Life Desk :
There are certain rules to be followed on the table while dining. We may teach our kids not to make noise while eating or hold the spoon with the right hand, but there are actually a number of etiquettes that we ourselves are not aware of. In a brief chit-chat, Rajat Singhi, Founder and Creative director Address Home spoke to us about a few essential table manners that are a must for fine dining, whether at home or outside.
Seating etiquette
At formal functions or house parties, one should wait for the host to direct everyone to their respective seats or probably one should ask which would be the best seat for them to take since a host might have reserved a place for the guest of honour.
Serviette etiquette
At a casual meal we usually place the serviette (table napkin) right onto our laps when we find our seat, however, a formal occasion requires you to wait until the host removes the serviette from the table and unfolds it on his/her lap.
Food serving etiquette
Any formal dinner needs to have food being served to the guests at the dinner table and that too from the left side of the diner. At informal meals, the host serves the food onto the guests’ plates or simply passes around the dishes for them to help themselves with the food. Dishes should be passed clockwise.
Cutlery etiquette
Most of us are confused about handling cutlery. Here are the rules you must know.
· The fork should be held in the left hand with its tines downward.
· Knife needs to be held in the right hand, an inch or two above the plate. Extend the index finger along the top of the blade while holding it.
· A fork is used to spear and lift food to the mouth.
When to begin
At a small gathering where there are not many guests, one should wait for everyone to get served with food and then begin. At formal and big gatherings one should wait for the host to announce when to start with the meal.
Taking a pause
Ideally, when you pause over a conversation and leave your food to talk or take a sip of your drink, the knife and fork need to be near the centre, slightly angled in an inverted V.
Ending the meal
A formal dinner usually has servers who help clear the table and the guests are not bothered to do anything, however, at an informal or family meal the host is busy clearing plates and dishes. As a good thought, one should take their plates along with the cutlery they used to the kitchen and leave for rinsing.
-Internet
There are certain rules to be followed on the table while dining. We may teach our kids not to make noise while eating or hold the spoon with the right hand, but there are actually a number of etiquettes that we ourselves are not aware of. In a brief chit-chat, Rajat Singhi, Founder and Creative director Address Home spoke to us about a few essential table manners that are a must for fine dining, whether at home or outside.
Seating etiquette
At formal functions or house parties, one should wait for the host to direct everyone to their respective seats or probably one should ask which would be the best seat for them to take since a host might have reserved a place for the guest of honour.
Serviette etiquette
At a casual meal we usually place the serviette (table napkin) right onto our laps when we find our seat, however, a formal occasion requires you to wait until the host removes the serviette from the table and unfolds it on his/her lap.
Food serving etiquette
Any formal dinner needs to have food being served to the guests at the dinner table and that too from the left side of the diner. At informal meals, the host serves the food onto the guests’ plates or simply passes around the dishes for them to help themselves with the food. Dishes should be passed clockwise.
Cutlery etiquette
Most of us are confused about handling cutlery. Here are the rules you must know.
· The fork should be held in the left hand with its tines downward.
· Knife needs to be held in the right hand, an inch or two above the plate. Extend the index finger along the top of the blade while holding it.
· A fork is used to spear and lift food to the mouth.
When to begin
At a small gathering where there are not many guests, one should wait for everyone to get served with food and then begin. At formal and big gatherings one should wait for the host to announce when to start with the meal.
Taking a pause
Ideally, when you pause over a conversation and leave your food to talk or take a sip of your drink, the knife and fork need to be near the centre, slightly angled in an inverted V.
Ending the meal
A formal dinner usually has servers who help clear the table and the guests are not bothered to do anything, however, at an informal or family meal the host is busy clearing plates and dishes. As a good thought, one should take their plates along with the cutlery they used to the kitchen and leave for rinsing.
-Internet
