Table manners

Morning Glory

Morning Glory

Obsessive cook
Staff member
Joined
19 Apr 2015
Local time
7:07 AM
Messages
51,110
Location
Maidstone, Kent, UK
Ok, I know a lot of people don't eat at the table any more (very sad but true), but this is really about all round manners and etiquette when eating.

Were you taught table manner rules by your parents? If you have children are there rules you insisted they followed? Do you think about 'manners' when eating with others?

What are your main 'rules'?
 
We always ate at a table, or TV trays depending on the work situation, and it was properly set.
  • No elbows on the table, nobody
  • Chew with your mouth closed
  • Napkin in your lap
  • No talking with food in your mouth
  • Please and thank you when asking to pass serving dishes
  • Clean the plate, no excuses
  • Don't feed the dog
  • Don't slurp your drink
  • Ask to be excused before leaving
Violations were rewarded with your knuckles being rapped with a knife handle and immediately being sent to bed.

I think that's mostly it. 🤔
 
Just the very basics - while meal times were usually a big affair, as in lots of food and a good number of people, it also usually something to get through quickly, because it was between chores, so not a lot of time to give over to “Please pass the mashed potatoes.”

No talking with your mouth full (and as little talking as possible, period).
Chew with your mouth closed.
Don’t eat like an animal. Quick doesn’t mean messy.
No burping or slurping.
Don’t leave anything on your plate.

Violations spotted by Mom usually got a withering comment. Violations spotted by Dad usually got a hard smack.
 
Barriehie said:
We always ate at a table, or TV trays depending on the work situation, and it was properly set.
Click to expand...
All your points there. And no-one left the table until everyone had finished eating, which was a pita for the rest of the family, because I'm a slow eater.:laugh:
 
Hands in your lap!

The school that I went to 13 years, taught us the majority of our table manners and etiquette, coming from a place where Hawaiians were looked at, at the time, as well heathens to put it quite bluntly. And ya know, alot of the kids that I went to school with were a little rough around the edges.
 
Similar to above.

Manners and etiquette more than strict rules.
Napkins placed on lap.
Server, usually mom, asks what you'd like and how much.
Don't stuff your mouth when you eat.
Don't talk with your mouth full.
You don't have to eat everything on your plate but better to ask for a smaller helping.
Put knife and fork together on the plate when finished eating.
Put used napkin onto side plate.
Wait for everyone to finish eating before leaving the table.
When you leave the table take your plate thru to the kitchen.
 
My wife’s family…much different than mine. On her dad’s side, they were from money, and the type of people who sent their girls to finishing school, who had debutante balls, and their names listed in the paper when they entered “society.”

Her grandmother liked me well enough, but she was appalled at the “terrible” things I did at the table, like not moving my soup spoon in the right direction when eating soup, or buttering an entire bread roll like some sort of caveman might do.
 
TastyReuben said:
My wife’s family…much different than mine. On her dad’s side, they were from money, and the type of people who sent their girls to finishing school, who had debutante balls, and their names listed in the paper when they entered “society.”

Her grandmother liked me well enough, but she was appalled at the “terrible” things I did at the table, like not moving my soup spoon in the right direction when eating soup, or buttering an entire bread roll like some sort of caveman might do.
Click to expand...
Yep, I needy own stick of butter plate...
 
Not many rules anymore as I live by myself, but at home
Finish your plate
No talking with mouthfool
Not reaching over someone, but ask for the salt, pepper, whatever
Taste before adding condiments
Don't mix all your food on your plate
Use knife & fork, or spoon & fork
No elbows on the table
Stay till everyone finished their plate, but because eating was very much a social thing, there was lots of talking, laughing etc. Quite often coffee (after dinner) was had at the same table as well.
We all ate together, no quick bite and go. Esp dad disliked it if we were not all there
 
Same as most of the others here.

  • Everyone eats at the table and together
  • Not reaching over someone, but ask for the salt, pepper, whatever
  • Taste before adding condiments
  • No elbows on the table
  • Napkins placed on lap.
  • Server, usually mom, asks what you'd like and how much. And it's an obligation to eat it.
  • Don't stuff your mouth when you eat.
  • Don't talk with your mouth full.
  • Put knife and fork together on the plate when finished eating.
  • Put used napkin onto side plate.
  • Wait for everyone to finish eating before leaving the table.
  • No burping or slurping.
  • Ask to be excused before leaving
  • When you leave the table you go to clean up, because whoever cooks doesn't clean.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom