How to Use Proper Table Etiquette
The way you handle your silverware, the way you handle yourself and, most importantly, how you converse with other guests tells others much about you. Proper table etiquette, then, is important. These few tips can help you feel comfortable in any setting, be it a formal gathering at the White House or a casual get-together in your backyard for hamburgers. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Allow the host or hostess to start eating first. Never take the first bite. The host or hostess always should be the first to take a bite. The host sets the tempo of the meal. Once he has consumed the first bite, then the table is open.
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Wait until everyone is seated before eating.
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Offer condiments and side dishes to everyone at the table. Once everything is passed around, wait for the table to settle down.
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Suggest a toast or blessing before everyone eats. It is polite to give thanks for the food and to the host and hostess for their hospitality. Also, it can help to start conversation around the table.
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Handle your silverware with ease. Don't grip your fork or knife as if you are about to launch them into outer space or trying to cut through a cow. Gently wrap your hands around the knife and fork, with your index finger leading down the backside.
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Taste your food before applying condiments. It is a huge insult to salt before you taste. Then if you still need salt, ask politely for a condiment; do not interrupt a conversation.
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Try to converse with someone you may not know at the table. But remember, do not do all the talking ... after all, it is a conversation between two people.
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Tips & Warnings
Do not talk with your mouth full.
