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Rules of etiquette at the table: norms of behavior and serving. At least follow these four rules

Some rules of behavior at the table are dictated by common sense and are quite understandable, for example, do not talk while eating, do not eat with a knife, while others contain their own, inexplicable at first glance, nuances. What are all these subtleties and what generally accepted rules of etiquette exist - read on.

How to sit at the table

The rules of conduct begin with how you need to sit at the table - you need to do this at a convenient distance from the dining table. The back should be straight. Keep your legs bent next to you, do not straighten them to their full length under the table. Where you sit is determined by the hosts in preparation for the reception.

Hands are held in a bent form, at the level of cutlery. Only hands can be kept on the table. Don't put your elbows on the table! You can’t figure out where to put your hands - fold them on your knees.

During a conversation, it is customary to turn your head to the interlocutor, and not the whole body. Speak in a restrained tone and do not gesticulate actively.

What to do with a napkin

The etiquette of behavior at the table always assumes that the dishes for the guest are served with a napkin. In addition to its main function of keeping the hands and mouth clean, it serves as a sign of the beginning of the meal, when the host of the evening puts it on his lap.


A large napkin is left on your knees folded in half, a smaller napkin is unfolded completely. If the napkin is served in a ring, then you remove it and leave it in the upper corner to the left of your plate.

Wipe your fingers and lips with it as needed. When you need to leave, the napkin stays on your seat. Leave the used napkin at the plate, trying to wrap the soiled places inside, or, if possible, put it into the ring in the same form.

At the end of the meal, the napkin should lie on the left side of your plate - no need to fold it, wrinkle it too, just gently place it on the side. The plate has already been taken away - leave the napkin exactly in its place.

How to use cutlery

Studying the rules of behavior at the table, many, first of all, are afraid of a large number of cutlery. In fact, they are not so difficult to remember, especially since they are rarely used all at once. There is one tip that will make it easier for you if you set the table correctly: you should always start with the appliances located farthest from the plate and work towards the main appliances that lie next to the plate.


Hold the fork with your left hand. The tines of the fork should point down. When pricking food, you can lean with your index finger on the junction between the handle and the teeth, but away from the latter. When using only the fork, it can be held in the right hand.


Take the knife with your right hand, clasping it with your middle, ring and little fingers, the thumb supports the knife from below, and the index finger rests on the handle, but not on the back of the blade. Never hold a knife like a pencil. Eating with a knife is unacceptable, but above all, dangerous.


Hold the spoon between your index and thumb, by the middle of the handle.


If the device fell on the floor, do not continue to use it, but apologize to the owner and ask for a new one.

Serve food from common dishes not with individual appliances, but with serving ones.

You need to hold any glass exclusively by the leg, so as not to heat the drink with your fingers. The cup is held by the handle. When taking a sip, it is customary to look into the cup, and not over it and at others.

How to use chopsticks

The use of chopsticks implies separate rules. If you don't know how to hold the chopsticks correctly, then practice in advance, for example, with the help of this video.

When you're not using your chopsticks, place them on a special stand or to the right of your plate.


In no case should you cross the chopsticks on a plate, leave them in food and pierce it.

Rules of conduct while eating

  • Do not scatter food and leftovers on your plate. If you come across a bone or other inedible element, do not spit it out, but gently place it with your lips on a napkin and fold it near the plate.
  • Do not try to talk with a full mouth - food must first be completely chewed and swallowed. It is considered good form not to make any sounds while eating - do not slurp, do not smack your lips, do not suck drinks noisily. Loudly knocking cutlery on the dishes is also not very decent.

  • Do not cut all the meat or fish into pieces at once. Cut off only one piece at a time before you eat it and cut off the next one.
  • Scoop soup with a spoon only in the direction away from you. Tilt the plate to make it more convenient to scoop up the remnants of the soup, you can also only in this direction. When you fill your spoon with food, do it in such a way that you can carry it to your mouth without ruining the tablecloth. Do not blow on a spoon with hot food.
  • When eating, do not tilt your head to the plate, but bring food to your mouth with the help of utensils.
  • You can’t reach across the table to take food - ask the person sitting closer to pass the necessary and be sure to thank him. Take only what you can safely reach, sitting straight, or slightly leaning to the side.

Take your time

When you're the host, keep an eye on the overall pace of your meal, pause after each spoonful or sip so you don't get too ahead of your guests and make them feel like they're being rushed.


As a guest, in the same way, do not rush to quickly absorb food, show the host that you enjoy not only food, but the company is also interesting to you.

How to leave the table

If you need to go to the toilet, apologize to those present and say that you need to go out.

When you need to leave the company for good (for example, you don’t feel well, or you got a call and urgently called somewhere), apologize to those present and say that you would still be happy to stay if it weren’t for force majeure.

Restaurant etiquette

The rules of conduct at the table are common to everyone, although restaurant etiquette has its own nuances associated with the specifics of service.

  • It is not necessary to call the waiter by shouting. Ideally, try to make eye contact. Otherwise, raise your hand with your index finger up to get attention. In some restaurants, special call buttons are starting to appear right on the table - then use it.
  • When sending back poorly prepared or spoiled food, it is polite to tell your company that they can start eating without waiting for you.
  • In the event that you ordered wine, but you did not like it, you do not have the right to return it, because a bottle has already been opened for you. But if the wine is really that awful, you can try to talk delicately to your waiter and explain the situation.

  • If you want to try someone's dish, then don't reach for someone else's plate across the table - have some food to sample served to you in a bread plate. In the case of a formal, business dinner or with unfamiliar people, it is better to leave this idea.
  • Many people forget about this, or even simply do not know, but putting a mobile phone on the dining table is just as wrong as a handbag or keys. In addition to the fact that this item has nothing to do with the meal, it distracts you from both food and your company. As well as according to the rules of theatrical etiquette, it is advisable to put the phone on silent mode in a restaurant, because you are also in a cultural institution.

  • Girls who want to freshen up their make-up can quickly and gently update their lipstick after dinner is over, but that's about it. For the rest, it’s better to use the ladies’ room, putting on all the makeup at the table is bad form.

You can watch the following video about table manners when going to a restaurant.

Can I take pictures of food?

With the development of social networks and the strengthening of their influence on everyday life, it has become very popular to photograph a dish before eating, and sometimes not only young people, but also people of other ages do this. The question began to arise whether such actions are allowed by the culture of behavior at the table.


It's hard to resist this trend, so if you want to take a photo of your food, you can do it, but make sure you don't disturb anyone and your companions don't mind, and don't leave your camera on the table after taking a photo. Do not use the flash and turn off the shutter sound effect. The same rules of conduct apply to your selfies - try not to cause discomfort to others and do not turn this venture into a photo shoot.

There is a so-called Silent Service Code - certain rules for folding cutlery during and at the end of a meal in order to demonstrate to the waiter your opinion about the service, readiness to move on to the next dish, etc.

  • Pause in eating: cross the knife and fork towards each other, the knife points to the handle to the right, the fork to the left. You use only one device - put it on the edge of the plate, resting the handle looking to the right on the table.
  • I am waiting for the next dish: cross the knife and fork on the plate at a right angle, perpendicular to each other; the fork faces north, the knife faces west.
  • The meal is over, the plate can be taken away: there are several ways to show this, the main thing is to put the cutlery between ten and four o'clock, if you think of the plate as a dial. But most often the knife and fork are folded parallel to each other in the five o'clock direction, in the European (continental) style - with the teeth down, in the American - up.
  • The meal is over, you liked the dish: if you want to show appreciation for the delicious food, then at the end of the meal, put the cutlery parallel to each other and across the plate, in a horizontal position.
  • The meal is over, the dish did not like: suppose you did not like the food and you want to demonstrate it - cross the cutlery in such a way that the knife clings to the tines of the fork.

Etiquette for children

The rules of behavior at the table for children are not particularly different from the rules for adults, the task is to be able to intelligibly tell the child about this. He is unlikely to be interested in dry text from a book, therefore it is better to approach the explanation in a playful way, using children's puzzles, songs, riddles and other techniques - for example, colorful pictures with poems on table etiquette that can be easily learned will be very By the way.


And most of all, kids will like instructive and funny videos, where the rules of behavior at the table are presented in a playful or entertaining form, for example, like this:

We hope that our material was able to shed light on the culture of behavior at the table, and the corresponding rules of etiquette will no longer be a mystery to you.

The rules of conduct at the table in a restaurant are not fundamentally different from the rules of conduct at the table in general. Is that there are some features due to the situation. Knowing the rules of etiquette will help you feel comfortable and confident.

Staying at the table should be relaxed, but not cheeky. Sitting on a chair should be straight, do not fall apart, do not put your elbows on the table. It is not recommended to sit too close to the table or too far away from it.

You should talk with a neighbor (neighbor) on the table without turning your whole body towards him, so as not to turn your back on another neighbor. It is not customary to get acquainted, as well as to talk with someone through a neighbor. You should also not ask a neighbor to serve something if there is a waiter nearby. If there is no waiter, then such requests are acceptable.

Sit so that the distance to the table is equal to the size of your palm.

You can move away from the table a little in the pause between dishes or after the serving of dishes is finished.

You need to take a napkin and, unfolding it, put it on your knees in order to protect the dress or suit from drops, crumbs. After eating, the napkin is placed on the table to the right of the plate in expanded form.

Sit straight, somewhat relaxed, press your elbows to the body and do not take them to the sides.

Do not put your elbows on the table, even if you smoke and it is convenient for you to lean on the table with your elbow.

It is not customary to blow on the broth, bend over the plate of another, take salt or mustard with your knife, use a toothpick, etc.

A person who accidentally drops a knife or fork should pretend that nothing happened and calmly ask for another one. Surrounding also should not attach any importance to what happened. This is one of the manifestations of tact and delicacy.

You should not wipe your hands on the tablecloth, knock with a spoon or fork on a plate, smell the dishes served, criticize a dish you don’t like aloud, make harsh remarks and express your displeasure.

You can not eat from a common dish that is intended for several people. You should put the food on your plate with a special spoon and fork, but not the one you eat.

You can start drinking only after a common toast. Clinking glasses when making a toast, especially in large companies, is not necessary. Pouring wine to the lady sitting on the right should be done with the left hand, turning slightly to the right. If a new bottle has just been opened, the man should first pour some wine for himself and then for the lady. Glasses and glasses should not be filled to the brim, but two-thirds of their capacity. So it is more convenient to drink from them.

If after the toast they clink glasses, then the man should keep his glass lower than the lady's glass. You should not drink a full glass of wine at once, just sip. Do not top up a glass if all the wine has not been drunk from it. A person who does not want to drink more, when offered to fill his glass, may refuse, politely thanking. Do not close the glass with your hand or any object.

It is tactless to force a guest or table neighbor to drink wine.

You can’t use a comb at the table, you can powder and tint your lips only after you finish eating. At the table, a woman can sit in a hat, but gloves must be removed.

It is indecent to drum your fingers on the table, gesticulate, play with a napkin, a glass, a knife and other cutlery. In no case should you hum or whistle at the table.

While eating, the left hand rests naturally on the edge of the table (however, the forearm and elbow cannot be placed on the table). The knife is in the right hand, the fork in the left, while the fingers should not be on the back of the knife or on the teeth of the fork. The knife should never be brought to the mouth.

When cutting food, the fork must be held at an angle, and not perpendicular to the plate, otherwise the fork may slip off the plate, resulting in the food being on the table. When you have finished eating, put your fork and knife on the plate, not on the tablecloth.

The first courses, served either in a deep plate or in a broth cup, are usually eaten with a dessert spoon, with the left hand holding the handle of the cup while eating.

With a knife that cuts meat, they do not take salt from the salt shaker, food from a common dish.

Do not cut several pieces at once, it is better to take turns.

If you have to temporarily interrupt the meal in order to drink water, take bread, put the knife and fork on the plate as they were held: the knife with the handle to the right, and the fork to the left.

After finishing the meal, put the knife and fork on the plate.

If someone asks to pass the device, then pass the knives, forks, spoons with the handle forward, taking the device by the middle.

You can’t put food on a neighbor’s (neighbor’s) plate if he refuses it. You can refuse meals without giving a reason. It is extremely indecent to hint at the table about poor digestion or any other ailments.

You need to chew food with your mouth closed, silently. It is not necessary to finish a glass of wine or eat any dish to the end.

Bread should be taken with your hand, not with a fork. It is not customary to bite off a whole piece. Bread is eaten in small pieces, which are broken off over their plate. It is not customary to crumble bread into soup, use it to put food on a fork. You can't butter a whole piece of bread either. You should gradually break off pieces of bread and spread each of them.

Soup is eaten slowly, silently, not from the end of the spoon. Dumplings, noodles, potatoes and other seasonings, if they are in the soup, need to be crushed with the edge of a spoon. It is not recommended to tilt the bowl of soup.

Broths are sometimes served in cups with one or two handles. From a cup with one handle, the contents can be drunk, from a cup with two handles, you should eat with a dessert spoon.

Fish dishes, both hot and cold, are eaten with a special fish utensil. If not, use a fork. You can use a knife to separate the bones. If a bone gets into your mouth, you should carefully and, if possible, unobtrusively remove it with a fork or hand and put it on the edge of the plate. You can't spit bones on a plate. The fish is not cut with a knife.

Meat dishes (roast, schnitzel, chops, steak, rump steak, liver, etc.) are eaten with a knife and fork. You should not cut the meat on a plate into small pieces, you need to gradually cut off a small piece from it.

Cutlets, chopped steak, cabbage rolls, dumplings, meatballs, kebab and other similar foods should be eaten with a fork, helping with a knife; it is not customary to cut them with a knife. If the meat is easily separated with a fork, it is not recommended to use a knife at all.

Poultry dishes are eaten with a fork and knife. It is indecent to eat with your hands and gnaw at the bones.

Boiled eggs are eaten with a spoon, scrambled eggs or scrambled eggs (without ham) - with a fork, helping with a knife.

Butter, caviar, pate are put with a knife on a plate and only then spread on bread. If there is no special butter knife, use any other knife that is at hand.

Sandwiches are taken by hand if they are served with drinks before lunch (dinner). However, at the table, sandwiches are eaten with a fork and knife.

Salad is eaten with a fork. The knife is allowed to be used for cutting large pieces or lettuce leaves.

Salt is taken from the salt shaker with a clean knife, if there is no special spoon.

Apples and pears are put on a plate, cut into quarters or halves with a fruit knife, and then eaten with a fork and knife or taken by hand. Sometimes these fruits are peeled.

Peaches are cut with a fruit knife from top to bottom and broken in half. The bones are removed with a knife, and then one half is taken by hand and eaten.

Bananas are peeled and eaten in the hand. If bananas are sliced, they are eaten with a spoon.

Oranges are peeled and the white fibrous shell is removed with a knife, then divided into slices, which are taken by hand. The bones are taken out of the mouth with a spoon and placed on a plate.

Watermelons and melons are usually served sliced, with peel. They are eaten with a fork and knife.

A tea or coffee spoon serves only to stir the sugar, after which it must be placed on a saucer, and if it is very deep, rest on its edge.

You should not help yourself with a spoon even at the first sips of coffee or tea. If it is hot, wait patiently until it cools down, do not blow into a cup or glass. Do not take a saucer in hand, you can only lift a cup or glass.

It is not customary to drink tea and coffee from a saucer. The cup should be held by the ear, without passing the index finger through it and without leaving the little finger.

The coffee grounds are left in the cup.

Sugar in the absence of special tweezers is taken by hand, not with a spoon.

A slice of lemon in a glass can be carefully squeezed out with a spoon, and then put on a plate, but it is better to leave it in a glass. Lemon pulled out of tea should not be eaten.

If tea leaves are served in bags, then, having received the desired infusion, remove the bag and put it on a saucer.

If you drink a drink through a straw, then in such cases you should not suck it out to the last drop.

Jam and jelly are spread on bread with a knife, not a fork.

When you drink tea or coffee with a cake, especially if the latter is with cream, you need to be careful not to leave greasy marks on the edge of the glass. It is best to eat a cake so as not to stain your lips with cream. But if it doesn’t work out, you can wipe your lips with a napkin every time before you take a sip of tea or coffee. Biscuit cake is eaten with a dessert spoon. Sand or puff pastries are taken by hand. Leave a paper napkin on a plate after use.

If a cake (pie) is served, it must be eaten with a dessert knife and fork.

Ice cream is eaten with a dessert spoon or a teaspoon.

When can you smoke? The first, suitable moment for this is presented immediately after the order is placed - in anticipation of its implementation. But during dinner it is better not to smoke, especially when your companions are eating.

You can not smoke at the table without the permission of women. If you are still allowed, then extinguish cigarettes only in an ashtray and never do this in a plate or saucer.

It is tactless without the need to leave the table before the end of lunch or dinner.

After lunch or dinner, you should not rush to leave, but it is also not recommended to linger unnecessarily.

Some dishes are eaten with hands (asparagus, tobacco chicken, etc.).

It is customary to eat hot fish with the help of a special device or with one fork, holding it in the right hand and helping oneself with a piece of bread in the left.

The bones are stacked on the edge of the plate with a fork.

Salads served in small plates should be eaten without shifting to a large plate.

If fruits are served, they should first be peeled with a knife, cut into pieces, cut out the core with grains and only then eat.

If you need to fill a glass, take it with the thumb, index and middle fingers of your right hand and hand it to the person who pours.

After eating, you can touch your lips with a napkin and wipe your fingertips.

At the table, a witty and light conversation is preferable, you should not touch on sensitive topics or the question of the cost of food and drinks.

At the table it is considered impolite to whisper in the ear of your interlocutor.

Any conversation should be conducted in such a way as not to interfere with food.

It is desirable to talk at the table not only with your partner, but also with your closest neighbors.

If you need to say something to another person sitting behind your neighbor, then they say behind his back. The conversation "through a neighbor" should not be long, it can consist of a short remark or a joke.

Do not touch the interlocutor in order to attract his attention.

If during a conversation you want to sneeze, try to do it quietly and apologize to your interlocutor.

If one of those present sneezed, leave it unattended, no need to say: "Be healthy!".

If you cannot eat a certain dish, you do not need to tell the reasons, just refuse is enough.

The most suitable time to make a table speech or a toast is a break or a pause between dishes when those present at the table are not eating.

The person who wants to take the floor stands up, taps his glass lightly in order to attract the attention of the guests and begins to speak.

Before the start of the speech, the speaker may ask to fill the glasses.

The table speech ends with a toast.

The toast should not be long or frilly.

It is impolite to continue eating or talking to your neighbors while someone is making a speech.


Dining etiquette is not limited to the rules of eating. This concept includes the ability to make a favorable impression on others, and the manner of communication, and much more. By these criteria, you can always distinguish an educated person. Few people know all the subtleties of table etiquette, but there is nothing to be ashamed of. There are many manuals, articles on etiquette. And it's never too late to learn.

Basic table manners

The rules of human behavior at the table can be called a whole science, they have been developed over the years, even centuries, and are based on common sense, hygiene, attitude towards people who share a meal with you, etc. This section of etiquette is perhaps the most important, because. without good table manners it is impossible to succeed in life. Table etiquette is studied in modern business schools and colleges, where future businessmen are trained.

Now we will consider the basic rules of behavior at the table. A man should not sit down at the table until the women sit down or one of the hosts offers to take a seat. As a rule, the man escorts the woman to the table and offers her a seat to his right. And only after that he can sit down himself. He should pay the main attention to the woman sitting on the right, but if a woman also sits to his left, then she should not be deprived of his attention. In general, according to the rules, a man should be equally attentive at the table, both to familiar women and to those with whom he is not familiar.

So, guests at the table. But before everyone fills the plates, you should not start eating. This is for the first course. When submitting the next one, you do not need to wait until it is offered to everyone. The ladies at the table should be served first. The lady sitting to your right should pour the wine with your left hand. When a new bottle is opened, the man should pour some of the wine into his glass, and then the lady.

It is absolutely unacceptable to put your elbows on the table, because. you can push a neighbor or his device. The elbows, if possible, should be kept close to the body. Only hands can be on the table. You also need to remember about posture. You should not bend over the plate. If the desired dish or object is far from you, but you cannot reach for it, dipping the details of your clothes into other people's plates. You should politely ask them to pass them to you.

When dinner has come to an end, the fork and knife should be placed on a plate parallel to each other, so that if you imagine the plate as a clock face, and the instruments as hands, then they should show the time “ten minutes to four”. In decent establishments, this serves as a signal to the waiter that you have already finished your meal. But he must not put away the cutlery until everyone has finished eating. If you finished eating before the rest, then in the remaining time you do not need to move the plate away from you, put them one on top of the other, you can continue the conversation, drink coffee or tea. By the way, about tea. Do not leave a teaspoon in a glass or cup. After you have stirred tea or coffee, you should put it on a saucer. In no case is it recommended to drive your companions with words or gestures. In turn, if you are used to eating slowly, then at a business lunch it will be more correct not to finish eating than to force everyone to wait for you.

It is strictly forbidden by the rules to make comments on the dishes served, to criticize their performance. When the women get up from the table, the man should also get up and stand until they leave the dining room. Then you can sit down.

Another very important rule. Basically, when serving, dishes are served on the table in common dishes: salad bowls, dishes, plates that are designed for several people. Food from such dishes must be taken carefully, using special devices that lie next to it (various forks, spatulas, tongs, spoons). It is necessary to try not to drop anything on the table and not to touch your plate with these devices. No need to put mountains of food on your plate, it looks ugly. After all, you can always put yourself another dish you like. Smearing and kneading food on your plate also looks unaesthetic. This can cause a feeling of disgust in others sitting at the table with you.

Table rules

First of all, we must remember that at the table one should not talk about business. The conversation should be pleasant and general. If the number of participants is small, then general topics for conversation are chosen, if there are more than thirty guests, then, as a rule, those sitting next to each other talk to each other. The feast lasts an average of about two hours, and after it you can talk about business.

There are certain taboos on the topics of table talk. Namely: health (one's own or someone else's), income, family problems, work conflicts. Also, one should not pronounce too long monologues, be interested in the age and social status of the interlocutors. It is recommended to talk about culture, art, but avoid delving into topics in order to avoid the possibility of a dispute or conflict.

It is not permissible to talk over the heads of those sitting nearby. If you want to say something to a person sitting one across from you, you can do this by leaning back behind your neighbor. When talking to a person sitting on your right hand, you can not completely turn your back on the person sitting on your left. The ability to listen to the interlocutor is also an important condition for good tone. You can’t interrupt the speaker, you need to look at him with attention, showing interest in the topic of conversation with all your appearance.

And the last. Never talk while the food is in your mouth, and also, do not fall apart imposingly in a chair.

Serving items.

For a person who is accustomed to getting by with a minimum amount of cutlery, sometimes it is not an easy task to figure out the purpose of the numerous shiny knives and forks laid out on the festive table near his plate.

In fact, everything is not so difficult. It must be remembered that all devices are divided into main and auxiliary. The main ones are those that are eaten, and the auxiliary ones are designed to cut something, impose, etc. And further. All appliances are located from your plate in the same order in which the dishes are served: soup, meat, fish, dessert. Thus, the first thing to use is the device that lies farthest from the plate.

With the apparent variety of serving, each item has its own purpose. At the beginning of lunch, you have a snack plate in front of you (sometimes a small dining room, and a snack bar on it). On the left side of it there may be a paper napkin or a pie plate. To the right of the plate are knives, on the left side are forks. Dessert utensils lie in front of the plate. Behind them are glasses, glasses, wine glasses. On the dinner plate in front of you is a napkin. If lunch is supposed to be without a first course, do not put a spoon.

It will be correct to hold with the right hand all the devices that are on the right, respectively, with the left - those on the left. Dessert devices are taken with the hand towards which the handle of the device is located.

The knife should be held correctly so that the middle and thumb hold it on the sides of the beginning of the handle, the end of the handle rests on the palm, the index finger should be kept on the upper surface of the handle in order to press the knife down when you need to cut something. The remaining fingers should be kept slightly bent. Food is cut towards you. But the pieces should not be too many and they should be small in size to fit in the mouth.

The fork is taken in the left hand so that the end of the handle rests on the palm, and the fork itself looks down with its prongs. Otherwise, it is held in the same way as a knife, only with the left hand. If there are side dishes such as mashed potatoes or porridge on the table, the fork is used as a spoon, i.e. turn the prongs up, the handle of the fork should lie on the middle finger, the index and thumb, you need to hold the fork from your sides. In these cases, food is taken on a fork, helping with the tip of a knife blade.

The spoon must be held in the right hand. The end of the handle of the spoon should lie on the index finger, and the beginning - on the middle one. If the dish consists of pieces that can be separated without a knife, then only the fork is served and it must be held in the right hand.

Knife and fork are held in hands throughout the dinner - this is a classic way. There is also the American style of eating, which allows you to use these items alternately. That is, after cutting the dish, you can take the fork in your right hand and eat with it. In anticipation of a change of dishes, the knife and fork should be placed crosswise on the plate. In this case, the handle of the knife should look to the right, and the teeth of the fork are turned down.

How to properly use a napkin.

According to modern rules of etiquette, a napkin should be placed on your knees so as not to stain your clothes if food accidentally gets on them. Sitting at the table, you need to unfold the napkin, fold it in half and put it on your knees. If your fingers get dirty while eating, you can wipe them with the top half of the napkin, leaving it on your lap. To get your lips wet, take a napkin from your knees into your palm so that the ends turn over in your palms, and the napkin becomes shorter, then apply its middle to your lips. After the napkin should be placed to the right of the plate. Under no circumstances should it be hung on the back of a chair or placed on a seat.

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Each of us knows what "etiquette" is.

This term is divided into several branches, such as: smoking etiquette, table manners, communication etiquette, telephone etiquette and so on.

For the first time, the concept of "rules of etiquette at the table" appeared under King Louis XIV of France, but modern society still adheres to the norms and rules of etiquette. A lot of books have been written about the rules of behavior, the subject "Ethics" will be introduced into the school curriculum, schoolchildren from an early age are taught to behave, the rules of good taste, since this knowledge will undoubtedly be useful to them. About the basic rules of table etiquette below.

General rules

General rules of conduct must be known and remembered in order to give the impression of an educated and confident person. As the saying goes: "Meet by clothes." Depending on how you behave, the attitude towards you will become either positive or negative.

    Straight posture.

    Sit comfortably, relax your shoulders and arms, but your back should be level and confident;

    During the meal, you need to talk only with those who are sitting next to you, you should not speak loudly, referring to a person sitting far from you;

    Eating should take place without extraneous sounds.

    There is no discussion about the need to understand the culture of food. Let's do without champing, coughing, talking with a full mouth and any sounds;

    Elbows on the table are superfluous.

    Your elbows on the edge of the table are bad form, however, it is allowed to lower the brushes, but only if you cannot do without it. If you want to try a dish, but hundreds of other delicacies separate you from it, you should not reach for it across the entire table. Quietly turn to a neighbor with a request to pass it to you;

    Eat food calmly, measuredly and with taste.

    Hunger overshadows your mind and dinner caught you after several hours of waiting, remember that it is not your style to pounce on food;

    If the dish that is served to you is too hot, leave it alone, do not blow on it.

    Wait for the temperature to drop by itself;

    In no case do not fix your makeup or hair while sitting at the table.

    If you feel that you need it, apologize to those present and leave for a couple of minutes.

Family dinner

In fact, the rules of conduct at the table at a family dinner and in a restaurant are different.

At a family dinner visiting friends, the rules of etiquette are a little softer, since people are close to you and they may forgive or not notice some of your mistakes.

Nevertheless, it is necessary to be on the alert and adhere to the rules that we will now recall:

  • Be sure to praise the treat, the hostess will be flattered that her efforts were appreciated;
  • Don't wait for the hosts to entertain you. Keep up the conversation, joke, tell funny stories from your life, but make sure that the dialogue does not turn into a monologue;
  • Do not discuss politics, money and illness. Such topics at the table are inappropriate, moreover, a healthy tone of conversation can turn into a quarrel;
  • If there are strangers in the company, wait until the owner introduces you to each other. It happens that a person did not make a good impression on you, then do not enter into a conflict. Be at ease and polite, because if he is among those invited, it means that the owners wanted to see him that day;
  • If you feel like you need to use a toothpick, don't give preference to your tongue. Firstly, it looks disgusting, the expression of a person's face changes. Secondly, during the process, you can make obscene sounds. The best thing is to get by with a toothpick, very quickly and, if possible, imperceptibly;
  • Do not take food from a common plate with your appliances. For this, there are common spoons, spatulas and tongs;
  • You should not persistently offer your neighbor (and even worse - everyone present) a dish that you liked. Be sure that all guests know what dishes are on the table, they are able to take care of themselves;
  • In order not to offend the hostess, try everything that she offered as lunch. If a dish does not meet your expectations, carefully leave it on the edge of the plate. Eat only what you like and in moderation;
  • If you doubt your skills, just behave like others.

Restaurant

Another thing is lunch at a restaurant. As a rule, such a lunch can be business, with work colleagues or with management. Your career depends on the impression you make. On the other hand, lunch or dinner at a restaurant can be part of your date with your significant other.

  • If a man invited a girl to a restaurant, he is obliged to offer her some dishes from the menu. It is considered bad form for a girl to show her disinterest, she should take part in the choice of dishes;
  • If you came to the restaurant with a large company, you need to start eating when all the participants in the feast have taken out the dishes. If someone is waiting for their order, with his permission, the rest can start the meal;
  • If you have become a member of a business dinner, being an active user of Instagram, it would be better if you refrain from having to take a picture of your dinner. Such actions would be excusable in the company of close friends;
  • The ingredient of the dish that you cannot chew can be carefully returned to the fork, and then discreetly sent to the edge of the plate;
  • Did you drop your fork? Do not worry - contact the waiter with a request to replace it with another one, do not lift it yourself;
  • Get rid of the habit of loudly calling the waiter, and also do not snap your fingers, do not whistle, and do not bang the spoon on the glass. You can invite the waiter to the table with a nod or a slight wave of your hand, showing him that you treat him with respect. Finger snapping and whistling will not only worsen the impression of you, but also increase your chances of becoming the lucky owner of the secret ingredient in a drink or dish;
  • You should not discuss in front of the waiter which of you will pay for dinner. It is necessary to agree on this in advance;
  • If you are satisfied with the quality of food and drinks, thank the waiter verbally, then leave a generous tip.

Cutlery

Rules of conduct at the table, topics that should and should not be discussed - these are important knowledge that is necessary for a successful dinner or lunch in a decent company. However, every self-respecting person should know the rules for eating, namely, how to handle appliances.

  • The left hand is a fork, the right hand is a knife. If you, for example, eat meat - do not cut the whole piece, gradually cut off small pieces with a knife, sending them into your mouth with a fork, otherwise the meat will cool quickly;
  • Fish cannot be cut with a knife, a knife is necessary to separate the bone. If you still come across a bone, you can carefully use a napkin, but in no case with your hands;
  • The first dish should be eaten, scooping a spoon away from you. At the end, when you are already finishing the dish, tilt the plate away from you;
  • You can put salads from a common plate into your own with a special salad spoon, and use a fork. Salads cannot be cut with a knife;
  • So, you want to try a sandwich. A piece of bread should be in your left hand, in your right hand there will be a knife with which you can spread the filling on the bread. They do not bite a sandwich, but use appliances;
  • A piece of bread cannot be bitten off, it is necessary to break off small slices with your fingers;
  • You feel that you need to interrupt your meal - put the utensils as if they were in your hands. To the right is a knife, and a fork to the left on the edge of the plate. At the end of dinner, the cutlery should lie crosswise, then the waiter will understand that your dinner is over.

How to drink alcohol

You already know what to talk about at the table, how to behave with a lady and hosts at a friendly dinner, how to use appliances. However, the drinking culture is very developed in Europe, so we will tell you how to drink alcoholic beverages correctly.

  • Before the start of the meal, guests are served an aperitif - a light alcoholic drink that stimulates the appetite;
  • In the women's company, the mistress of the house fills the glasses, otherwise it is the man;
  • Wait until your neighbor finishes drinking, do not top up his glass and do not rush him;
  • If the guest has left, his glass should remain empty;
  • It is considered bad form to uncork bottles at the table. The exception is sparkling wine or champagne;
  • Vodka, to the surprise of our compatriots, according to the rules of etiquette, is drunk with ice, in small sips and as a digestif. It is believed that a well-fed person does not get drunk;
  • Eat first, drink later. You can not drink alcohol with food;
  • Drink in the same rhythm as the rest of the guests. Don't rush anyone, but if you feel like you've had enough, stop;
  • Enjoy alcoholic drinks. Inhale the aroma, appreciate the color saturation. Alcohol should bring pleasure, for this, treat alcohol carefully and responsibly.

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Master4ef

The rules of good manners at the table are instilled in us from early childhood. Knowing how to behave during a meal gives us self-confidence and the opportunity to show our best in society.

Norms and prohibitions in behavior while eating

  1. Most importantly, never talk with your mouth full. Not only does this look unaesthetic, but it also prevents you from expressing your opinion clearly.
  2. No need to try to bite as much as possible at a time. With a mouthful of food, you will not only look ugly, but also make you look like an ill-mannered person.
  3. It is also better to forget about the habit of biting bread. Bakery products should be broken off in small portions and put in the mouth.
  4. It is also important to remember that a meat dish does not need to be cut all at once. Only after eating one piece, you can cut off the next one.
  5. You can use your hands for poultry dishes if you hold a knife and fork with them.
  6. Fish bones also need to be pulled out with a fork. In rare cases, you can do it by hand. After that, they need to be wiped with a napkin, and not licked, as ill-mannered people do.
  7. Garnishes can be pricked on a fork, helping yourself with a piece of bread.
  8. If the dish is made from minced meat and they can be broken with a fork, then the knife can not be used.
  9. Eating with a knife is not only dangerous (you can get hurt), but also extremely indecent.
  10. Once again, we recall such an important nuance as the fork in the left hand, and the knife in the right. Even if you are so uncomfortable, it is worth practicing at home in advance. Confidence comes with practice.
  11. Do not use a spoon if the dish can be eaten with a fork.
  12. If you were served compote, then spitting the bones from the fruit directly into the plate is not the best idea. To begin, bring the spoon close to your mouth to spit out the bone before placing it on your plate.
  13. Do not show your greed and take the biggest pieces. From a common plate, you should always take the piece that lies closest to you.
  14. In order not to embarrass your table neighbors, do not move dirty dishes towards them.
  15. It is not customary to stretch across the entire table to the dish you like. Ask for it to be served to you.
  16. Bad habits like smearing leftover sauce or drinking it off the plate are also off limits.
  17. Always eat with your mouth closed to avoid making unpleasant sounds.
  18. Dirty cutlery should not be placed on the tablecloth. Leave them on the plate.
  19. Also, be careful not to send a tablespoon completely into your mouth.
  20. In no case, at the end of the meal, you can not lick the spoon, and even more so the plate.
  21. After you have stirred the sugar in the tea, the spoon should be removed from the cup.
  22. When serving a dish, do not pick at it, trying to see what it consists of, do not sniff or look closely at it.
  23. Even if you don't like the food at all, don't say it directly. It's best to refrain from commenting.
  24. In order not to show disrespect to the rest of the people sitting at the table, sit up straight, do not cross your legs.

Rules for using napkins at the table

  • If the napkin is made of fabric, then its purpose is solely to protect clothing from contamination. I do not need to wipe the dishes with such a napkin, wipe my massive lips or hands.
  • There are paper napkins on the table to clean hands and lips.
  • After eating, a cloth napkin is left on the side near the plate. Paper put on a plate rolled up.

It should be borne in mind that you can sit down at the table only after the invitation of the hostess. The duty of men is to help all women by pulling back a chair for each. You also need to make sure that your back is always straight. Do not stretch your legs under the table, do not put your elbows on the table - all this will not have the best effect on your reputation.

How to use cutlery

The ability to use cutlery is an integral part of the correct behavior at the table.

  1. If you still can’t remember the purpose of each of the devices, then use them in the order in which they are decomposed. Starting from the edges to the center.
  2. In order to put yourself something from a common plate, you need to use those devices that lie near this dish.
  3. When there is a change of dishes and a pause in the meal, the fork and knife are placed crosswise.
  4. At the end of the meal, the cutlery is placed on the plate in parallel.

Proper table manners includes much more than the above points. It is important to know not only table etiquette and be able to use cutlery, but also monitor your manners, behavior and ability to keep up a conversation.

Rules of behavior at the table for children



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