This article is going to share with you 8 questions about dinner invitation best practices. You will learn some dining etiquette and how to act correctly and how to be polite at the dinner table?.
So, as always bring your chocolate bar and let’s learn the best practices.
These are the questions we going to answer in this article:
- When you’re invited to the dinner table where should you sit?
- What is the difference between a cool drink and a soft drink?
- Do you take your glass with you or leave it in the living room when you are asked to go to a dinner table?
- Where do you put the serviette when you start eating?
- What is the side knife used for and at what stage of the dinner?
- When Europeans start eating, what they usually say?
- What is the famous rule about the last piece of food on the serving dish?
- What do you do with your knife and fork when you want to indicate that you have finished eating?
1. When you’re invited to the dinner table where should you sit?
In a formal event usually, the traditional seating plan is a man sitting next to a woman, the same thing for couples.
At a formal dinner table, you will find mine cart your name card on the table, this shows where you should seat. And the more important you are, the closer you are to the host.
2. What is the difference between a cool drink and a soft drink?
![](https://nappot.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/pexels-photo-4021976-1024x682.jpeg)
Usually, when you are invited to an event, the host will ask you whether you prefer a cool drink or a soft drink.
Here are the difference:
- Cool drink: is a drink with ice, it can also be alcoholic.
- Soft drink: can be a fruit juice or a fizzy drink like a Pepsi.
3. Do you take your glass with you or leave it in the living room when you are asked to go to a dinner table?
You should definitely leave your glass in the living room, even if it’s full. Unless the host request to bring it with you.
4. Where do you put the serviette when you start eating?
You should put it on your lap.
5. What is the side knife used for and at what stage of the dinner?
Usually, we use the side knife to butter the bread at the start of the meal.
6. When Europeans start eating, what they usually say?
French people usually say Bon appetite, however, English people usually just start eating or keep talking.
7. What is the famous rule about the last piece of food on the serving dish?
People are usually reluctant to take the last piece of food unless the host asked for that.
8. What do you do with your knife and fork when you want to indicate that you have finished eating?
![](https://nappot.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/food-g20c204fea_1920-1024x683.jpg)
The best sign is to place your knife and fork together with the handles facing you, whether on the table or inside the plate.
How to be polite at the dinner table?
When the guests sit down at the dinner table. It is polite to compliment the sitting on the table, The following words will show how you do appreciate the host’s efforts. For instance, you can say:
- What a nice table they’ve got,
- What a lovely table,
- Oh everything looks wonderful something smells delicious too
If the party is informal usually you will find all the food on the table and the guests help themselves. Read more: informal-invitation-what-not-to-do.
It’s a more formal dinner party the host will serve you the main dish and may ask you to help yourself with the second dish, usually the vegetables and the salad. Read more: best-practices-what-not-to-do-at-a-dinner-table.
A typical conversation between the host and the guest when serving the food:
![](https://nappot.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/pexels-photo-5768969-1024x682.jpeg)
The host may say:
- Let me serve everyone with this, could you ask me your plate, please?
Also, the host may say: “do say when” which means you should inform him or let him know when you have enough on your plate.
You might just reply with:
- That’s fine for me, thanks.
Bear in mind that it’s considered impolite to pile your plate with your first helping, as you will be automatically offered a second helping by the host. So don’t be dismayed if you are served a small portion at first.
When offering a second helping, the conversation might be:
- Host: Would you like some more?
- Guest: Oh, yes, please. It is delicious. Or No, thanks, I’ve got quite enough.
What to say during the eating?
While it is polite to compliment the host with some general polite phrases, here are some:
- This is an excellent source.
- This is really tasty.
- Mm, it is truly delicious.
- I did not know you are such a good cook.
- This is just like my mother used to make it.
That’s it for today, thank you so much for reading this article. You may also want to read: 5-good-gestures-to-apply-when-visiting-someone.
picture source: pexels.com
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