Well, you are not alone. Many people feel out of place when invited to an exquisite restaurant because of poor table manners. It is not that difficult to learn the dining etiquette.
Follow the general etiquette
Some of the common etiquettes have been taught by parents when you were young. If you don’t follow these common table manners then be prepared to get those weird judgmental looks from people. Some of the general etiquettes are: don’t make the chewing sounds while eating, don’t speak when your mouth is full, always cover your mouth while coughing and never place your elbows on the table.
Do not rush to eat
Always follow the lead of your host. Most of the times he/she has seating arrangements already set in their mind. Don’t go and seat yourself in any chair you want to be seated in. After you sit, pull the chair gently and do not drag it over with the horrible scrape.
Place napkin on your lap
Unfold the napkin and place it on your lap while you are eating. Use it occasionally to wipe your hands and lips. Remember, don’t create a scene by using it to blow your nose. Instead, excuse yourself to go to the washroom for it. Place it in the chair while excusing yourself. At the end of the meal, place the napkin on the left side of your plate.
Wait for food to cool
When the food is served hot, wait for it to cool. Don’t blow on it. When you are served any kind of soup, do not tilt or even lift the bowl. You wouldn’t be making a good impression. Ask politely if you want any dish to be passed to you. Generally, it is not a good thing to use your hands while eating food. But there are some exceptions to it as well. For example, it is always advised to tear your bread with the hand instead of a knife.
Resting utensils when you want to speak
When you pause in order to speak with someone, always place your knife and fork on your plate. Place it in an inverted V shape with their tips facing each other.
Wait for others to finish their meal
After finishing, wait for others to finish their meal. Place the napkin on the table. Place the knife and the fork pointing upwards on the plate. Don’t leave either of them on the sides.
Adeniyi Ogunfowoke
*How many of you can honestly follow these rules?
I actually never learnt. I just watched others eat and followed suit.
ReplyDeleteAm Africa I go d way of my forefathers Biko
DeleteI dont want to be an Abubakar so i know some
DeleteOdiegwu!..
ReplyDeleteAll these nonsense placing fork and knife blah blah can never work for me!...
I have never seen a Nigerian doing these things!..
Inukwa m waiting for food to get cold before eating!.
That means I will throw up after eating cos I hate cold food!...
You always come across as crass, uncouth and disgustingly razz. Even if you don’t agree with what was written up there, ignore and keep scrolling. Ugh!
DeleteAgu nwanyi 🤣🤣🤣
Delete🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
DeleteThe Queen and boss have spoken. Me too, I can't eat cold food.
DeleteLike I care
DeleteToo much wahala just to eat food! The white people that started all these table etiquettes has long put most of these behind.
ReplyDeleteDon't talk when there's food in your mouth.
Don't put bone in your hands,(whether chewed or not) put them on a separate plate instead.
Only dish the food you know you can finish. Don't waste food.
Don't use the cup made for wine for water.
My dear they thought me both in school and at home. What they didn't teach me was that steamed towel they usually serve first for you to wipe your hands. My first experience was in the Uni when one guy took me to a 'posh' restaurant. The waiter just seemed to materialize with a seemingly hot towel very close to my face. You need to see the alarm on my face as I enquired 'what for?' My date while struggling not to laugh explained that it wasn't that hot that I should use it and clean my hands. My embarrassment that day was eish! Today when I see my Igbo brothers using this towel to clean face, head too if they have shinning bald heads; I feel my case was better. I have to console myself anyhow.
ReplyDeleteThis happened to me the first time I went to a posh restaurant but my sister rescued me by taking first when she saw the expression on my face.
Delete15:48 Lmaoooooooo @even clean head!!!!
DeleteMy first time, I asked them what the hot towel was for. The waiter politely explained. I wasn't even embarrased, I started eating my food jejely.
DeleteDon't wait for soup to cool. That's silly. I served you hit food for a reason. If you like it hot, eat right away and show that u enjoy the food. Acting indifferent to your hosts food is a turn off
ReplyDeleteSweetie, it said "wait" for soup to cool
DeleteYou forgot to add "do not finish the food in your plate and drink in your glass/bottle.
ReplyDeleteInside house I eat anyhow I like when I'm alone except those ones in "follow the general etiquette , but outside?
You can't try me.
Do not finish the food in your plate? I used to have that mindset too, until I was invited to a family gathering. The host a Russian millionaire married to One African gazelle.
DeleteEvery one that came, finished the food on their plates. I was the only one that still had food on my plate, I felt so ashamed when they started staring at me.
My dear, dish the food you can finish. Don't waste food especially in a rich man's house.
I love my food. I will finish everything.
DeleteHubby won't let me finish my food outside the house o.
DeleteHe will be talking to me with his eyes...lol
I don't talk much when I eat in a good restaurant because the food is sweet and it must not be wasted
ReplyDeleteI don't ever get how to place my fork and knife most times.
ReplyDeleteWhy do people put napkins round their neck?
It's also another food etiquettes in some family and also in other parts of the world.
DeleteSome older people do it, just so they don't litter themselves.
when we eat out as a family i only do that for my two toddlers so they dont get food on their clothes but for me napkin on my laps..i use my cutlery as much as i can but depending on the caliber of the other guests i end up with my hands las las especially with my chicken.lol..how i place cutlery after meal also depends on those around and my mood. thank God hubby too knows whats up so we get to teach the girls some stuff.
DeleteOk thanks Ms A
DeleteI wonder about that too. Are they babies or what?
DeleteI also can't wait for food to get cold. Why will I eat cold food in the first place?
ReplyDeleteSame here!
DeleteCan't eat cold food.
But, what I understand by letting the food to cool is not actually letting it get cold but to wait for the vapor to subside before eating to avoid burning your mouth.
Exactly @ Bitch and Slut
DeleteI only know about the napkin
ReplyDeleteWhen it seems I have forgotten the one my Mum taught me, it will surface from another source. Ok mah, may be I will train my children the oyibo style, for me, e no dey work.
ReplyDeleteYou are a bush woman before pls stick to using fingers, it is not by force.
DeleteThat fork and knife thing...mmmm mmmm. I may never know how to use both at once. Hubby took me to a restaurant on my birthday and they served us like that. He knows how to do all that fork and knife combo but I just used the fork. When I tried to copy him, he said I was holding the knife the way I would hold a pen when writing. We just laughed and i continued with the fork. I even used my hand to eat the chicken, it tastes better that way biko.
ReplyDeleteBut if I have to go out with colleagues or with people I know I won't be myself around, I'll just order a drink & snacks. No need to embarrass myself.
And no, if I'm served hot food, I'll eat it hot. Why waste time heating up the food if you wanted it cold?
I learnt how to use fork and knife in boarding school but I only use it when I'm with unfamiliar people
DeleteMy dear,I was once like you would avoid eating cos I didn't want to embarrass my self and I would feel so pained for missing such sumptuous meals when I get home.
DeleteThank God for you tube..I had to learn how to use fork and knife especially for chickens,you can do that as well.
Leaving unmunched chicken bones breaks my heart into pieces😩😩😩
DeleteI went 5o a Chinese restaurant for the first time .my host said I am meant to use the hot towel to wash my hands and my face. Why would I clean off my make up just because of a lousy meal? Soni started going without makeup to Chinese restaurants. Just found out it's for the hands and not face. This life sha.
ReplyDeleteLmaooooo so you wiped your face??? Buahahahahahahaha hahahahahahahahahaha
Delete😂🤣😂🤣🤣😂😂😂😂🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂🤣😂😂😂😂😂😂
DeleteAnonymous: you no go kee person 😂😂😂😂. I was going to type that the towel is for the hands only but as you don sabi am now make i just dey laff dey go 🏃🏽🏃🏽🏃🏽🏃🏽🏃🏽🏃🏽
DeleteThat's how me and my sugar daddy went for vacation o.
ReplyDeleteBreakfast time at this four star hotel, we got to the restaurant and I was at a loss.
I no even sabi how e dey start, or how to end.
As a calcu girl Na..I just waited for him to do stuff then followed suit.
No time for fuck up.
We are due for another this one this weekend again.
Anonymous 16:49, STFU. Which sugar daddy?😏😏😏, in your head bah. Liar liar 🤥, 👖 on 🔥😒😏😏.
DeleteI was taught all these things while growing up as both my parents were in the hospitality industry at the time. Now, I do whatever I want even at extremely high end places. I eat sushi with my hand, even some cakes I will eat with my hand, elbows on the table if I want to. I am a dining nightmare, but I guess I just don't care anymore about the rules. However, if you are trying to climb the corporate ladder, make inroads with certain influential ppl, or want to make a good impression on a first date you will need to learn this and practice it all the time. It could make the difference between getting the job, contract, invitation to the country club or being left behind in the dust.
ReplyDeleteI have gone for a business etiquette class/training before... I have to go haunt for my book and lesson note.
DeleteI can’t even remember must of the deep stuff we were taught. So funny but very relevant.
I didn't know all these things till I was 19 years and went to Europe for the first time. My hostess taught me all these in a strict manner and eating became like a chore for me. All the same sha, I am glad I shall not be disgracing my Local Government in any dining environment. RIP Frau Breiner!!!
ReplyDeleteYou guys are very funny.
ReplyDeleteUsing hot towel on your head???
That reminds me of one guy that sat beside me on the plane, he used the hot towel on both his hands and face and afterwards, he placed it in his jeans pocket. And he was just forming 'big boy'