Lessons
Course Introduction
01:45 2Arriving at the Table
01:20 3Napkins
01:46 4What to Eat
01:51 5The Place Setting
02:53 6Holding Utensils
02:30 7Posture
02:51 8Toasting and Alcohol
01:50Lesson Info
Napkins
Let's talk about napkins. One of the first things that's gonna happen when you arrive at the table is you're gonna want to put your napkin in your lap. Your napkin is your best friend. It's like home base. It's a safe place, and you want to get the home base as soon as possible. So once you've taken your seat, you want to take your napkin and put it in your lap. If it's a linen or a cloth napkin, you're probably gonna want to open it up and fold it. It doesn't matter if you fold it on a a diagonal, so you end up with a triangle shape or in half. So you end up with a rectangle shape. I like to place that fold up against my waist so that it covers as much of my lap as possible. You're not just there to protect your clothes. It's also there to clean your fingers and your face as needed throughout the meal. You don't want to eat so that you're making a mess of yourself all the time, but your napkin is there to help you clean up. If it does happen when you get up to leave the table, Whether...
you're returning or whether it's the end of the meal, you're gonna place your napkin loosely to the left of your place setting. Now, there are some etiquette experts that are going to tell you when you're leaving the table on you plan to return. You want to drape your napkin on the back of your chair, put it on your seat. This is a good way to get that food that's fallen on your napkin or that you've cleaned up with on your clothes. I strongly suggest that whether you're returning or whether the meal is over, that you remember the little pneumonic L L for loosely to the left because that's where you're gonna place your napkin when it's not in your lap. Now, if you've got a paper napkin you don't need toe unfold a paper napkin delay in your lap. You can just set it on your thigh so it's there where you can use it to clean up when you need it. When you get to the table, napkin goes in your lap. You can watch your host for cues and more formal situations, but generally speaking, once you take your seat at the table, get that napkin, get to home base the place you want to be
Ratings and Reviews
Greg R
Thank you Daniel. I found this short course very informative in a nice, light, and fun way! I've done ok over the decades after watching this (thanks for instilling some good habits mom), but of course I learned lots I didn't know also. I wish I could have watched this course long ago to relieve nervousness at posh 5 star restaurants, and/or at dinner with posh hosts or someone's parents :) I caught this on free stream day, but have added it to my wishlist and will eventually buy it for occasional refresher! Great Course!
Michael Friesen
Daniel's course provides an excellent overview of the essentials of dining etiquette. The content is contemporary and reflects the more relaxed atmosphere that prevails in most dining situations today. I would definitely recommend this course to a friend looking to review the basics of dining etiquette.