POLISH TABLE POLISH TABLE MANNERSMANNERS

Good basic table manners are important because Good basic table manners are important because they ensure that both guests and hosts are they ensure that both guests and hosts are

comfortable at the table. Table manners are comfortable at the table. Table manners are mostly common sense. Following these will mostly common sense. Following these will carry you through most common situations carry you through most common situations

from Formal Dinners to a night of poker with from Formal Dinners to a night of poker with the guys. the guys.

1. Sit up straight. 1. Sit up straight.

Try not to slouch or lean back in your chair Try not to slouch or lean back in your chair (even if you are playing cards and don't want (even if you are playing cards and don't want you opponents to see your handyou opponents to see your handss). ).

2. Don't speak with your mouth full 2. Don't speak with your mouth full of food. of food.

For sFor sure, you've heard your mother says it a ure, you've heard your mother says it a hundred times, but no one likes to see hundred times, but no one likes to see the the meat meat

in your mouth. If you feel you must speak in your mouth. If you feel you must speak immediately, if you have only a relatively immediately, if you have only a relatively

small bite, tuck it into your cheek with your small bite, tuck it into your cheek with your tongue and speak briefly. tongue and speak briefly.

3. Chew quietly, and try not to slurp. 3. Chew quietly, and try not to slurp.

This is a corollary of rule number 2. Making This is a corollary of rule number 2. Making noises is not only unappetizing, and noises is not only unappetizing, and

distracting, but it can also interrupt the flow of distracting, but it can also interrupt the flow of conversation. conversation.

4. Keep bites small4. Keep bites small

In order to facilitate the above rules it is smart to In order to facilitate the above rules it is smart to keep bite sizes to a moderate forkful. Cut meat keep bite sizes to a moderate forkful. Cut meat

and salad so that it doesn't hang from your and salad so that it doesn't hang from your mouth after you shovel it in. Don't cut all of mouth after you shovel it in. Don't cut all of your meat at one time, this tends to remind your meat at one time, this tends to remind people of feeding small children - and the people of feeding small children - and the

messiness associated with this activitymessiness associated with this activity

5. Eat at a leisurely pace. 5. Eat at a leisurely pace.

This rule, besides being good for the digestion, This rule, besides being good for the digestion, also shows your host that you want to enjoy also shows your host that you want to enjoy

the food and the company. Eating quickly and the food and the company. Eating quickly and running is sign of disrespect for the host, as it running is sign of disrespect for the host, as it shows that your focus is on the food and that shows that your focus is on the food and that

you would rather be at home watching the you would rather be at home watching the grass grow than passing time with your host. grass grow than passing time with your host.

6. Don't wave utensils in the air, 6. Don't wave utensils in the air, especially knives or if there is food especially knives or if there is food

on themon them

Besides the danger of knocking over glasses, Besides the danger of knocking over glasses, piercing waiters or launching a pea into the piercing waiters or launching a pea into the

eye of your date, this is a sign of over-eye of your date, this is a sign of over-excitement that may be unappealing to those excitement that may be unappealing to those

present. Earnestness is to be commended, present. Earnestness is to be commended, but irrational exuberance goes beyond the but irrational exuberance goes beyond the

limits of good table manners. limits of good table manners.

7. Keep your elbows off the table. 7. Keep your elbows off the table.

You have also heard this one from your mother, You have also heard this one from your mother, ad infinitum, but in close dining situations it is ad infinitum, but in close dining situations it is

a vital rule. Elbows take up table space and a vital rule. Elbows take up table space and can be a danger in knocking plates or glasses. can be a danger in knocking plates or glasses.

Elbows on the table give you something to Elbows on the table give you something to lean on and tend to lull you into slouching. If lean on and tend to lull you into slouching. If you must lean on the table a good tactic is to you must lean on the table a good tactic is to

take a roll or piece of bread into your free hand take a roll or piece of bread into your free hand and rest part of your forearm on the table. and rest part of your forearm on the table.

8. Don't 8. Don't rreacheach

You don't want to get in the way of people either You don't want to get in the way of people either eating or talking. Not only is it as impolite as eating or talking. Not only is it as impolite as standing in front of a TV with other people standing in front of a TV with other people

behind you, but there is always the possibility behind you, but there is always the possibility of upsetting glasses or running your sleeve of upsetting glasses or running your sleeve

through someone's mashed potatoes. through someone's mashed potatoes.

9. Don't forget please and thank you9. Don't forget please and thank you

These are handy words in most situations but These are handy words in most situations but especially vital at the table where common especially vital at the table where common courtesies are noticed by everyone present. courtesies are noticed by everyone present.

10. Excuse yourself when leaving the 10. Excuse yourself when leaving the table. table.

. You don't want people to think that you are . You don't want people to think that you are tired of their company. If you must leave the tired of their company. If you must leave the table make your excuses somewhat obvious table make your excuses somewhat obvious and appear to be pressing. You want to leave and appear to be pressing. You want to leave people with the impression that you would people with the impression that you would rather remain at the table talking with them rather remain at the table talking with them than doing anything else, but the matter at than doing anything else, but the matter at

hand is so pressing that it must be attended to hand is so pressing that it must be attended to at once. at once.

11. Compliment the Cook. 11. Compliment the Cook.

Even if the food is perfectly awfulEven if the food is perfectly awful,, say say something nice. You don't have to lie, simply something nice. You don't have to lie, simply

find the positive side of the burnt leg of find the positive side of the burnt leg of lamb..."Gee, the sauce was slamb..."Gee, the sauce was soo tasty." It is tasty." It is

always pleasant to end a meal on a positive always pleasant to end a meal on a positive note. note.

12. Wipe your mouth before 12. Wipe your mouth before drinking. drinking.

. . Have you eHave you ever noticever noticedd anyany disgusting smudge on disgusting smudge on

the edge of your wine glass? This can be the edge of your wine glass? This can be avoided by first wiping your lips with your avoided by first wiping your lips with your

napkin. napkin.

13. Wash your hands before sitting 13. Wash your hands before sitting at the table ( hygienic purpose!)at the table ( hygienic purpose!)