There are all kinds of opportunities to memorize, such as dates, meeting the parents, lunch with the boss, let alone the holidays and festivals, plus more and more job interviews are being taken over a dinner table. From the beginning of time, the act of dining together has had a great social significance. A lack of training is betrayed more quickly at the table than anywhere else. Below are some general manners in social dinners that you can consult.
◇Traditionally, the fork is held horizontally, which is balanced by the first knuckle of the middle finger and the tip of the index finger while the handle is steadied by the thumb. The knife is used with the tip of the index finger which slightly presses out over the top of the blade to guide as you cut. They can be used either singly or in pair.
◇Hold the spoon by the handle and dip the larger end into your food. Scoop up and put into your mouth.
◇As soon as you sit down, open your napkin and put it on your lap. Don’t remove the napkin from your lap (except for use) until the end of the meal. That’s when the diners finish dinner, not just when you do!
◇Don’t clear spills with your own napkin and don’t pick up items that have dropped on the floor. You can use your napkin to prevent yourself from being disturbed by spills. Then, simply and politely ask your waiter to clean up and to bring you an alternative for the polluted napkin or dirty utensil.
◇Turn off your mobile phone or change it to silent or vibrate mode before sitting down to eat, and keep it in your pocket or purse. It is ill-mannered to answer a phone during dinner. If you must give or answer a call, excuse yourself from the table and go outside of the restaurant.
◇It is impolite to blow your nose at the dinner table. Excuse yourself to go to the washroom. Wash your hands before you return to the dining-room. If you cough, cover your mouth with your napkin to stop the circulation of germs and mute the noise. If your cough becomes uncontrollable, excuse yourself to go to the restroom. Wash your hands before you return to the dining-room.