

When hosting a large dinner, make sure that you have all of the proper dishes and eating utensils to make the experience as enjoyable as possible. Appropriate dinnerware is essential for parties...

Different restaurants come with different cuisines, customs and price ranges as well as different menu styles. A menu is the most visible and most important part of a restaurant's concept--its...

Everything must be properly spaced for a table setting. The centerpiece must be at the exact center of the table, and the place settings should be spaced equally away from each other. Geometric...

Buffets are perfect for feeding large groups of people, whether for a party or an everyday meal. Decorate your buffet table for added ambience and include centerpieces as part of the decor. Use...

For a more personal touch and to save money, you can make do-it-yourself decorations for a baby shower. Something as common as a centerpiece at the shower can create table conversation and show...

Japanese food is one of the most exquisite cuisines in the world. The perfect marriage of taste and presentation creates an art form, rather than a simple gastronomical experience. Table etiquette...

Corkage is the fee that is charged by a restaurant when you bring your own bottle of wine. Charges can be anywhere from $7 to $25, though the fee may be waived if you order a second bottle from...

When planning an afternoon tea, you want everything to be perfect. From the freshly laundered linens to the scrumptious edibles, tea says grace and repose even in its simplest forms. Remember that...

If you're planning a dinner party and want a menu that will blow your guests away, your average roast and potatoes just won't do. You need to think bigger and better, with appetizers to tease the...

A romantic dinner is a pleasure, but it need not be a special occasion. It can be spontaneous and casual. Whether you are creating or attending a romantic dinner, the key is to enjoy yourself,...

Do you ever feel awkward at the lunch/dinner table especially during business meals when you use your neighbor’s bread plate? It could be nerve racking if the meal is with a potential employer or...

Teaching your children proper etiquette begins early in life. One basic example that even very young children can help with is the proper way to set a table. Usually, children have a basic idea...