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
Salad
There are a couple of manners that come to mind when I think about the salad course. The first has to do with whether or not you use your knife to cut salad, and you absolutely can. There was a traditional idea that you didn't use a knife to cut your salad because traditionally, knives were made of silver and the vinegar from the salad dressing could tarnish that silver. Well today, most of our table where is stainless steel, and it's okay to use a knife to cut your salad. In fact, there's a salad was popular a few years ago, that wedge salad or today's version of the Caesar salad with the whole leaf romain, where I even suggest that you cut it all up right at the start of the course with a couple clear cross hashes with your knife. Now it also works for big butter leaves for other leaves, or any salad that you need to break up before you're going to eat it. Once your salad is set on, the course has begun there a couple other things that come to mind. One is what do you do with those p...
esky cherry tomatoes? Well, This is the part where I get to remind everyone to chew with your mouth closed. This is one of the most important table man. Respect is probably one of the first table manners that any of us learn when we're growing up. Chew with your mouth closed. Don't talk with your mouth full. Don't gross out the people that you're eating with. Well, why is the cherry tomato a good reminder of that basic table manner? Because it can squirt. I used to think this was kind of silly. I would omit it from some of my table manners instruction until it happened to me. One day when I bit down my cherry tomato and it squirted right out of my mouth, I said, I'm never gonna skip this part of the lesson again. So she with your mouth closed, don't talk with your mouth full. It's really important. Something else that often comes up with the salad course is when ah server asked you whether you'd like some cracked pepper some Parmesan on your salad because this is being suggested by the restaurant. You can go ahead and accept. If you think that you would like that now if you're being served piece of meat or something that has been prepared for you, you want to taste it before you salt it before you use the seasoning that's provided on the table. If it's not being suggested by the restaurant, keep in mind these few basics, and you should be able to enjoy your salad and be ready for the main course when it arrives.
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.