How to Eat Bread Using Proper Etiquette

Bread is often served at formal and business meals before the entrée. While we may have our own ways to eat bread at home, these methods usually aren't acceptable table etiquette. To eat bread properly in a more formal setting is fairly easy and only requires that you follow a few simple steps.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Take the bread basket and first help yourself if you are the one seated closest to it. Grab a roll and put it on your bread plate.

2. Then offer the basket to the person on your left. When that person has taken a roll, offer the basket to the person on your right. Allow the person on your right to pass the basket on.

3. Break off a small piece of bread with your fingers. If you like butter, put some on a the small piece. If there are bowls of butter, use the provided spoon to put a dollop on your bread plate.

4. Butter your bun from the dollop on your plate. If there are individual packets of butter, unfold the little wrapping and tuck it under your bread plate. Tuck it under your dinner plate if you don't have a bread plate.

5. Continue to eat your bread in bite-size pieces. Avoid cutting pieces that require more than one bite to eat since you always want to be prepared for conversation. You can't do that with a mouthful of food.

Tips & Warnings

• It's easy to mistakenly take the wrong bread plate if you're at a table with many settings. If someone else accidentally takes your bread plate, don't say anything and use your dinner plate for your bread. When the serving staff comes by again, simply ask for another bread plate.
• Never use bread to push food onto your utensils.
• Never slather your bread with layers of butter.