Tricky Table Manners Explained

Attending a formal dinner party for the first time can be intimidating, especially if you are unaware of the delicacies of table etiquette. How do you indicate that you are finished your meal? What if you have a hair in your soup? This article goes into great detail on how to navigate a dinner party, and how to display proper table manners.

The whole pass-to-the-right thing is really just to ensure that there is some type of order. Food is always passed in one direction to avoid having someone end up with two dishes at once. You can either hold the platter for the person you are passing to while she takes her food or, if the platter seems easy to hold and serve from, you may simply pass it to the guest next to you once you’ve taken your share. Remember to take a small enough portion so that there’s plenty left for everyone else. When you pass something with a handle, like a gravy boat, pass it with the handle side toward the person you are passing to, so that she can take it easily.

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