How nice to eat? Etiquette: rules of conduct at the table. How to use cutlery. Rules of conduct at the table while eating Basic rules of table etiquette in brief

Young parents are not always serious about the advice of their elders in raising children, and teaching their baby the rules of behavior at the table is considered the tenth thing. So it comes down in some families to completely non-pedagogical shouts: “don’t champ, close your mouth and chew, sit up straight, don’t rock in your chair, don’t grab from the table before dinner…”. On this they consider their mission completed. And the grandmother knows for sure that in a few years parents will have to blush for such an undergrowth. Or another situation, the kid has been poking around in the soup for half an hour, choosing from there what he likes best, as a result pushing the plate away, spilling the contents on the floor, on the table and on himself ... A familiar situation? Forgivable if the child is only a year old. What if it's four or five? Where is the line between childish awkwardness and lack of good manners? And when should you start introducing your child to the basics of etiquette? Let's see what the rules of behavior for children at the table should be.

Everyone remembers a few unpleasant moments when a neighbor's teenager or a kid invited to a children's party simply disrupted lunch with their behavior. They talked loudly, stretched across the table for the best piece of cake, slurped, and even choked, not chewing food. The list of unacceptable acts is endless.

Let's protect ourselves from such behavior of a son or daughter in the future. Let's try to systematize the training of our crumbs in good manners, so that it is not burdensome either for them or for us. The best age to start training is 1.5 - 2 years. Naturally, at this age, the child will not be able to understand all the rules of adult etiquette. Yes, this is not necessary.

When to teach? Everything has its time

Table manners for kids are slightly different from adult etiquette, because many hyperactive children become little pranksters during meals. Most children learn good manners before the age of 5. But you need to start teaching a child as early as 1.5 - 2 years. Of course, there may be exceptions to the rules, but be aware that the later you start training, the more difficult your lessons will be for your child.

We read an article on how to teach a child to eat independently and carefully -

from 1.5 to 5

• At this age, the child is actively mastering the skills of the world around him. He absorbs everything he sees, tries to imitate adults. It's time to learn the basics of etiquette in a playful way;
• It is mandatory to wash your hands before eating. Mom herself should not forget to wash her hands before feeding the baby. Before each meal, she should go to the bathroom with the baby and wash her hands and herself and him. Over time, it will do this automatically;
• Feeding the baby should definitely take place at the dinner table, and not in the nursery and not in front of the TV. This will help your child to take food seriously in the future, to respect the work of those who prepare food. Put the baby on a high chair so that he does not look out from under the table, but feels like an equal member of the family;
• Lay a linen napkin on your baby's lap. Clothes will stay clean even if the child spills soup or tea. As an adult, having a napkin in a restaurant will not put your child into a stupor;
• Do not let the child play with food, crumble bread, spread porridge on the table. Such behavior is not permissible even at 2 years old. Try to patiently explain to the baby that it’s ugly to behave like that, that mom is ashamed of him. Mom and dad never act like that. Of course, the baby will not listen to you the first time;
• Only one rule: never yell at him. Be patient and consistent in your demands. It is impossible today to forbid something, and tomorrow not to notice what was created by the child;
• By the age of five, children should already be able to handle a fork and knife, while children's. They should not be confused that the knife should be held in the right hand and the fork in the left hand. By this age, you need to teach the child which foods are eaten with the help of appliances, and which ones are taken by hand.

5 to 10

The most fruitful age for education, but also the most difficult. During this period, the child does not so unconditionally trust the words of the parents. He already independently tries to understand the life and actions of the people around him.

Mom and dad should not allow any indulgence for themselves in the ritual of eating. If you teach a child not to drink juices from a package, but to pour them into a glass, it would be unacceptable to violate this rule yourself. Or just one day forget to wash your hands before dinner. Or not to thank the hostess for dinner. The child will notice this, and your words will no longer be true for him.

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At 5 - 6 years old, the baby must learn how to behave at the table and no longer violate accepted norms. Each violation must be discussed with the child at the family council. This will help him understand the seriousness of the demands of adults. But in no case should a “debriefing” be carried out in the presence of strangers, in a derogatory manner or with the help of shouting and swearing.

• The kid already knows that you need to sit at the dining table straight, not swaying in a chair. It is unacceptable to spread your elbows and push your neighbors on the table with them. If it is difficult to enforce this rule with words, the reception with books helps a lot. During lunch, stick your child's armpit on a book and ask them to hold them until the end of the meal. A few of these exercises, and there will be no problems with the elbows;
• The child does not allow himself to champ loudly, speak with a full mouth. It was instilled in him constantly. He also knows that you need to put small pieces of food in your mouth and chew them thoroughly;
• The kid is holding back belching and coughing. If this is not possible, he must turn away from the table and cover his mouth with a paper napkin;
• It will be quite natural for a child under 10 years old to know that one cannot consider himself the center of society and attract everyone's attention to his person with various loud demands. If the baby needs to move away from the table, he should ask permission from one of the parents in a quiet voice, calmly. It is not necessary for everyone to know what he wants to go to the toilet;
• You can not reach for a plate at the other end of the table through all the dishes. The child knows that he needs to ask to put the desired piece on his plate. You can’t rummage through a common dish in search of the best piece;
• You can sit down at the table only after adults, and get up after everyone has eaten. If you do not want to sit and listen to the conversations of adults, the child simply asks permission to leave;
• Gratitude for lunch should definitely manifest itself in the form of a magic word “thank you”.

10 and older

You did a good job teaching your offspring excellent manners and etiquette. However, it is too early to relax. He knows what every intelligent person should know and observe. But the rules of good manners and behavior at the table are not limited to this. Ahead is the study of special cutlery that is not used daily. It would be nice to introduce your child to how to eat various exotic dishes. It will not be superfluous to have general knowledge about the food traditions of the peoples of the world.

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1. Don't talk to your child in a didactic tone. For a better assimilation of the rules of etiquette, a game form of training is suitable. You can come up with a dinner party for dolls and bears, setting the table with toy dishes according to all adult standards. Responsible for this dinner, of course, will be your child. And you just prompt and advise in time.
2. Be consistent and patient in your learning. Do not allow yourself to take it out on the child, even if he has done something unacceptable. Do not forget to praise and support the child for success.
3. Involve your child in preparing dinner. Entrust him to arrange the plates, bring the bread to the table. Working together will bring together and make the baby more respectful of food and the one who cooks dinner.
4. Call on cartoons and fairy tales that talk about the rules of etiquette to help you. Discuss with your child the scene you just saw from the movie on the topic. Don't skip real life examples. The rules of behavior at the table should be vividly woven into reality, this is not a frozen dogma.
5. Your own example is the best lesson. Children always imitate adults. Let's use this for learning. Of course, it is not easy to always control yourself and not let you grab a piece of delicious food on the fly, but remember about the child.

Why should a child be taught etiquette?

Your efforts will not be in vain. Adult life will very soon become your baby's life. A joint lunch with a potential employer, a visit to a restaurant with a girl you like, a business dinner with partners, a corporate party ... Often the most serious conversations are held at the dinner table. We read an article with comments and experiments

Video minute: table etiquette

Psychologists say that it is necessary to teach a child the rules of etiquette at the table from early childhood: from a year to two:

How to sit at the table

Lessons in good manners. How to behave at the table? How to sit, what can and should not be done at the table? You will learn in the lessons of good manners:

How Koksik and Shunya learned the rules of table manners

Even the smallest member of our society knows that at the table one "must behave" in a certain manner. What can and cannot be done during meals is laid down by parents in early childhood. The rules of behavior at the table for children begin with the game "in adults", are gradually transferred to the regime moments of meals, and become the norm of behavior.

Table etiquette- this is not only the cultural coloring of the process of eating. Observing the rules of behavior at the table, the main life tasks are solved:

1. Improves digestion;
2. The admission process becomes easier;
3. The rules of hygiene are observed;
4. Prevention of accidents at the table.

History and culture of food

The rules of behavior at the table appeared, probably, before the table itself. They were not invented by the communists in their unique organization of schools and kindergartens. The first mention of table etiquette appeared in the ancient world. There are references to this in the texts of the ancient Sumerians. They say that a person must be highly moral and comply with ethical standards- this is what is given to man by the gods and distinguishes people from animals. Failure to comply with the rules of conduct, according to the ancient Sumerians, leads to negativity in his life.

Eating is the most important process. He was always surrounded by all sorts of rituals and rules that strictly regulated who, when, where, what to eat. The first rules were inseparably connected with the family hierarchy, the organization of life, the way of cooking, and with the food itself. Breaking the rules while eating was considered something unforgivable, shameful and condemned (and sometimes punished) at all times, in any culture. Life was changing, the life of a person - the rules were changing along with it. Family ceremonies have made room and have given way to the culture and aesthetics of food. Table manners are increasingly based on secular ethics than on religious and national traditions.

Why do we need rules at the table

Compliance with the rules and etiquette at the table is not the prerogative of a certain social group of people. It has nothing to do with the level of wealth or the social status of the family. " We are from the simple, from the workers. Why do we need all these tablecloths, napkins, forks and knives? Why is this for my child?”- Kindergarten teachers sometimes have to hear something like that. It is important to understand that the culture of food and behavior is not whims, not a desire to “show off” in front of others. The fact is that following certain rules of table etiquette makes sense and has specific benefits for children. Let's consider some of them:

1. Washing hands before eating protects the body from getting pathogenic bacteria along with food;
2. Table setting using a clean tablecloth and disposable napkins protects food from contact with the dining table cover;
3. The requirement to “do not spin” and not talk while eating is the prevention of serious incidents at the table (the child may choke);
4. The request to “take your time”, sit up straight and chew food thoroughly is nothing more than helping the stomach to digest what has been eaten quickly and easily;
5. A napkin placed on the knee (or on the chest) will protect clothes from contamination.

I would especially like to highlight the use of special cutlery during the meal. Many still believe that this is nothing more than the deliberate behavior of the upper class, in order to show their skills and knowledge in this area. It's not like that at all. To skillfully use the devices, you do not need to be a representative of a certain group. The use of appliances is intended not to exhaust, but to facilitate the actions of the diner.. Meat is much more convenient to eat, cut into pieces (rather than biting whole from a fork), it is convenient to cut fish with a special fork, and eat dessert with a small spoon or fork. It's true?

Rules of behavior at the table in kindergarten

The issue of organizing baby food in a preschool educational institution is an important task that the kindergarten team solves in its multifaceted approach. Proper healthy nutrition of preschoolers is accompanied by its proper organization. For young children, everything is grown-up: a set table, aesthetically attractive, and, of course, the rules of behavior for children at the table. It's easy to understand, in a group of 20 to 35 people, a dinner organized without rules of conduct and discipline would turn into chaos with a high degree of risk to the health (life) of children. But this doesn't happen. The study of the rules of conduct and norms of etiquette in the preschool educational institution does not occur occasionally, but in the process of all regime moments. Eating is the most important moment, there is a special approach to it. This is understood by both parents and children themselves.

The task of educating a culture of behavior at the table among preschoolers is clearly formulated in the preschool programs, taking into account the age characteristics of the groups.

Memo "Rules of behavior at the table for older preschoolers"

1. Sit straight, do not "fall apart";
2. Feet together, do not cross your legs;
3. Don't shuffle your feet;
4. Don't talk while eating;
5. Do not twist and do not push;
6. Eat and don't get dirty, don't spill food on the tablecloth;
7. Do not bite off large pieces - eat slowly;
8. Eat with your mouth closed, do not champ;
9. Hold your spoon, fork and knife correctly;
10. Do not crumble bread, bite it over a plate;
11. Bend over the spoon, do not carry it to your mouth;
12. When drinking, raise the cup to your mouth;
13. After eating, put the cutlery on the table;
14. When you get up from the table, push your chair back and thank the adults.

Table manners at school

Of course, a school is not a kindergarten. Its main function, after all, is educational, and educational only secondary. At school, children are only half a day, but at school, children also eat. Meals for schoolchildren are organized in the school canteen. Children all eat together, and the time for eating is quite short - only 15-20 minutes. Therefore, compliance with the rules of conduct at the table is mandatory.

Rules of conduct in the school cafeteria

1. Don't run. One must walk to and from the dining room at a normal pace so as not to become a victim or cause of painful injury;
2. Wash your hands before eating;
3. Do not rush to take a seat, do not push your comrades aside;
4. Follow the order;
5. Walk calmly around the dining room, look under your feet so as not to slip;
6. Don't wave your arms when you're holding utensils;
7. Do not talk while eating, eat with your mouth closed;
8. Use cutlery correctly. Remember what is eaten with a spoon and what with a fork and knife;
9. Use napkins;
10. Do not drop food on the floor, and if you drop it, pick it up;
11. Do not speak badly about dishes - respect the work of cooks;
12. After eating, clean up your dishes;
13. Be polite, thank the cafeteria workers.

It is important to remember that children do not take the culture of behavior at the table from books or memos, but they adopt it from their parents. Do you want your child to have an idea about proper nutrition, its organization? Means, pay attention to how the table is organized in your family? Cover the table with a tablecloth, no need to wait for special occasions. Use beautiful appliances, be nice to each other at the table. Get together more often - this greatly strengthens the family, an atmosphere of trust is created. Let these little things become the norm in your home. Add your own special family rituals that your grown children will proudly bring to their future families as a family heirloom that holds you all together.

Etiquette lessons are useful at any age. Adults know the basic rules, but they forget about the little things.

These trifles give out in them a lack of table education. Children do not have knowledge of the rules of etiquette at all; skills should be instilled at an early age.

The sooner you teach your child to the generally accepted rules, the sooner he will master them. His behavior at a party and at school feasts will be impeccable. Do you want to be proud of your child?

Give him home schooling in good manners. You will have fun from the heart, and give the child knowledge. If he takes everything as a prank, it's not scary. During the feast, he will remember your lessons.

Parents who can refresh their knowledge and acquire the skills of aesthetic behavior at the table will also benefit: in a company, at a party, at a romantic dinner.

During the time of tsarist rule in Russia, it was customary to eat all dishes with a spoon. Everyone did this: from peasants to boyars and royal persons. The fork was brought to us only at the beginning of the 17th century from Poland.

This instrument was not accepted by the superstitious Russian people for a long time. Many signs and beliefs were associated with her.

Today the table is served according to the etiquette: a spoon, two forks and two knives. Other devices are added as needed. Learn the rules for using cutlery.

Rules for the use of cutlery:

Have a study dinner at home, have family members demonstrate their skills. Memorize all 12 points of the table, and rehearse.

Self-confidence requires the acquisition of skills. Everything should be random, spontaneous. This skill comes with experience.

Rules of conduct at the table for children and adults

For people of any age, there are approximately the same rules with minor differences. Remember them, accustom your child to good manners.

The sooner you start the learning process, the sooner the child will begin to delight you at a party, and surprise others with his gallantry and ability to behave.

Rules of conduct at the table:

• Wash your hands before you sit down at the table.
• Small family members are always seated at the table. The child should sit on a special children's chair, feel on a par with everyone.
• Don't leave your elbows on the table.
• You can't talk at the table with your mouth full.
• You should restrain belching, coughing.
• Ask to pass dishes at the other end of the table, and do not reach for it yourself.
• Be sure to thank the hostess for a delicious dinner.
• The child must ask permission before leaving the table, or wait until everyone has eaten and left.
• Do not let children talk with their mouths full.

Eating according to all the rules of etiquette

• Use special devices. Each dish has its own.
• Do not pick up the fallen plug, but ask to replace the appliance.
• Sit at a table with a straight back. When eating, it is allowed to slightly tilt the body forward for convenience.
• Do not spread pate on bread, it is eaten separately.
• During the meal, hands should not touch the table.
• It is correct to take the first dishes, scooping a spoon away from you.
• First, liquid is eaten from the soup, and then they deal with meatballs and other thick.
• Do not cool the dish: do not blow on it or stir with a spoon. Wait.
• It is customary to drink champagne immediately, before meals.
• Drink liquids in small sips.
• Soup or broth served in a cup should be drunk over the edge. A spoon is used to catch large particles of thick from there.
• You can only eat crayfish, chicken tobacco and asparagus with your hands. For other dishes, use cutlery. A container of water and a napkin are needed to rinse your fingers.
• Fruit is cut and eaten with a fork.
• It is customary to stir tea silently so as not to distract guests with sound from the meal.
• Sandwich preparation: bread during the procedure should be on a dish. Butter is smeared with a knife, holding a piece with a fork. Place cheese or ham on top. After that, separate portions and eat.
• After finishing your meal, touch your lips with a napkin.

The rules of etiquette are the general norms of behavior at the table, from which one should build. Remember them, practice eating according to all the rules.

This will make you feel confident at any event.

Important! Whatever happens during the feast - you coughed, a piece of meat fell from the fork, spilled wine on yourself - do not worry.

It happens to everyone. Behave confidently, as if it were planned. A confident appearance is the key to the success of any event.

Smile, talk, eat. Be natural and relaxed.

Useful video

Each of us would do well to brush up on the rules of etiquette at the table, and perhaps even learn something new about how to behave while eating. The most important rules of etiquette that absolutely everyone should use.

Each of us notices when someone in a cafe at a nearby table eats carelessly or stealthily wipes his hands on his knees. In the same way, other people notice our mistakes, any behavior is conspicuous and can cause embarrassment. Therefore, it is better to check yourself and correct your own behavior if necessary.

General rules apply to any situation, they will never be superfluous. The first thing we pay attention to when we see a person is their posture. Posture characterizes not only the behavior or condition of a person, but also reveals the secrets of his character.

An insecure person will fidget nervously on the edge of a chair, a notorious person will try to slouch in order to become less noticeable. Sit up straight, but in a way that is comfortable for you. Hands can be placed on the edge of the table or on your knees, and it is better to press your elbows to your sides.

By the way, in order to learn how to hold your elbows near the body in Soviet times, it was advised to periodically train - to have lunch, holding a couple of weighty books to your elbows. This is necessary so that the correct bodily pattern is formed, and you keep your elbows flawlessly even when you don’t think about it at all.

The rules of table etiquette imply almost all situations that can happen to a person and give a clear recommendation on how to act in a given situation.

Naturally, table etiquette at home and restaurant etiquette are somewhat different. However, there are rules that are appropriate in any situation:

• do not speak too loudly;
• do not take a fork or spoon with food too far from the mouth;
• you can not make sounds while eating;
• eat calmly, without undue haste.

Restaurant

The rules of conduct in a restaurant imply some composure - you need to behave correctly and with dignity in order to make a good impression on others.

1. A man must let the lady go first, but if a company of men or women goes to the restaurant, then everyone is on an equal footing or rely on the initiator of the dinner.
2. If several people are to meet at dinner, and someone is late, then by mutual agreement with the rest of the guests, you can wait for those who are late for about a quarter of an hour. A longer wait is a sign of disrespect for guests who arrived on time.
3. If you happened to be late, then you should apologize, and then just join the others. You should not draw special attention to the fact of being late and explain the reason, just join in the table conversation.
4. During a meeting of a man and a woman in a restaurant, a man should read the menu and offer his companion any dishes. For a girl in this case, expressing her indifference is a sign of bad manners. Etiquette in a restaurant implies the participation of a lady in the choice of dishes.
5. In a restaurant, you should not conduct a conversation in raised tones and laugh out loud. If this happened by accident, it makes sense to apologize to other visitors and be quieter. Observe table etiquette, and if someone behaves inappropriately at the next table, then this should be reported to the waiter.
6. You need to start eating when the waiter brought out the ordered dishes to all those present. If a person who is waiting for his dish to be prepared does not mind, he can make an offer to others to start eating.
7. It is strictly forbidden to engage in hygiene procedures at the table - wipe your face, neck and hands with napkins, comb your hair or tint your lips. If you need to pay attention to your appearance, it is better to do it in a special room. Dining etiquette also does not welcome traces of lipstick on dishes. Before you start eating, the girl should carefully remove the lipstick with a napkin.
8. Any interaction with food also looks uncivilized - food is on the table in order to eat it. Taking photos for Instagram, blowing on the soup, meticulously poking around in the salad, commenting on the ingredients is indecent.
9. If you come across a cartilage or a bone in some dish, you need to carefully return the inedible element back to the spoon and move it to a plate (or napkin).

How to handle appliances

1. In no case should you check the cleanliness of the appliances, and if you still notice a cloudy spot on the fork or spoon, you need to quietly draw the attention of the waiter to this oversight and politely ask for a replacement.
2. In most restaurants, the table is set in advance, and cutlery is laid out on both sides of the serving plate.
3. Do not get lost if there are more dishes on the table than you expected to see - everything has its own purpose, and if you are in doubt about which fork or spoon you should take, you can always see how other guests solve this problem.
4. Those devices that lie on the left of the plate are used with the left hand, and those that are laid out on the right must be held in the right hand.
5. With complex serving, each dish relies on its own devices, so if you are in doubt which fork should be taken, take the far one - the one that is farthest from the edge of the plate. As you change dishes, you will gradually approach the nearest appliances.
6. The knife is used either for cutting food or for spreading pâtés and butter (for example, during breakfasts). You should not try pieces from a knife.
7. Cut meat or fish should be sequentially, as it is eaten. Cutting the whole portion at once is a bad form. It is generally accepted that this way the dish cools down faster and loses its main flavors.

Learn in advance a few differences between different cutlery, so as not to get into a mess.

Forks

• second hot dishes are eaten with a table fork, it has four cloves, and in length it is slightly inferior to the diameter of the plate and is placed on the left;
• a fish fork is used for hot fish dishes, looks smaller than a diner and has four short cloves, a fish fork is easy to recognize by its recesses - they are needed to separate the bones;
• snack fork - a reduced duplicate of a table fork, they eat cold snacks with it;
• dessert fork - for pies, small, corresponds to the size of a dessert plate and looks atypical;
• a fruit fork equipped with two prongs, usually served with a fruit knife;
• the remaining forks are considered auxiliary, they are placed next to the dish that they need to eat.

Knives

• any second hot dishes are eaten with a table knife, it is placed to the right of the plate, the blade is turned to the plate;
• a fish knife is blunt and resembles a spatula, used to separate the flesh of the fish from the bones;
• the snack knife is small and has teeth;
• dessert and fruit knives look similar - they are the smallest.

spoons

• a tablespoon - the largest, lies to the right of the plate;
• a dessert spoon is served with a dessert that does not require cutting - soft puddings, jellies and whipped cream;
• an ice cream spoon is served with a bowl;
• the cocktail spoon has a very narrow and long handle;
• a teaspoon can be served with any hot drink;
• coffee spoon - the smallest, served only with black coffee.

Dialogue and table manners

Table etiquette includes not only the use of utensils, correct positioning and good posture, but also the manner in which dialogues and conversations are conducted.

It is worth noting that table etiquette categorically forbids discussing provocative issues that can lead to a serious conflict - therefore, one should refrain from commenting on money, politics and religion.

How to behave at the table and what to say? Be sure to look at the person who is addressing you, listen without interrupting, and only then answer. If you think some questions of the interlocutor are inappropriate for a meal, delicately offer to discuss this a little later. In all other cases, the answer should be easy and unconstrained.

The restaurant does not mean also violent disputes - refrain from inappropriate comments and lighten the mood with a cute joke if someone else raises their voice.

You should not talk only together, involve the rest of the participants in the meal. For example, if the conversation turned to a recent vacation, you can ask one of the interlocutors if he is going to go on vacation in the near future or what places he prefers to relax.

It is also good form in any table conversation to praise the host, chef or initiator of the meeting - find a few kind words to note the general atmosphere of the evening.

A short course in etiquette

• Do what the majority does.
• Don't point out to others their mistakes, in the most extreme case, this can be said quietly in an undertone and only to your neighbor on the table.
• Don't skip meals for too long.
• Leaving the table - apologize.
• Try everything and eat what you like.
• Diet, eating disorders, restrictions on alcoholic beverages and diet are not discussed at the common table.

Some rules of behavior at the table are best studied by looking at the pictures - look at the basic table setting patterns, you can also watch the video on how to properly hold this or that device.

Table etiquette is not that difficult if you take a little time to do it, and following all the rules will help you present your best side.

Everyone knows that knowing the rules of conduct at the table and following them is extremely important, since ethical behavior at the table helps us feel confident and comfortable.

The inability to use a knife and fork should not deprive us of the pleasure of spending time in a fine restaurant. Here are some basic rules of conduct in restaurants and fine society in general.

In a restaurant: menu selection, ordering, tips

Near the mirror in front of the entrance to the restaurant hall, you can straighten your hair, but you can not comb your hair or make up - this is done in the ladies' room. A man enters the room first.

In the wardrobe, leave a coat, an umbrella, bags, a case with documents (if you are not having a business meeting), but not a handbag.

It is acceptable to arrange a meeting on the street if you do not like to go to a restaurant alone. But according to the rules, the one who invites comes earlier and waits at the table.

The man orders the dishes, he also chooses the wine. True, he can consult with you, ask about your wishes. A man communicates with the attendants - head waiter, waiter and sommelier.

If you have invited a business partner to dinner, it is better to make and pay for the order in advance. They don't talk about business until the dishes and drinks are chosen.

The one who invited pays the bill, even if it's a business dinner and the invitee is a man.

If a large company dine, everyone pays for himself, while the husband always pays for his wife.

Taboo. Knocking with a spoon, calling the waiter, is unacceptable. You can not demand a bill when a partner or partner finishes their coffee - even if you are in a hurry. It's not polite.

NB! In the restaurant hall, do not move a chair yourself - wait until your companion or head waiter does it. Stand still without bending your legs or looking back.

If you are in a restaurant with a company and invited a friend to join, introduce him to everyone present.

In a restaurant, it is customary to leave a tip in the amount of 10% of the order value in excess of the amount indicated on the bill. In Ukraine (in all high-class restaurants) and in Germany, the cost of service is included in the bill, and you can limit yourself to the amount indicated in it.

There is an unspoken rule: tips are left in banknotes. The account can be checked for "errors". And if you are unhappy with the service, you can leave no tip.

Code of Conduct

You need to sit at the table at a comfortable distance - not too close, but not too far - the distance should not exceed the width of the palm.

In no case should you put your elbows on the table; you can only put your wrists on the table for a short time. However, women are allowed to lean slightly on the table if absolutely necessary.

When you use cutlery, your hands should not touch the table at all. While eating, if you have one hand free, do not keep it under the table - this is bad form.
Sitting on a chair should always be straight, you can only lean slightly over the plate while eating. You need to sit at the table straight, but at the same time loose, so as not to give the impression that you are uncomfortable or uncomfortable.

A personal linen napkin should be placed on your knees. She should not wipe her lips and hands while eating. To do this, there should be paper napkins on the table.
After you have finished eating, you can lightly touch your lips with a linen napkin and wipe your fingertips.

If women have painted lips, they should only use paper napkins.

Naturally, in no case should you use any napkins at the table as a handkerchief. At the end of the meal, just put the napkin on the table.

Even if you are very hungry, you need to eat slowly, silently. Chew with your mouth closed and never slurp or blow on food to cool it down.

Don't talk over food.

Do not insist on choosing dishes for table neighbors.

Even if the dish was very tasty, you can not wipe the bottom of the plate with a piece of bread.

At a large table, all common dishes should have their own utensils, such as special forks, spoons or tweezers. With these devices, and not personal ones, you need to take and put food from common dishes on your plate. In no case do not take individual dishes from a common dish.

If the desired dish or, say, a salt shaker are at a great distance from you, do not reach for them across the entire table. Ask a neighbor or waiter to serve them to you.

If you need to temporarily interrupt the meal, in this case, put the knife and fork on the plate as they were held: the knife with the handle to the right, the fork with the handle to the left.

If you have completely completed the meal, arrange the cutlery as follows: the knife and fork lie side by side, parallel to each other, and the handles of both items look to the right. This means that you have completed dinner (lunch, breakfast, lunch), and the plate can be taken away.

If you are full, it is not necessary to finish the meal to the end. This rule also applies to alcoholic beverages.

Table etiquette

Bread

Bread is eaten in pieces, which are broken off from a large piece taken. It is not customary to bite off directly from this piece.

By the way, bread is taken by hand. In the same way, they take cake, cookies and fruits. Sugar in cubes is also taken by hand or with special tongs if they lie nearby.

In case you want to butter the bread, gradually break off small pieces, press them against the plate with your fingers and butter them. By the way, they take butter, pate with common cutlery from common dishes and put it on their plate, and only after that they spread it on bread. Caviar can be immediately spread on bread.

Buttered bread cannot be cut with a knife.

If there is a small bread plate near you, then the bread must be transferred from the common plate to it. That is what it is intended for. Butter is also placed with a clean knife on the edge of the same plate. The same is done with caviar, but instead of a knife, a small spatula is used for caviar.

Sandwiches served before the feast are eaten with hands, and at the table - with a fork and knife.

Sometimes a buffet sandwich is multi-level and falls apart in the hands, does not fit in the mouth. Such a sandwich should be put on a plate and use a knife and fork (if there are no cutlery, use paper napkins).

Meat

Pork and lamb chops, fillets, steaks, liver and other similar dishes are eaten using a table knife with a fork: gradually cut off small pieces without cutting everything at once. In this case, the knife is in the right hand, and the fork is in the left. When cutting a dish, the fork must not be held perpendicular, but only at an angle to the plate.

Meatballs, cabbage rolls, omelettes, cutlets, and other soft dishes that do not involve the use of a knife are eaten with a fork, which is held with the right hand, helping oneself with a knife. But it is not customary to cut dishes with a knife.

Remove the shish kebab from the skewer with a fork or the blunt side of a knife.

The sauce is poured over the meat, not the side dish.

Pierce the Kiev cutlet at the bone so that the oil flows out, and cut into pieces. Attention: do not take it by the bone and papillot!

The bird is eaten with a knife and fork. In this case, it is not necessary to cut off all the bones completely. At home, you can afford to take a chicken leg in your hand.

Meat with vegetables. There are conflicting recommendations on how to eat such a dish. According to the first, the meat should be cut into small pieces and put the knife aside. According to the second - not for a minute should you let go of the knife from the right hand, from the left - the fork. The first rule is guided by the Americans. In the European sense, this method is far from elegant. Following the second recommendation, it will be correct to cut off a piece of meat, holding it with a fork. Mashed potatoes are placed on a cut piece of meat, pierced on a fork.

If meat is served with peas or other vegetables that are difficult to hold on a fork, then you can do this: holding the meat with a fork, cut off a piece, then turn the fork with this piece and put vegetables in it; vegetables can be put on cut off pieces of meat, as much as can be held.
When the meat is over, holding the fork already in your right hand, eat the peas (at the same time, do not put the peas with a fork, but pick them up like on a shoulder blade).

If the potatoes are served whole, they should not be crushed on a plate.

Salad served with meat on a separate plate should be eaten from the same plate, picking up a little in order with what lies on the main plate.

A fish

Fish is eaten with a fish utensil or with a fork and knife. In the case when there are no special devices, fish can be eaten with two table forks.

If a spatula and a fork were served to the fish, then the spatula is held in the right hand and the pieces are held, and the fork is held in the left and the bones are separated.

If two forks are served with the fish, one is used for eating and the other for separating the bones.

If one fork was served to the fish, then they take it in the right hand, and in the left - a piece of bread.

If the fish is served whole (boiled or smoked), then first the upper part of the fillet is separated from the skeleton and eaten, then the spine and bones are separated. Set aside and proceed to the second part. After this dish is eaten, a fish skeleton should remain on the plate.

If a fish bone remains in the mouth, it must be quietly put with the tip of the tongue on the fork and set aside on the edge of the plate.

Fish cold dishes are eaten with snack utensils.

Boiled and hot smoked stellate sturgeon, sturgeon, beluga are eaten only with a fork.

A slice of lemon served with cold fish is applied to the lips after the fish has been eaten.

Oysters in restaurants are served already open. First, squeeze the lemon into the shell, then take the oyster in your left hand and separate the pulp with a fork. Eat it with a special device.

Crayfish are eaten with the hands. At the same time, there should be bowls of water at a moderate temperature on the table in order to wash hands after eating. Sliced ​​lemons are usually present in such water, rose petals are less often used. Also, along with such vases, there must be clean napkins, cotton or paper, which should be removed immediately after the end of the meal.

In a similar way, they also eat asparagus and tobacco chickens.

For lobsters / lobsters, a special set is used: tweezers, a special short fork and a spatula. The lobster shell is cut with tweezers, starting from the back. Claws are cut in the same way. Soft meat is removed with a special long fork with two prongs.

Shrimps are also eaten with the hands.

Snack

If you decide to try a snack, put it on a plate and eat it with a fork and knife.

Cheese, poultry, ham, sausage and other natural meat dishes are not cut into small pieces immediately. It is necessary to cut such dishes using a knife and fork, gradually.

An appetizer, for example, if it is ham, should not be placed on a piece of bread.

If the sausage is served unpeeled, then each piece is cleaned on a plate with a knife and fork. Dry sausage is eaten with the skin on.

A soft-boiled egg is placed in a special glass, then the edge of the spoon is hit on the top. If the top does not bounce, you can remove it with your fingers. Eat an egg with a spoon.

Scrambled eggs can be eaten with a spoon or fork, depending on the consistency.

Sausages and sausages in a thin skin can be eaten without removing it.

All types of cheese are served after meat dishes. Take cheese in portions.

Spaghetti or straw pasta is very difficult to eat in a way that looks pretty. There are three ways:

The first method involves the use of a fork and a spoon. The spoon should be held in the left hand. Lower the edge of the spoon into the plate, wind the pasta on the fork in the recess of the spoon. Wrap a little pasta on a fork, cut off this portion with a spoon.

The second way: hold the fork like a knife prepared for cutting. Dip the fork into the thick pasta and lift them up, separating a small portion. Then again lower the fork with pasta into the plate, wrap them around the fork and quickly put them in your mouth.

The third way: chop pasta on a fork, wrap a portion of pasta on it (while holding the fork vertically). The basic rule is to pick up no more than 2-3 threads of pasta on the fork.

Salad is eaten with a fork. A knife is used to cut large chunks or lettuce leaves.

Green salad, as far as possible, do not cut with a knife. If it is served so that the leaves are too large, then you need to cut them with a fork or carefully wrap the leaves around it, and eat, trying not to leave traces of sauce on the chin.

Pate can be taken with a knife, but as a rule, pate is eaten by separating small pieces with a fork. You can spread pate on bread only in the family circle.

Mustard and salt are taken in small spoons. Mustard is placed on the bottom of the plate on the right side.

Soups, broths

It is not customary to eat up soups without a trace; according to the rules, a small amount of soup remains on the plate. However, in the home circle, you can finish the soup by tilting the plate away from you.

Soups are eaten with a spoon, picking up from oneself and bringing a wide edge to the mouth.

A spoon is used if it is necessary to catch croutons floating in the soup, an egg, pieces of meat.

Also, a spoon is used if the soup is served in a cup with two handles.

If the soup is very hot, do not blow on it to cool it down, do not stir it with a spoon. It is better to wait a while until it cools down.

Soup in a spoon should be enough so that it does not overflow from it.

The soup spoon is not put on the table, but after eating it is left in the bowl.

The broth should be eaten with a dessert spoon, bringing it to the mouth with a sharp end, slightly obliquely.

Broths, soups, which are served in cups, should be drunk as they drink coffee or tea, without using a spoon.

When you eat the first dish, do not sip, eat silently.

If there are dumplings, noodles or potatoes in the soup, they are crushed with the edge of a spoon.

The chicken in the broth is both the first and the second, so first they eat the broth with a spoon from the plate, and then the chicken pieces - already with the help of a fork and knife.

Fruit

Fruits served on the table are not tested for strength and are not selected.

Bananas are served unpeeled and eaten with the hands.

Oranges are peeled and divided into slices. They eat them with their hands. The bones are placed on a plate.
It is recommended to peel as follows: cut the peel crosswise, remove it and divide the orange into slices. Neither oranges nor tangerines should be peeled in a spiral.

Grapefruit is served cut across, the middle is separated from the peel, but remains inside. It should be eaten with a spoon, you can sprinkle with powdered sugar.

It is customary to cut watermelons and melons into medium-sized slices, serve with a peel and eat with a fork and knife. Taking a piece from a common plate, it must be put on your plate with the skin down, after which a thin slice should be cut off with a fruit knife. and, freeing it from seeds, send it to your mouth on a fork.

Melon can be eaten with a spoon.

Mango should be cut in half on your own plate. It is eaten with a spoon, after removing the bone.

Pineapple must be peeled, cut across into thin slices and put on a plate. Pineapple is eaten with a fork and knife.

Apples and pears are cut lengthwise with a fruit knife into 4-8 parts, after which the seed nest is removed. The resulting pieces are no longer cut, but bite off of them.

Quite aesthetes cut these fruits into four parts, put them on a plate, and then, taking a slice on a fork, remove the skin with a knife. The most difficult thing is to keep the delicacy on the fork. Then the peeled piece is eaten on a plate, using a knife and fork. It is permissible to peel the fruit in your hand, but eat it on a plate with a knife and fork.

Peaches are cut in half with a fruit knife, the pits are removed with a knife, and eaten with your hands.

Cherries and cherries should be taken by the twig and put into the mouth. If possible, spit out the bone imperceptibly into a fist, and then onto your plate.

You can do the same with grapes. But grapes are usually eaten whole. It is unacceptable to spit out the bones directly on a plate or collect them in an ashtray.

Plums are broken with fingers, the bone is placed on a plate.

Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, strawberries or other berries are eaten only with a spoon.

Strawberries should be served peeled without stems. It is ugly to crush strawberries served with sugar and sour cream on a plate. The resulting mass does not look very aesthetically pleasing. The same rule applies to strawberries.

Compote served in a vase is eaten with a spoon. Drinking directly from a vase is ugly. Fruit seeds are spit out on a spoon and placed on a plate next to or under the vase.

The drinks

If any drink is offered before meals, then you must first swallow everything that is in your mouth and only then drink it. It is advisable to wipe your lips with a napkin before doing this.

It is rude to top up drinks only for yourself. First, offer to refill the drink with the neighbors on the table.

Coffee is served with pre-diluted sugar or cream.

A teaspoon is intended for stirring sugar and cream, after which it is no longer possible to use a spoon. They just put it on a saucer.

Tea and coffee are not poured into a saucer.

Alcoholic beverages also need to be drunk properly.

Cocktails are drunk in small sips with breaks.

Vodka from a small glass can be drunk immediately, but you must remember that you can fill the glass again.

You can drink vodka, starting from the third or fourth glass (of course, if necessary), little by little, since it is not customary to change the portion in such a situation.

Drinking after the toast to the bottom is possible only in special cases. Now this is not mandatory.

Whiskey is consumed with ice. Sometimes it is diluted with soda water.

Wine, as well as liquor, it is advisable to drink in small sips.

Champagne and other sparkling wines are desirable, but not necessary, to drink immediately.

Cognac is also drunk in small sips, but with a long break. At the same time, the glass can be in the hand, because cognac loves warmth.

With what dishes what drinks to drink

Usually lunch or, in some cases, dinner begins with cold snacks. These dishes are served with dry white wines.

Light red wines are suitable for meat salads or ham.

White wines of moderate strength are served with turkey, chicken, veal liver, hot ham, fried or baked fish.

Red dry wines are suitable for meat dishes, for example, steaks, pork cutlets, stewed liver or smoked sausages.

Red wines with a long exposure are more suitable for meat of wild animals.

The same wines are served with vegetables as with meat, and only red wine is served with mushrooms.

Sweet dishes, respectively, are served with sweet dessert wines with a high content of alcohol and sugar, liqueurs or sweet sparkling wines.

Dry white wines are well suited to cheese with a delicate and delicate taste.

Astringent wine should be served with spicy and spicy cheeses.

Red wines go well with wild meats and other dark meats, but only white wines with white meat, poultry or fish.

Both white and red wine go well with goose or pork, but these must be well-aged and strong wines.

Dessert

For desserts, there are special cutlery used to eat puddings, ice cream, cakes, creams and more. When coffee, tea or sweets are served, all unnecessary dishes are removed from the table and vases with jam, sweets or cookies, plates with thinly sliced ​​lemon, and sugar are put on display.

If a pie or cake is served, each guest at the table is given a separate plate for dessert, a dessert spoon or knife is placed to the right of this plate, and a dessert fork is placed to the left.

Coffee or tea is placed near the plate on the right side with the handle turned to the left.
Cream is served hot in a special dish, which in turn should be on a saucer.

Cakes and pies are eaten with a dessert spoon. Fork and knife cannot be used.

Pies made from puff pastry and shortcrust pastry are eaten with the hands.

Cakes and pastries are taken with a special spatula. Soft ones - cream and biscuit - are eaten with a dessert fork (if there are none, you can use a spoon), crumbly ones can be taken by hand.

Jam and jelly spread on bread with a knife.

Ice cream is eaten with a dessert spoon or a teaspoon.

These are just the basic rules that an educated person should know.