A plea from one of our readers:

Please tell people to never, never, ever deposit a linen (cloth) napkin on a food plate to be taken away. I see this table manners mistake all the time and think it is extremely rude and inconsiderate, if not to say “disgusting”. Just think of the poor person  who has to fish the napkin out in the kitchen (they also get dirty themselves). I would hate to touch these and think of the poor personnel in the laundry who have to get these things clean again when they are soaked in sauces which often contain things like red wine, gravy, beet juice etc. (not to mention the extra cost for the restaurant). How rude! How déclassé! How gauche! How awful!

Signed,

Disgusted

Dear Disgusted,

If you don’t know, even your best friend won’t tell you, but we will.

When it comes to how to hold your knife and fork, our dining tips and table manners advice center on the style of eating you follow. We often ask our audiences what style of eating they use and we’re always surprised at how many people don’t know.

Pick a style

Are you a vegetarian? Or do you have a friend or family member who has some food issues?

Need some advice how to not starve or look like a picky eater?

Want some table manners tips on what you can order if you get stuck dining at Tony’s Palace of Meats or the Vulture Restaurant? You’re not alone, we often get these questions at our dining etiquette seminars.

Here’s our recent advice for some questions posted in our Dining For Success online training forum.

Q: Will that be meat or… meat?