Dining Place Settings - Week 1: Basic Table Setting

Basic Table Setting

According to Emily Post:

For a basic table setting, here are two great tips to help you -- or your kids -- remember the order of plates and utensils:

Picture the word "FORKS." The order, left to right, is: F for Fork, O for the Plate (the shape!), K for Knives and S for Spoons. (Okay -- you have to forget the R, but you get the idea!)

Holding your hands in front of you, touch the tips of your thumbs to the tips of your forefingers to make a lowercase 'b' with your left hand and a lowercase 'd' with your right hand. This reminds you that "bread and butter" go to the left of the place setting and "drinks" go on the right. Emily Post could have used that trick -- she was often confused about which bread and butter belonged to her -- and sometimes she used her neighbor's! In which case, when it was called to her attention, she would say to the dismayed lady or gentleman, "Oh, I am always mixing them up. Here, please take mine!"

Some other things to know:

Knife blades always face the plate

The napkin goes to the left of the fork, or on the plate

The bread and butter knife are optional

References: 

Photo: http://flatwarecutleryknife.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/informal-table.gif

Emily Post:  http://www.emilypost.com/component/content/article/370

Etiquette in the Career Services Center

This month the Career Services Center (CSC) is hosting its Business Etiquette Dining Workshop. The orientation was held last night, and the participating students are eagerly awaiting the workshop, which will be held in the West Alabama Center for Workforce Development. As advertised, registration closed for the workshop on March 25th.

The word ETIQUETTE originated in France with Louis XIV’s reign. His gardener noticed that visitors to Versailles were walking through the gardens and destroying the beautiful landscaping at the palace. The gardener took it upon himself to make ‘etiquets’, or signs, to ward the aristocrats off the grass. The signs evolved into tickets issued to the visiting guests with more instructions on expectations from the King of Versailles. Some of these instructions included where each guest was expected to stand and what was to be done while visiting the palace.

Etiquette still holds the original meaning of “keep off the grass”. However, it has evolved into being the umbrella for protocol of proper manners.

Today there are hundreds of books and articles full of DOs and DON’Ts at the table and in public settings. It can become very confusing to one researching the rules, and oftentimes the information contradicts itself. The CSC has found it is much simpler if a student will research 2 or 3 top information guides and stick with only those few groups. Emily Post is the primary source of information used in the CSC. Ms. Post and her family’s empire have maintained the standards of etiquette since 1946 and is an excellent social barometer for all areas of etiquette.

The Business Etiquette orientation and workshop offer instruction regarding a business meal in the following areas:

• Preparation

• Communication

• Table manners

• Follow up

The students will attend 2 sessions. The first will discuss material leading up to the meal. They will learn about proper dress, researching the company, and arriving at the restaurant. The second portion of the workshop will provide instruction with informal place settings and formal place settings. The students will learn how to conduct themselves at the dinner table and how to use the proper etiquette involving each tool placed before them. Each student will have the opportunity to earn CEU’s by attending the workshop.