Please take that Spoon off your Nose

A Dallas, Texas native, of course I went to charm school and cotillion. However, after four years in college drinking wine out of Franzia bags and food out of Chinese Take Out boxes, I know that those refined table manners and dining etiquette skills can get rusty. Fast.

Enter the corporate world—the ultimate arena for table manners and dining etiquette judging. Alas, all is not lost as the RSP is here for a crash course review! We want people focusing on you and your genius business ideas, not your etiquette faux pas. Happy dining.

 Tableware and Flatware:

• Study the diagram above to ensure you know which pieces belong to your place setting
• When in doubt with flatware items, work your way from the outside inwards
• You can place your fork and knife on your plate while eating; however when done, place both side by side in the center of the plate

Wine Etiquette:

• Do not move your glass towards the server. Let him or her come to you
• Hold your glass by the stem
• Wine is offered for you to taste to see if it is damaged. This is not an opportunity for you to send it back because you don’t like how it tastes

Napkins:

• Put your napkin in your lap once you are seated
• If you leave the table mid meal, place your napkin on your chair
• When the meal is over, place your napkin next to the plate (not in the plate)
• Do not wipe your face or nose with your napkin during the meal

Passing Dishes:

• Pass dishes from the left to the right
• Never reach across the table.
• Always pass the salt and pepper as a pair

Cues from the Host:

• Wait for the host to take a seat before you sit down
• Wait until the host lifts his or her fork or knife before digging in to your food
• When the host places his or her napkin on the table, wrap things up. This is a signal that the dinner should end soon and you should follow in placing your napkin on the table

No-Nos:

• Elbows on the table
• Answering a cell phone call at the table
• Chewing with your mouth open
• Announcing that you are going to the restroom or need to go take a cell phone call