Dining With Etiquette

Twenty Definite No-No’s

1. Don’t put liquid of any kind in your mouth while there is still food in it. Swallow first. The only exception is if hot food is scalding your mouth and a cold drink is applied as first aid.
2. Don’t spit inedible objects into your palm and put them back on your plate. Use an inconspicuous motion to remove the fish bone or whatever with your thumb and forefinger. Then, place it on your bread and butter plate.
3. Gum! Never at the table.
4. Don’t chew with your mouth open.
5. Don’t talk with food in your mouth.
6. Don’t replenish the supply of food in your mouth before you have swallowed the previous mouthful.
7. Don’t blow your nose using your napkin, its sole purpose is to wipe your mouth.
8. Don’t use your napkin, handkerchief, the tablecloth or anything else to clean your silverware. If it isn’t clean, discreetly ask the waiter for another piece.
9. Don’t fiddle with your silverware. You will look nervous and make others edgy.
10. Don’t leave the coffee spoon in your cup while drinking from it. Similarly, don’t treat the spoon and cup as a musical instrument making clinking noises as you stir.
11. Enjoy you meal quietly! Don’t smack you lips or heave sighs of satisfaction after swallowing.
12. Holding two items of food in two hands is unacceptable.
13. Don’t try the “boarding house reach”, ask someone to pass you any item that is out of arms reach.
14. Don’t share someone’s food by spearing it with a fork and guiding it across the table like a toy airplane! The correct way is to pass the person your bread plate or main plate and request a little of the food be put on it.
15. Don’t mash all the food together in the center of your plate.
16. Don’t dunk!
17. Don’t apply cosmetics at the table – not even lipstick
18. Elbows off the table!
19. Never read at the table if anyone else is present.
20. Don’t lean back on the rear legs of your chair. You could break the chair, or worse your neck!

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