table manners

One thing that always strikes me about the Brits is their undying adherence to table etiquette. Did you realize that Europeans hold their knife in the right hand and fork in the left and manage to never switch? Also of interest, the fork is held with the curvature facing the plate whereas Americans have been more successful using the fork as a baby shovel. Anyway, the point of all this is that I investigated dining etiquette last night in an effort to get some answers and found that there are so many rules! Please see list below:

"General Etiquette Rules:

1. Arrive at least 10 minutes early unless otherwise specified.


2. Pass food from the left to the right.


3. If asked for the salt or pepper, pass both together, even if a table mate asks for only one of them. This is so dinner guests won't have to search for orphaned shakers.


4. Set any passed item, whether it's the salt and pepper shakers, a bread basket, or a butter plate, directly on the table instead of passing hand-to-hand. Never intercept a pass. Snagging a roll out of the breadbasket or taking a shake of salt when it is en route to someone else is a no-no.


5. Food is served from the left. Dishes are removed from the right.


6. Butter, spreads, or dips should be transferred from the serving dish to your plate before spreading or eating.


7. Never turn a wine glass upside down to decline wine. It is more polite to let the wine be poured and not draw attention. Otherwise, hold your hand over the wine glass to signal that you don't want any wine.


8. Always scoop food away from you.


9. Taste your food before seasoning it.


10. Do try a little of everything on your plate.


11. Don't blow on your food to cool it off. If it is too hot to eat, take the hint and wait.


12. Keep elbows off the table. Keep your left hand in your lap unless you are using it.
13. Cut only enough food for the next mouthful. Eat in small bites and slowly.


14. Don't clean up spills with your own napkin and don't touch items that have dropped on the floor. You can use your napkin to protect yourself from spills. Then, simply and politely ask your server to clean up and to bring you a replacement for the soiled napkin or dirty utensil.


15. Whenever a woman leaves the table or returns to sit, all men seated with her should stand up.


16. Do not push your dishes away from you or stack them for the waiter when you are finished. Leave plates and glasses where they are.

My aunt got me a table manners book when I was a younger. Maybe I should have read it. But, maybe Americans are just more efficient? Or maybe just more obese...