Hello Everyone, This is an article on Table Manners for people who are uncomfortable while attending parties in big restaurants with people around. Remember, table manner is one of the factors judging a person’s character.

Table Manners: (South Indian Restaurants)

· Wait for the host or the eldest person to start first.

· You should maintain silence while eating food. You are not expected to chat unnecessarily with the people around the table.

· It is acceptable not to use cutlery for eating, as many foods - such as Indian breads and curry - are best enjoyed when eating with the hand.

· Wash hands thoroughly before sitting at the table as some Indian foods are primarily eaten by hand. Also, wash hands after eating the food. Usually, a finger bowl.

· In North India, when eating curry, the gravy must not be allowed to stain the fingers --only the fingertips are used. However, in South India, it is acceptable to use more of your hand.

· When flatbreads such as chapati, roti, or naan are served with the meal, it is acceptable and expected to use pieces of them to gather food and sop-up gravies and curries.

· The cardinal rule of dining is to always use the right hand when eating or receiving food and never the left. Even a piece from the bread is broken using the right hand alone.

· It is considered inappropriate to use your fingers to share food from someone else's plate once you have started using your own. Instead, ask for a clean spoon to transfer the food to your plate from the common dish.

· When eating with hands, always eat with right, as mentioned above. However, use only the other clean hand to transfer food from a common dish on the table.

· It is not necessary to taste each and every dish prepared; but you must finish everything on the plate as it is considered a respect for served food. For that reason, take only as much food on the plate you can finish.

Western Table Manners: (Chinese and Continental Restaurants)

· The fork is held in your left hand and the knife is held in your right.

· You should hold your knife with the handle in your palm and your fork in the other hand with the prongs pointing downwards.

· If you’re eating a dessert, your fork (if you have one) should be held in the left hand and the spoon in the right.

· When eating soup, you should hold your spoon in your right hand and tip the bowl away from you, scooping the soup in movements away from yourself.

· It is not acceptable to use your fingers at the table to eat or push food onto your fork. You may, however, eat some foods such as fruit, sandwiches, burgers, crisps, chips or pizza with your fingers.

· Drinks should always be to the right of your plate with the bread roll to the left.

· You should not start eating before your host does or instructs you to do so. At larger meals, it is considered okay to start eating once others have been served.

· When you’re finished, place your knife and fork together at six o’clock with your fork on the left (tines facing up) and knife on the right, with the knife blade facing in. This signals that you are finished.

· Your serviette should never be screwed up. Nor should it be folded neatly as that would suggest that your host might plan to use it again without washing it - just leave is neatly but loosely.

· Never blow your nose on your serviette. Place it on your lap and use it to dab your mouth if you make a mess.

· It is considered rude to answer the telephone at the table. If you need to take an urgent call, excuse yourself and go outside.

· Always ask for permission from the host and excuse yourself if you need to leave the table. You should place your napkin on your seat until you return.

· Once an item of cutlery has been used, it should not touch the table again.

· The food should be brought to your mouth on the back of the fork; you should sit straight and not lean towards your plate.

· Dishes should be served from the right, and taken away from the right. Unless the food is placed on your plate at the table, then it should arrive from the left.

· Drinks should be served from the right.

· Never lean across somebody else’s plate while serving.

· Do not take food from a neighbour’s plate.

· You must not put your elbows on the table.

· When chewing food, close your mouth and only talk when you have swallowed it.

· Swallow all food before eating more or having a drink.

· Do not slurp your food or eat loudly.

· Never pick food out of your teeth with your fingernails.

· Try to eat all the food you are served.

· Always remember “regular” manners. Remember to say "please" and "thank you".