“The Meal is the emblem of society. The most important human relationships are all celebrated with or nourished by the sharing of food. “
-James and Kay Salter, “Life is Meals”

The Top Dining Do’s

• Do try a little of everything served to you unless you know you’re allergic to a certain food.
• Do avoid talking with your mouth full. Take small bites, and you’ll find it easier to answer questions or join in on table talk.
• Do cut one piece of meat or fish at a time on your plate and eat it before cutting the next one.
• Do wait until you have swallowed the food in your mouth before you take a sip of your beverage.
• Do wipe your fingers and mouth often with your napkin.
• Do take a quick sip of water if a bite of food is too hot.
• Do remember solids (food) are always on your left, liquids (beverages) are on your right.
• Do leave your plate where it is when you have finished eating, with the knife and fork in the 10:20 I am finished position. Place the tips of the utensils at 10 and the handles at 4.
• Do look into, not over, the cup or glass when drinking.
• Do break your bread and butter one piece at a time.
• Do butter bread on your plate, never in midair.
• Do remember your posture at the table. Sit up straight, and keep your arms (including elbow) off the table.
• Do put your napkin in your chair and push your chair in if you have to leave the table during the meal.
• Do leave dropped silver on the floor. Quietly signal the wait staff to bring another piece.
• Do point out to your wait staff stones, bugs or hair in your food, but do so in a non- combative manner. You’ll get a replacement immediately.
• Do remove an object such as a bone or gristle from your mouth with your thumb and index finger and place it on the rim of your plate.
• Do say something nice about the food to your host or hostess when finished.

The Top Dining Don’ts

• Don’t begin eating until everyone has been served when you are seated with a small group.
• Don’t, in serving, overload your plate.
• Don’t, in eating, overload the fork.
• Don’t mop your face with your napkin.
• Don’t spread your elbows when cutting meat. Keep them close to your sides when eating.
• Don’t saw the meat in a back and forth motion. Stroke it toward you.
• Don’t chew with your mouth open.
• Don’t smack your lips.
• Don’t touch your face or head at the table.
• Don’t tip up the glass or cup too much when drinking, but keep it straight.
• Don’t reach across the table or across another person to get something. If it’s out of reach, ask the closest person to pass it to you.
• Don’t pick your teeth, excuse yourself and take care of the problem in the privacy of the restroom.
• Don’t put your utensils back on the table once they have been used.
• Don’t push your plate away from you when you have finished eating.
• Don’t gesture with your knife, fork or spoon in your hand. If you’re not using the utensil, put it down.
• Don’t talk about your personal food likes and dislikes while eating.
• Don’t eat your neighbor’s bread or salad. A right-handed person reaches to the left across the dinner plate to eat salad. The bread and butter plate is placed slightly above the salad plate. (Remember, solids (foods) on the left.)
• Don’t place your cell phone, keys, or handbag on the table.