Dining Etiquette
Manners for the Table
As meals are social events, it is essential to practice proper manners. This includes setting the table, serving yourself and others, using utensils, and cleaning up. It also can mean dealing with those unexpected dining difficulties, such as specific allergies, unruly children, or guests that over-wear their stay. As with any social situation, consideration for those around you can make a world of difference to the outcome.
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Basic Table Setting
The Basic Table Setting is easy to master and comes in handy at home, over the holidays and at restaurants.
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Informal Place Setting
The informal table setting is perfect for informal three course dinners, casual but upscale dinner parties,…
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The Formal Place Setting
The formal place setting is used at home for a meal of more than three courses, such as a dinner party…
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Video: Downton Abbey Table Setting Challenge
Calling all Downton Abbey fans! On January 6, 2013, at the Essex Resort and Spa in Essex, Vermont, Anna…
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Texting at the Dinner Table
“What about text messaging at the dinner table?” it's an easy answer – “It’s not good manners!”
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Lipstick at the Table
In general, personal grooming should be done in private. But putting on lipstick without using a mirror…
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Tea Traditions Around the World
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Video: How to Set the Family Dinner Table
Lizzie Post explains how to set the table for a family-style dinner in this video. Enjoy!
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Top Ten Table Manners
Table manners have evolved over centuries to make the practice of eating with others pleasant and sociable.…
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Passing Food at the Table
Find out which direction to pass food at the dinner table and why we do it this way.
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Top Questions for Dining Out
Good table manners go beyond knowing how to use your utensils correctly. They are also about navigating…
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Finer Points of Tipping
Tipping is one of the most stressful and confusing aspects of etiquette today. It is a significant way…
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Printable Placemat for Learning How to Set the Table
Help teach kids how to set the table with this free, easy-to-use placemat! Just print it out and have…
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Sunday Dinner: An Old Tradition in a New Light
Sunday dinner is making a comeback. When you think about it, it’s an ideal way to entertain: long, lazy…
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Guide to Food and Drink
From artichokes to tea, how to eat and drink tricky foods—and what to do when you encounter the unexpected.
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How To Eat Soup the Proper Way
The short answer to “How to eat soup?” is to eat it so you don’t make a mess. Follow these tips to master…
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Common Tea Questions
Drinking tea is often a shared experience, and comes with many questions about pinkies, spoons, tea bags,…
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All About Toasting
Toasts can range from the most routine – “To us!” – to the most touching – an homage from the father…
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Toasts and Toasting: Tips you can use Today
There are few traditions as sacred as that of the toast. What may have started as a libation offering…