The top five dining etiquette tips
I was recently interviewed by a journalist for Investment Executive (a great resource for financial advisors in Canada) for some advice on avoiding the biggest dining etiquette mistakes people make at the business lunch.
Here are the top five table manners tips I shared:
Tip #1 – I think that’s my bread plate
Many people aren’t familiar with the basic table setting and large round tables can be particularly confusing. Your bread plate is always to your left and your water glass is on your right. If someone inadvertently takes your bread plate (and someone invariably will) don’t make a big deal of it, just let it go.
Tip #2 – My that’s an “interesting” way to hold your knife and fork
Be mindful of how you hold your utensils when eating. Your table mates may not know all the table manners rules but they know what awkward looks like. Don’t grip your fork like a baseball bat or your knife like you’re going to stab someone.
Cut and eat small pieces of food because Murphy’s Law states that when you
have food in your mouth, someone always asks you a question .
Tip #3 – A napkin isn’t a hankie
Never blow your nose into your napkin. Proper dining etiquette says if you need to leave the table during the meal, the napkin goes on your chair.
Tip #4 – When it comes to wine… get a grip
A glass of white wine should be held by the stem so as not to warm up the wine. If you get in the habit of holding every wine glass by the stem, you won’t go wrong.
Tip #5 – Signal your success at the table
To signal to the wait staff that you’ve finished eating, place your knife and fork together in the five o’clock position on the right side of your plate. Never scrunch your napkin up and throw it on your plate. Simply loosely fold your napkin and place it on the left-hand side of the plate.
The easy way to look good at the restaurant table
Our video and online dining etiquette training (which is rated #1 online business dining course by none other than the Wall Street Journal) is the easiest way to ensure you look great at the restaurant table. Click here to read the complete article by Fiona Collie on the Investment Executive website.
Hi there, after reading this amazing paragraph i am also delighted to share my knowledge here with friends.
Hi Joanne
I took your workshop at a Canadian Payroll Association Conference in Edmonton a couple of years ago and signed up for your e-newsletters. I enjoy reading them as sometimes it hits on things that I think about. To see things in print to show people, as an example, is great for supporting my thoughts. I frequently am a bit discontented with people’s manners. While reading the ‘Mistake #1’ item in your recent newsletter I needed to tell you this little item to add to it.
While attending a conference at a huge round table, the very esteemed and confident women sitting next to me said “Remember BMW, Bread- Meal- Water”…..so when you look at your setting it is always the same….I have used that example so many times and folks are sold on it each time and I don’t feel like I am being a nag…it is a ‘golden teaching moment’…people are always grateful to learn it….particularly when going for their water….I really enjoy reading your newsletters….