Rules of etiquette after meals. How beautiful is it? Etiquette: rules of conduct at the table

DINING EQUIPMENT

Bad manners: eating without a knife and talking with a fork. Leonard Louis Levinson

ETIQUETTE- Certain moral rules and manners of human behavior in society.

Table etiquette - the science of the rules of food intake and human behavior at the table.

Watch the video in the middle of the article

How a person behaves at the table, how he eats, we can talk about his cultural upbringing. Not respecting certain rules behavior at the table, without showing good manners, it is difficult for a person to succeed in society. Since today's society, with its business life and rapidly developing modern technologies introduces its own adjustments to behavior and upbringing business person, obliges him to behave culturally and aesthetically. Business negotiations and receptions with clients are all an integral part of business life.

Consider basic rules of behavior at the table:

You cannot sit at the table until the women sit first, until the owner or hostess invites you to the table.

The man accompanying the woman to the table invites her to sit to her right.

A man should pay attention to the woman sitting to his right.

The man sitting at the table should give the same signs of attention to both the women he knows and to the women to whom he is not presented, but it should not be forgotten that the lady sitting next to him should receive attention, regardless of whether the man is presented to her or not.

You are invited to visit, you should not be the first to start eating, at the beginning the dish should be offered to all guests

Women are encouraged to try the dish first.

When the next dish is served, you don't have to wait for the others to fill their plates. - The woman sitting on the right should pour wine with her left hand. If a new bottle is opened, the man first of all pours a little wine for himself, and only then for the woman.

By rules of etiquette putting your elbows on the table is bad taste. Only hands should be on the table. You should sit up straight without stooping or bending over your plate.

If you are and you cannot get an item on the table, ask to be handed it over to you. -After finishing a meal, the cutlery fork and knife should lie parallel on the plate. If you imagine a plate behind a round dial, then the fork and knife should show ten minutes to four.

If you finish eating earlier than others, then sit still and continue the conversation. Watch out for your actions, which may urge your companions. If you eat slowly, it is better not to finish eating than to keep everyone waiting. - You cannot stack the plates one on top of the other, or move the plate away from you.

If you have a business meeting and you combine it with a meal, then during the meal you should have a conversation that will be of a general nature. You should start talking about business after eating, such a meeting usually lasts from 1.5 to 2 hours. At such a meeting, it is customary not only to talk, but also to be able to listen attentively to your interlocutors, look at them with attention and interest. Allow everyone present to express their thoughts in full, to show that the topic of the conversation is interesting.

V table etiquette there are certain restrictions on the topic of table conversations. It is not customary to talk about your health or anyone else's. It is not customary to talk about income, about family problems, about conflicts with the leadership. It is necessary to discuss at the table common topics- about the weather, culture and art. When talking with one interlocutor, you cannot turn your back to another

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SERVING ITEMS IN THE DINING LABEL

No need to be intimidated by the shine and the number of cutlery on your table, all cutlery is put in a certain order, in what order the dishes are served, and so are the cutlery. Sitting at the table, take a close look at how the table is set. There should be a snack plate in front of you. On the left side of it is a pie plate. To the right of the snack plate are knives and spoons, and to the left are forks. Dessert utensils are placed in front of the snack plate, glasses and glasses are placed behind the dessert dishes. There is a napkin on the snack plate.

All you need to remember is all the devices that are on the right side of the plate, take and hold while eating with your right hand. All devices that are located on the left side of the plate are taken and held with the left hand. Dessert utensils that are located with handles to the right are taken with the right hand; those that lie with handles to the left are taken with the left hand. The napkin on the table is intended primarily to protect clothes from possible food contamination. Therefore, calmly unfold your napkin and put it on your lap.

After finishing your meal, the napkin should not be folded carefully, just place it gently to the right of your plate.

We have covered the main table etiquette everything is relatively simple and accessible, I hope that your further negotiations at the table will be worthy.

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It will not hurt each of us to brush up on the rules of etiquette at the table, and perhaps even learn something new about how to behave while eating. The most important rules etiquette that absolutely everyone should use.

Each of us notices when in a cafe at the next table someone is eating sloppily or furtively wiping their hands on their knees. In the same way, other people notice our mistakes, any behavior is conspicuous and can cause embarrassment. Therefore, it is better to test yourself and correct your own behavior if necessary.

How to behave at the table

General rules apply to any situation, they will never be superfluous. The first thing we pay attention to when we see a person is his posture. Posture characterizes not only the behavior or state of a person, but also reveals the secrets of his character.

An insecure person will nervously fidget on the edge of a chair, a notorious person will try to slouch over to become less noticeable. Sit up straight, but in a way that is comfortable for you. Hands can be placed on the edge of a table or on your knees, and your elbows are best pressed to your sides.

By the way, to learn how to hold your elbows near the body in Soviet time advised to train periodically - to have lunch, holding a couple of weighty books with your elbows. This is necessary in order for the correct body pattern to form, and you kept your elbows flawlessly even when you do not think about it at all.

The rules of table etiquette imply almost all situations that can happen to a person and give a clear recommendation on how to act in a given situation.

Naturally, table etiquette at home and restaurant etiquette are somewhat different.However, there are rules that are appropriate in any situation:

• do not talk too loudly;
• you can not take a fork or spoon with food too far from the mouth;
• you can not make sounds while eating;
• you should eat calmly, without unnecessary haste.

A restaurant

The rules of conduct in a restaurant imply some concentration - you need to behave correctly and with dignity in order to make a pleasant impression on others.

1. A man should let the lady go ahead, but if a company of men or women is sent to a restaurant, then everyone is on an equal footing or rely on the initiator of the dinner.
2. If several people are to meet at dinner, and some are late, then by mutual agreement with the rest of the guests, you can wait for those who are late for about a quarter of an hour. A longer wait is a sign of disrespect for guests arriving on time.
3. If you happen to be late, then you should apologize, and then just join the rest. You should not draw special attention to the fact of being late and explain the reason, just join in the table conversation.
4. During a meeting between a man and a woman in a restaurant, the man should read the menu and offer his companion any dishes. For a girl in this case, expressing her indifference is a sign of bad manners. Restaurant etiquette implies the participation of the lady in the choice of dishes.
5. In a restaurant, you should not conduct a conversation in a raised voice and laugh out loud. If this happened by accident, it makes sense to apologize to other visitors and be quieter. Observe etiquette at the table, and if someone behaves inappropriately at the next table, then you should inform the waiter about this.
6. You need to start eating when the waiter brought the ordered dishes to everyone present. If the person who is waiting for the preparation of his dish does not mind, he can make an offer to others to start the meal.
7. It is categorically impossible to engage in hygienic procedures at the table - wipe your face, neck and hands with napkins, comb your hair or tint your lips. If you need to pay attention to your appearance, it is better to do this in a special room. Table etiquette also discourages lipstick marks on dishes. Before starting to eat, the girl must carefully remove the lipstick with a napkin.
8. Any interaction with food also looks uncultured - food is on the table in order to eat it. Taking photos for Instagram, blowing on soup, picking at a salad, commenting on ingredients is indecent.
9. If you find cartilage or bone in a dish, you need to carefully return the inedible element back to the spoon and transfer it to a plate (or napkin).

How to handle the instruments

1. In no case should you check the cleanliness of the devices, and if you nevertheless notice a cloudy speck on a fork or spoon, you should quietly draw the waiter's attention to this oversight and politely ask them to replace them.
2. In most restaurants, the table is set in advance and the cutlery is laid out on either side of the serving plate.
3. Do not get lost if there are more dishes on the table than you expected to see - everything has its purpose, and if you are in doubt about which fork or spoon to take, then you can always see how the rest of the guests will solve this problem.
4. Those devices that lie on the left of the plate are used with the left hand, and those that are laid out on the right must be held in the right hand.
5. With complex serving, each dish relies on its own devices, so if you are in doubt which fork to take, take the farthest fork - the one farthest from the edge of the plate. As you change dishes, you will gradually get closer to the closest appliances.
6. The knife is used either for cutting food or for spreading pates and butter (for example, during breakfast). Do not try pieces from a knife.
7. Meat or fish should be cut sequentially as they are eaten. Chopping the whole portion at once is bad taste. It is generally accepted that this way the dish cools down faster and loses its main flavor nuances.

Understand in advance a few differences between different cutlery, so as not to get into a mess.

Forks

• second hot dishes are eaten with a table fork, it has four cloves, and in length it is slightly inferior to the diameter of the plate and is placed on the left;
• a fish fork is used for hot fish dishes, looks smaller than a snack bar and has four short teeth, a fish fork is easy to recognize by the indentations - they are needed to separate the bones;
• a snack fork - a reduced duplicate of a table fork, they eat cold snacks with it;
• dessert fork - for pies, small, corresponds to the size of a dessert plate and looks atypical;
• a fruit fork equipped with two prongs, usually served with a fruit knife;
• the rest of the forks are considered auxiliary, they are placed next to the dish that they need to be eaten.

Knives

• any second hot dishes are eaten with a table knife, it is placed to the right of the plate, the blade is turned towards the plate;
• the fish knife is dull and resembles a shoulder blade, used to separate the flesh of the fish from the bones;
• the snack knife is small and has teeth;
• the dessert knife and fruit knife look similar - they are the smallest.

Spoons

• a tablespoon - the largest, lies to the right of the plate;
• a dessert spoon is served with a dessert that does not require cutting - soft puddings, jellies and whipped cream;
• an ice cream spoon is served with a bowl;
• the cocktail spoon has a very narrow and long handle;
• a teaspoon can be served with any hot drink;
• coffee spoon - the smallest, served only with black coffee.

Dialogue and table behavior

Drinking etiquette involves not only the use of instruments, correct positioning and good posture, but also the manner of conducting dialogues and conversations.

It is worth noting that table etiquette categorically prohibits discussing provocative issues that can lead to serious conflict - therefore, you should refrain from commenting on money, politics and religion.

How to behave at the table and what to say? Be sure to look at the one who addresses you, listen without interrupting, and only then answer. If you find any of the other person’s questions unsuitable for eating, delicately offer to discuss it a little later. In all other cases, you should answer easily and naturally.

The restaurant also does not imply violent disputes - refrain from inappropriate comments and defuse the atmosphere with a cute joke if someone else raises their voice.

You should not talk only together, involve the rest of the participants in the conversation... For example, if the conversation comes about a recently spent vacation, you can ask one of the interlocutors whether he is going to go on vacation in the near future or what places he prefers to rest.

It is also good form in any table conversation to praise the host, cook or initiator of the meeting - find a few kind words to celebrate the general atmosphere of the evening.

Short Course in Etiquette

• Do what most do.
• Don't tell others about their mistakes, in the most extreme case, this can be said quietly in an undertone and only to your neighbor at the table.
• Don't be away from your meal for a long time.
• Leaving the table - apologize.
• Try everything and eat what you like.
• At a common table, they do not discuss diet, eating disorders, restrictions on alcoholic beverages and diet.

It is better to study some rules of behavior at the table by looking at the pictures - look at the basic table setting schemes, you can also watch the video on how to properly hold one or another device.

Table etiquette is not so difficult if you take a little time to it, and following all the rules will help you present yourself as your best side.

A person's demeanor in public institutions can tell a lot about him. It is not only about the nature of the conversation with other individuals, but also about how he eats, drinks, holds appliances. The rules of etiquette at the table are respected by every educated person, no matter where she is - at home, in a cafe, restaurant or guests. This knowledge and skills should be taught with kindergarten.

What are the rules of table etiquette

They are based on the observance of aesthetic standards, expediency, convenience. Fundamental rules:

• You need to sit at the table not very far and not too tightly to the edge, you also cannot put your elbows on it, you can only put your hands on it.
• Table etiquette says that you must sit upright in a chair without bending over a plate of food.
• Do not reach for the dish, if it is far away, ask other participants in the meal to pass it on.
• Adults put a napkin for individual use on their knees, children (preschoolers and schoolchildren) tuck it behind the collar.
• Ethics of behavior allows you to take some products with your hands: sugar, cookies, cakes, fruits.

Cutlery rules

The table rule of the left and right hand everyone needs to know: all devices laid out on the left side (forks only) must be held in the left hand (but there are also exceptions here). Knives and spoons are placed on the right - they are wielded with the right hand. Soups and broths are eaten with a spoon, hot meat dishes - with a table knife and fork, hot fish - with a fish knife and fork, desserts - with a teaspoon or dessert spoon, cold snacks - with a snack knife and fork, fruits - with your hands or fruit cutlery.

How to properly hold a fork or spoon

Hold the spoon so that thumb was on top of her handle. Scoop the liquid from the plate away from you, so you don't stain your clothes. If you are served broth with pieces of chicken, first eat the liquid part of the dish, then - with a knife and fork - eat the meat. Do not take the plug too close to the base. Its prongs point downward or upward, depending on the dish.

Which hand to hold the knife in

How to hold a fork and knife according to the rules of etiquette at the table? When you eat only with a fork, take it in your right hand, if you use a knife, hold the fork in your left. At the same time, the index fingers rest against the upper part of the handle of the device and help to apply pressure.

Restaurant etiquette

How to behave at a table in a public institution? Cultured people adhere to these rules and feel "at ease":

• You can start eating when everyone has brought food or drinks.
• According to restaurant rules of etiquette at the table, bottles with alcohol are opened by the waiter.
• The guests of the establishment need to monitor the volume of their conversation - to talk so as not to cause discomfort to others.
• The rules of conduct in the restaurant say that you should not clink glasses loudly every time; this is done only during important, solemn toasts.

Table setting rules for etiquette

It is best to arrange objects according to the photo - so you will see what and where lies. It is not difficult to arrange cutlery correctly. Very exquisite English style, he wins the hearts of girls, women, men. However, many people are more familiar with the usual home serving:

• covered with a tablecloth;
• 2-3 cm from the edge there are plates - on shallow deep ones, on the left - pies;
• small cellulose napkins are placed under each device;
• to the right of the plate - a tablespoon with the convex side down, a knife with the sharp side to the plates, on the left a fork with the prongs up;
• a glass for juice, water is placed in front of the edge of the knife;
• in the center they put snacks, salads, they put common appliances with them.

Video about the rules of conduct at the table for children

The younger generation best assimilates knowledge presented in a game or cartoon form. Show your kids a video about Koksik and Shunya. Fairy tale characters together with the kids, they will learn the rules of table etiquette. Aunt Daria will become a kind and wise mentor who will lead boys and girls into the world cultured people.

Into the image of the modern successful person many details come in. One of them is the ability to stay in society and follow the rules of behavior at the table. Thus, you will prove yourself as a well-mannered and intelligent person.

What it is?

The history of the emergence of ethics is very old. Some more cave people they knew how to behave beautifully and tried to teach this to others. Etiquette norms have evolved over time and have been improved each time. Now this science teaches us the correct behavior at the table.

Small parts immediately catch the eye and can ruin the first impression of a person, so it will be useful to refresh the already known rules of etiquette or learn new ones. Experts recommend teaching children how to handle cutlery and serving the table from the most early years, especially since modern manufacturers offer a wide selection of safe, bright and beautiful forks and spoons. It is believed that this skill should be practiced not only at a party or in a restaurant, but also at home.

Ethics must be present at every meal. This will help you better understand its fundamentals, norms, and prescriptions.

Let's take a look at the basic rules that relate to table setting and cultural table behavior.

How to behave at the table?

Eating is one of those basic processes that inevitably accompany people throughout their lives. During business lunches, partners come to an agreement and sign important contracts. Not a single festive event is complete without a buffet table or a grand feast. At the table, the family feels the strongest cohesion, since over a plate of food you can discuss all the problems and rejoice in the success of the household. Having lunch or dinner together brings people closer together and improves the quality of communication.

It is much more pleasant to deal with a person who observes the rules of etiquette, does not cause inconvenience to others, and eats quietly and carefully. It's never too late to correct mistakes in your behavior and become a more cultured person.

Rules of behavior

Let us consider in more detail the features of cultural behavior during a meal.

First of all, you should pay attention to the manner of sitting on the chair. A person's posture speaks not only of the ability to keep oneself in society, but also of habits and character. A confident person always sits with a straight back and takes most seating area, his posture is at ease and relaxed. It is this body position that is most appropriate at the table.

When positioned at the table, the hands are placed on the edge of the table, and the elbows are slightly pressed against the body. A slight forward tilt is allowed for the convenience of eating.

There is a little trick on how to learn the correct seating position at the table. To do this, etiquette experts recommend pressing two small books to the body with the elbows. This simple exercise will help you remember the correct position of your body and hands during your meal.

When eating, you need to be quiet and careful. Cutlery should not be taken away from the face. A person should eat calmly and slowly, carefully chewing each piece of food with closed mouth.Do not smack, sip, slurp or make other sounds. And you certainly shouldn't talk with your mouth full, as it looks extremely ugly.

If the food is very hot, wait until it cools down. It is not necessary to blow loudly on the dish or spoon, otherwise it may show bad manners. This is especially true for girls and schoolchildren.

There are a number simple rules, by performing which you can learn the correct behavior during a meal:

• The distance from the body to the edge of the table should be such that the seated person does not feel uncomfortable.
• Elbows and personal items such as wallet, keys or cosmetic bag must not be placed on the table. This is considered bad form.
• Do not reach for food across the entire table. Just ask the person nearby to hand you the plate or salt shaker you want, and then thank you politely for their help.
• To keep clothes in pure form you can use a special textile napkin, which is placed on your knees before starting a meal. Small children are allowed to tuck the napkin behind the collar.
• Products from common meals should be taken with devices designed for this. The only exceptions are sugar, cookies and fruits.

Lunch or dinner is often held in a restaurant. For such a case, there are special guidelines for etiquette:

• The man misses his companion first. He must open the door for her, take the outerwear, move the chair. If the company consists of both women and men, then the meeting becomes more informal.
• If several people gather, those who are late wait no more than 15 minutes. Further, the meal begins regardless of whether the late arrived or not. The detainee himself apologizes to all the participants in the dinner and joins the meal. At the same time, it is not necessary to attract the attention of everyone sitting at the table and try to explain the reason for being late.
• When men and women participate in a dinner, the choice of the menu and the order of dishes usually falls on the shoulders of the stronger sex. He can offer his companion certain dishes and order them if consent is obtained.
• Good tone it is considered to start eating only when the dishes have been brought to all those present at the table. At the same time, those who are waiting can invite others to start a meal even when their dishes are not yet ready.
• You should not defiantly look at and smell the dishes, carefully consider each ingredient and comment on the composition. It looks indecent.
• The bones should be gently spat out onto a fork or spoon and placed on the edge of a plate.

No one is immune from awkward situations. For example, if the cutlery falls on the floor, you can ask the waiter to bring a clean set. If an object accidentally crashed, do not panic. Typically, in such cases, the value of the damaged property is added to the invoice.

Etiquette prohibits doing the following things in a restaurant:

• Carry out hygiene procedures while sitting at the table. Combing your hair, correcting makeup, wiping your face or neck with napkins is recommended in the restroom. It is also not customary to leave traces of cosmetics on dishes. It is better to blot your lips with a napkin before starting a meal to avoid lipstick marks on the glass.
• Blow noisily on food or drink. It is recommended to wait until it cools down, and then start eating.
• Call out loudly for service personnel, knock on a glass, or snap your fingers. It looks extremely uncivilized.
• Take food from the common plate with personal cutlery. Common serving forks and spoons are used for this.

Table etiquette is very important. Knowing all of its basic tenets, you can make a good impression on others.

Rules of conduct for children at the table

As noted earlier, children should be taught etiquette from an early age. Children learn quickly new information, and the learning process is easy to turn into a game. First of all, the child needs to be taught to wash his hands before each meal. First, the parents themselves set an example and help the baby, and then this action will be fixed already on the machine.

The child should be seated at a common table with all adults so that he gets used to the company. There are special high chairs that will allow your baby to sit on the same level with adults and feel like a full member of the family. During lunch, it is not recommended to turn on the TV, which will distract from the process of eating.

A textile napkin can be tucked behind the collar. It will prevent food and drink pieces from getting on your clothes. For small children, special plastic forks and knives have been invented. They do not have sharp blades and teeth, so the child will not injure himself, and the bright colors will attract interest.

You should sit straight at the table; you should not sway in a chair and disturb others sitting at the table. Shouts and loud conversations are unacceptable.

An important point in the process of teaching the child good table manners, the prohibition of playing with food. It is necessary to explain to the children that such behavior is unacceptable, and that food should not be smeared on the table.

After eating, you need to thank the hostess for a delicious lunch and ask permission to leave the table. One of the ways to teach your child how to set the table is to involve them in the table setting process. Have your toddler help arrange plates and cutlery.

The most important thing is to be patient and not raise your voice. Perhaps the baby will not understand the rules that are unusual for him the first time, but you should not give up and get nervous. The example of other family members will help the child quickly adapt and behave correctly.

Features in different countries

Rules of conduct at the table in different countries of the world are somewhat different from those we are used to. Some moments may be quite unusual and exotic for Russia. Let's find out what tourists should pay attention to in order to avoid uncomfortable situations:

• In Japan and Korea, is known to be eaten with special chopsticks. During a meal, they are supposed to be laid parallel to the edge of the table or on special stands. But sticking sticks in rice is strongly discouraged, as it is a symbol of a funeral.
• On the table in brazilian establishments Catering there is a special token painted green and red on both sides. The green side indicates that the visitor wishes to receive more food. And it often happens that the waiter brings new dishes almost without interruption. To limit hospitality service personnel, turn the token red.
• Georgia famous for its wine. Unsurprisingly, this drink goes with almost every meal. Tourists should remember that during a feast it is customary to drink wine completely after each speech.

• In India and England It is not recommended to eat with the left hand, as in traditional Indian religion this hand is considered unclean. This rule also applies to shaking hands and transferring documents.
• Coffee lovers should be careful in Italy, since in this country it is not customary to drink cappuccino in the afternoon. Locals it is believed that it can have a bad effect on digestion. One more interesting fact: In Italy, Parmesan is not added to pizza or pasta. French etiquette is somewhat similar to Italian.
• Tourists traveling in China, fish is often ordered in restaurants. With this choice of dish, remember that you must not turn the portion over. This is bad luck, which means a high probability of a fisherman's boat wrecking. After eating the upper half of the portion, it will be better to first remove the ridge from the fish and only then continue the meal.

Before traveling to a country, you should first of all familiarize yourself with the main accepted rules etiquette. You need to respect other people's culture and try to avoid uncomfortable situations that can offend local residents.

Table setting

The table should always be properly served, regardless of whether it is a business lunch or a family dinner. It teaches culture and gives the meal a solemn mood. At the sight of neatly arranged plates and cutlery, it is much easier to adhere to the recommendations for table behavior.

Exists great amount table setting methods, which depend on the time of day, the nature of the event and many other factors.

For a classic table setting that suits any occasion, you can use the following rules:

• There must be a tablecloth on the table. This will give even the most ordinary meal a festive and solemn mood. It is better if the tablecloth is of a light shade. Dishes on such a canvas will look stylish. According to the rules, the tablecloth should hang from the edge of the table by no more than 30 cm.
• Chairs should be placed with some space between them, so that it is comfortable for the diner to sit and not bump the neighbors with their elbows.
• A serving plate is placed at a distance of about 2-3 cm from the edge, which serves as a stand for everything else. Deeper dishes are placed on top. Plates for bread and pies are located on the left. Soups and broths are served in a special soup plate or bowl.
• Cutlery is placed on napkins made of cellulose. They are selected to match the tablecloth. Cloth wipes are rolled up on a plate to protect clothing.

• To the right of the plate are those devices that are held, respectively, in the right hand. Place a tablespoon so that the convex side is on the bottom. The knife should be with the cutting side towards the plate. The tines of the fork should point up. A dessert spoon is placed on top of the plate.
• Some people prefer to drink water with their meals, so it doesn't hurt to put a glass of clean drinking water in front of the knife. In addition to water, the glass can also contain juice, compote or other non-alcoholic drinks.
• Plates with common meals are placed in the center of the table. They are supposed to put cutlery for general use.
• Hot drinks are served in a special coffee pot, and cups are immediately placed on the table. A small saucer should be placed under the cup, and a teaspoon next to it.
• Sugar is poured into a sugar bowl. A serving spoon is served with it. Sugar bowls with a dispenser are often used nowadays.
• All dishes must be perfectly clean, free of chips and cracks.

Vases with fresh flowers, placed in the center of the table, also look very beautiful. They will become an additional decoration and give the table a festive look.

How to use the devices?

A person who comes to a restaurant for the first time may become entangled in a large number various cutlery. The following rule will allow you to feel more confident: the devices lying on the left side of the plate are held only in the left hand. These are usually forks different sizes... A similar rule applies to cutlery on the right - it can be spoons and table knives.

As an exception, you can take a fork in your right hand if there is a crumbly side dish on the plate: rice, buckwheat, mashed potatoes. In other cases, a table knife can help to collect food on a fork.

Sometimes serving includes the presence of several forks and knives at once. In order not to get confused, you can gradually replace the cutlery during the change of dishes, starting with the ones farthest from the plate and ending with the close ones.

You can memorize the following combinations of dishes and the cutlery intended for them:

• dessert is eaten with a teaspoon or a special dessert spoon;
• tablespoons are for soups and broths;
• a fork in combination with a table knife is used for hot meat dishes;
• there is a special fish knife for fish;
• cold snacks are usually eaten with a fork and a knife;
• fruits are allowed to be eaten with hands or with special cutlery.

The rules of etiquette also determine how to properly hold cutlery in your hand:

• Place the spoon in your hand with your thumb on the top of the handle. The broth should be scooped away from you to avoid dripping on your clothes. If there is soup with pieces of meat on the table, then you should first eat the liquid broth, and then cut the meat using cutlery.
• It is recommended to hold the plug so that your fingers are farther from the base. In this case, you can hold both teeth down and up. It depends on the type of food served.
• When using a table knife, the fork is held strictly in the left hand, and the knife in the right. In this case, you can help yourself with your index fingers, they will more accurately direct the pressure of the device.
• The knife can be used to spread butter or pâté on a slice of bread. Do not take pieces of food from the knife or lick the blade.
• When using a meat knife, remember not to cut the entire portion at once. You need to gradually cut off small pieces and eat them.

1. It is necessary to sit at the table with clean hands... If you are visiting, then ask the owner of the house to use their facilities for this purpose.

2. It is necessary to sit at the table at a convenient distance from each other. Not too close and not too far.

3. Watch your seating position at the table. Keep your back straight and your elbows not resting on the table. The arms should be pressed to the body, and only the hands should be on the tablecloth.

4. Do not stretch your legs under the table.

5. The napkin should be placed on your knees and brought to your mouth when necessary. Do not tie a napkin around your neck or tuck it behind your shirt collar like a bib.

6. Before you start eating, you must wait for all guests to have food and the owners of the house are the first to eat. However, if there is a risk that the food served may cool down, hosts may suggest that everyone who has already been served starts eating.

7. Never touch food with your hands, except for bread and breadsticks, which, in any case, must first be broken off from a common piece, and then put into your mouth.

8. The bread you use for your meal should be on a small plate to the left in front of the main course.

9. Do not make noise while eating or drinking.

10. Do not talk on the phone if there are other people at the table besides you.

11. Do not take pictures while eating.

12. Keep your phone in your pocket or bag, but not on your desk.

13. Don't clean your plate with bread.

14. Chew food with your mouth closed.

15. Do not blow on food to cool it.

16. Don't talk while eating.

17. Drink the drink only after swallowing food.

18. For eating, bring a fork or spoon to your mouth, not vice versa. Never tilt your head towards the cutlery, or worse, the plate.

19. In order to finish the soup from the bottom of the plate, tilt it towards the center of the table.

20. Use the knife only to cut food, not to eat from it.

21. For eating, hold a fork between a large and forefinger right hand.

If the fork is used in conjunction with a knife while eating food that needs to be cut, the fork must be held in the left hand and the knife with the right. After cutting the food, the devices do not change places in their hands, that is, the fork with which you will put the food in your mouth remains in your left hand, and the knife in your right.

22. The spoon should be held between the thumb and forefinger of the right hand and should be half full during the meal. It is not allowed to use a spoon together with a fork when using spaghetti.

23. You need to learn how to eat spaghetti by winding them on a fork. Do not suck them directly from the plate into your mouth.

24. In order to make it clear that you have finished eating the dish, you must put the fork and knife in parallel on the plate.

25. If you need to put yourself food that is on the table far from you, then you do not need to reach for it. Ask one of your neighbors to give you this dish with food.

26. In the case of eating food that needs to be cut, cut off the pieces as they are eaten. It is not allowed to first cut the entire portion into pieces, and only then eat.

27. In order to put yourself food from a common dish located in the center of the table, you must use the devices that lie on this dish, it is not allowed to use your own devices.

28. Do not add more food to yourself from the common dish than you can eat, so that after the end of the meal you have nothing left on your plate.

29. It is not allowed to use toothpicks in public.

30. If you need to pour water or wine into a glass, offer to pour them to your neighbors first.

31. In the case of making a toast, everyone should drink. If someone does not drink alcoholic beverages, it is enough to bring the glass to your lips.

32. If a toast is made in honor of one of the guests, it is necessary to raise the glass to face level and extend your hand in the direction of the person in honor of whom the toast is being made.

33. If you want to refuse the drink that you are offered to pour, it is enough to make a slight movement with your hand. There is no need to apologize about this.

33. It is forbidden to smoke during meals or between meals. After meals, smoking is allowed only if there is the consent of the hosts and all guests.

34. From the table you should get up only after eating, unless there are other circumstances in which it is necessary to do it earlier.

All photos from the Internet.