Simple Dining Etiquette

Here are some essential dining etiquette that you should follow

1. Turn off your cell phone before sitting down. It is rude to talk on your phone or text while in the company of others.

2. Never talk when you have food in your mouth. That’s just gross. Even if someone asks you a question, wait until you swallow before answering.

3. Taste your food before you add salt, pepper, or other seasoning; doing otherwise may be insulting to the host or hostess.

4. Don’t cut all your food before you begin eating. Cut one or two bites at a time.

5. Never blow on your food. If it is hot, wait a few minutes for it to cool off. 

6. Scoop your soup away from you.

7. If you are drinking from a stemmed glass, hold it by the stem.

8. Break your bread into bite-sized pieces and butter only one bite at a time.

9. Try at least one or two bites of everything on your plate, unless you are allergic to it.

10. Compliment the hostess if you like the food, but don’t voice your opinion if you don’t.

11. Use your utensils for eating, not gesturing.

12. Keep your elbows off the table. Rest the hand you are not using on your lap.

13. Eat slowly and pace yourself to finish at the same approximate time as the host or hostess.

14. Avoid burping or making other rude sounds at the table. Countries like India, Turkey, some Middle Eastern countries, and China love it when you belch and burp loud after a meal. It's a sign of appreciation and satiety.

 Egyptians, Cambodians, Koreans, and Filipinos, and many other African countries believe that finishing all the food in your plate either means you are gullible or your host did not provide enough food and so they keep giving you more (Remember the story of Zik and Abubakar). But in Japan, it means the meal was good and you appreciate it. 

To be safe, when in a strange land, eat gently and do it right by observing others at the table.

15. If you spill something at a restaurant, signal one of the servers to help. If you spill something at a private dinner party in someone’s home, pick it up and blot the spill. Offer to have it professionally cleaned if necessary.

16. When you finish eating, leave your utensils on your plate or in your bowl.

17. Never use a toothpick or dental floss at the table. They should be used in private, not as you walk out of the restaurant and not at the table. 

18. Though not very much acceptable, you may reapply your lipstick, but don’t freshen the rest of your makeup at the table.

19. It is rude, very rude to wave away a server. If you do no want something, just say, 'No, thank you'. 

20. Eat from inside out, not the other way round. 

21. Keep your purses/handbags off the dining table.