The process of eating is very important for every person. It involves absolutely all the senses, one way or another affecting appetite. It is very important to get not only taste, but also aesthetic pleasure during the meal, which is why much depends on the design of dishes and table setting during lunch or dinner.
Table etiquette is a set of rules by which a person is able to master simple knowledge about the process of serving, decoration and eating dishes. For the first time, they started talking about etiquette in the eighteenth century, it was then that some standards were established in French houses, which are still observed. In the modern world, these rules are improved and supplemented, but not abolished.
The first thing you should know for those who have decided to master table etiquette is the sequence of serving guests dishes.
- Cold snacks.
- Hot snack.
- First courses (broths, soups).
- Second courses (fish, then meat).
- Dessert.
- Fruits.
This classic order is known to almost everyone, so remembering it is not difficult.
If you are visiting and are unsure of where to start your meal, start with a low calorie snack. Do not overeat salads, you should leave room for second courses and dessert. Do not refuse to take any food, thereby you can offend the mistress of the house. Try a small bite if you can’t eat everything. Observe table etiquette both at a party and at home.
Mistresses should be aware of all the rules of table etiquette. Firstly, remember that all dishes should be exclusively original, repetitions are not allowed in color, not in the list of ingredients. Also, do not serve two fried or two boiled dishes. Do not forget to serve mineral water to guests before a meal. Water can be replaced with juice or another non-alcoholic light drink. After water, bread snacks and toasts are put on the table.
There is a certain sequence of serving different dishes. For the second, these are: fish, meat, poultry, vegetables, mushrooms. Serving hot snacks is similar to second courses. The first dishes are served with sour cream, sauces (if necessary) and pastries. At the end of the evening, excess dishes are removed from the table and dessert is served. With dessert, guests are invited to drink tea, cocoa or coffee. The dessert may be a cake, ice cream, fruit salad or a cocktail. In addition to the above dishes, sweets, cookies, fruits and cheese are put on the table.
Particular attention should be paid to alcohol at dinner. There are certain rules for combining drinks and dishes, for example, white wines are preferably drunk with cheese, fish and crayfish. Red wine is suitable for poultry, veal and lamb dishes. Dry wines are served first , then sweet wines . Do not forget about the rule of increasing the degree. Do not offer guests whiskey at the beginning of the feast.
Table etiquette includes not only the rules for serving dishes, but also a special manner of behaving at the table. We all know that the fork must be held in the left hand, and the knife and spoon in the right. But you also need to know how to use other cutlery correctly. Etiquette is instilled in us from childhood, but, unfortunately, many are not familiar with its rules in old age.
It is necessary to transfer the treats from the common dishes to your own with a special spatula or fork, exclusively with common devices. Hands from a common dish are allowed to take only bread, fruits and sweets. Men should not forget to look after the ladies, serve them snacks and drinks. You should be modest at the table, do not ring the dishes, do not brush the crumbs on the floor and the tablecloth. Do not forget about what dishes for what is intended. For example, cereals and soups are served in deep plates, in small and flat pastries and bread. There is a certain rule for serving devices on the table. All knives and spoons are laid out on the right side, and forks on the left. Glasses are to the right of the plates in front of the knives, and dessert devices are located in front of the plates.