Marigold Harding, Contributor

Harding

You have heard the expression, "first impression lasts forever". It only takes a few minutes for a person to form an opinion ofyou and once a judgement is made, it is not easy

Throughout history, the table has been the centre of the home and social life. The table brings people together. The table encourages socialising. Families connect, executives clinch contracts, lovers flirt and heads of state cement delicate alliances at the table.

There are certain social graces that everyone needs to learn. Good habits begin at home. Without etiquette (of any kind), you limit your potential, risk your image and jeopardise your success.

You might ask, "what is the primary rule governing table manners?" The answer is simple "consideration for others". Do you use the same table manners when dinning "family style" as when dinning in restaurants or on other formal and informal occasions? The answer is yes. Good table manners apply even though the environment or the setting will change. Knowing them helps you to have confidence that you are behaving appropriately.

We must never assume that others will not notice or will be understanding of poor manners and lack of dinning skills.

Remember:

You have a responsibility as a host and as a guest.

You need to know when to begin a meal.

How to properly use a napkin.

How to hold your flatware properly.

Where to put your hands.

Manoeuvring foods that are difficult to eat.

When to discuss business at a business meal.

Who makes the toast and when.

How to behave when you are on a diet.

How to indicate when you are finished.

What to do with the cellular phone.

Table manners play an important part in making impressions. They are visible signals of the state of your manners.

It is a good idea to practice good table manners on a daily basis at the family dinning table, or even when eating alone. Table manners become second nature when used routinely and lessens any missteps whether you are dinning inside or outside your home. When you do not have to worry about how you are eating, you are better able to focus on the people with whom you are dinning.

General Dining Etiquette

The correct procedure for eating and drinking in company worries many people quite unnecessarily.

Here are some procedures to remember:

Food is served from the left. Plates are cleared from the right.

For soup, dip into the soup from the edge of the bowl to the middle moving away from you. Only fill the spoon 3/4 full to avoid spilling. Sip not slurp from the edge of the spoon. Do not insert the whole bowl of soup in to your mouth.

It is proper to tip the bowl slightly away from you to get all the soup. If the soup is too hot let it cool. Do not blow on it.

Taste your food before adding seasonings.

Do not ask to taste someone else's food. Similarly, do not offer a taste of your food to someone else.

Do not talk with your mouthful.

Cut only enough food for a mouthful.

Never turn your glass upside down to decline wine. It might be interpreted as a sign of protest. It is more polite to let the wine be poured than to draw attention to yourself. When you are asked about wine and you will not be drinking, quietly decline. A well-trained waiter will remove the glass or turn the glass upside down.

Do not smoke at the table, nowadays smoking is almost not allowed in dinning rooms.