Holiday Dining Skills and Table Manners Test
”The world was my oyster, but I used the wrong fork.”
-Oscar Wilde
Are you going to make a sterling impression at the table this holiday season; or, are you going to unknowingly embarrass yourself? I encourage you to test your dining skills and table manners knowledge by answering the following questions.
Write true or false after each statement.
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Silverware is used from the outside in, which means the piece of silverware furthest from your plate should be used first.
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Forks are placed to the right at a place setting.
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The smaller fork at a place setting should be used to eat the entrée.
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Solids (food) are always on your left, liquids (beverages) are on your right.
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Your bread plate is on the left side of your plate.
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It is okay to move your bread plate to right in front of you if your entrée plate is not yet on the table.
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The napkin should be placed on your lap with the fold or crease facing your lap.
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The napkin should be placed on the table if you need to excuse yourself and go to the restroom.
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It is okay to place your napkin on the table when you are finished eating even if everyone else isn’t finished.
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If you are eating a messy food, tuck your napkin under your chin.
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It is good manners to try a little of everything unless you are allergic to a certain food.
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It doesn’t matter how fast you eat when you are eating with another person—especially your family.
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Avoid talking with food in your mouth.
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Always chew with your mouth closed.
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It is now considered acceptable to slurp your soup.
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It is permissible to tilt your soup bowl away from you to get the last bit of soup in
the bowl.
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The correct way to eat a roll is to butter the whole roll and then eat it in several bites.
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The small knife on your bread plate is to cut your roll/bread.
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Salt and pepper are always passed together and placed on the table, not handed directly to a person.
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It is okay to reach across someone to get something if they are in the middle of a conversation.
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Cut and eat one piece of meat of fish at a time on your plate and eat it before cutting the next one.
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When cutting your meat, always cut with your knife in front your fork, not behind it.
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When cutting your food your knife should be in your dominant hand.
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Once you have used a utensil, it never goes back on the table, but must “rest” on your plate.
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Elbows are allowed on the table when eating in the American style.
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In the American style of dining, your hands rest on your lap.
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In the Continental style of dining, your hands rest on the table from the wrists up.
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In the Continental style of dining, the tines of the fork are turned down when eating, and you eat off the back of the tines.
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It is okay to lick your fingers when having dessert if you accidentally get icing on them.
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Placing your knife and fork in the 10:20 position at the end of the meal signals to the wait staff that you are finished with your meal. It is called the “silent service code.” If you used the American style, the tines of your fork will be up. For the Continental style, the tines will be down.
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A wine glass is held by the bowl at the table, not the stem.
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Always pass food platters, condiments, and salt and pepper shakers clockwise around the table.
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At a buffet, start eating when the people at your end of the table have their food.
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Going prepared with the day’s latest political news to discuss is a good idea.
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The host/hostess will signal the meal is over by placing their napkin on the table.
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Always thank the host/hostess at the end of the meal.