Comments on: A Man’s Guide to Dining Etiquette and Proper Table Manners

By: Melissa

Melissa — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 01:08:30 +0000

I wish there was more attention paid to etiquette..manners…to show respect for others around and pride in ones self. Very strange to me how many make fun of these values.

By: Ashakur

Ashakur — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 04:31:53 +0000

This is the first website I selected and read to my husband, who has horrible etiquette when he’s eating. He slurps when he eats, smacks, slurps and sometime sniffle if the food is spicy. When I ask him to close his mouth, stop smacking, or wipe his nose he always gets offended. He’s driving me crazy! A little history he was born in Asia when it’s ok to slurp and smack, but he’s been in America for 20 years. HE’S DRIVING ME CRAZY. JUST RUDE. WHAT SHOULD I DO?

By: Joanna

Joanna — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:40:33 +0000

What an article — but take out the wine bottle, as a gift, as though serving alcohol at meals was such a normal part of “everyone’s” existence. You don’t know what demons lurk in what families’ backgrounds, and who’s currently battling one. That’s about as sensitive as bringing Cuban cigars for dessert and wondering why everything thinks you’re boorish or hopelessly outdated. If you ASK, “May I bring a bottle of wine for dinner?” Then by all means. But assuming that it’s okay is as clueless as lighting up your cig at the table.

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 20:32:50 +0000

I wish there would have been a section on eating with fork and knife, not just a fork (and a finger!). Fork in left hand, knife in the right. Never, ever shove your food onto your fork with your finger!

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 17:25:40 +0000

Actually, my question is: if there’s anything on your plate that you like, but you feel there’s something you want to remove from it, should that be done. What are the limits to that? That’s the issue my son has that I need some help with explaining to him what’s right and what’s wrong. Do any of you have any ideas for me? My son is in his twenties and still lives at home (due to his disorders) so I’m wanting to help him improve his manners and need good reasons for him. Any advice will be appreciated.

By: Cheryl

Cheryl — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 04:38:25 +0000

Great tips.
I don’t think I’ve seen anything written about what one should do if there’s fat, skin, or grissel on the meat that you don’t want to eat. My son has OCD and insists on spending time cutting anything off his meat that he doesn’t like. How can explain to him that that is not good manners?

By: Richard T

Richard T — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 19:35:02 +0000

I concur with Ian on how to rest the cutlery on the plate. I guess us aussies tend to follow the British practice.

By: Axe Robinson

Axe Robinson — Mon, 31 May 2010 05:29:23 +0000

Great article. For the world-explorers amongst us, I think it’s important to point out that Western table manners might not always be appropriate elsewhere. A gentleman has no excuse for ignoring the homework necessary to show proper respect to hosts wherever he may be.

When I lived in Japan, I was surprised to find my silent eating solicited a heartfelt apology from a ramen chef. Having just arrived, it didn’t even occur to me that the sucking sound for eating noodles acts as a cooling mechanism and the chef mistakenly thought I was making a statement that his broth was too cool. While that was certainly an unusual case, I think the statement above of following the manners of those around you can help one navigate any dinner table around the world smoothly.

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 14 May 2010 00:20:58 +0000

^ Wikipedia confirms that this is standard practice in the UK. I guess I’m not the only one that’s heard of this way.

By: Ian

Ian — Fri, 14 May 2010 00:18:31 +0000

My father was raised in Scotland, and he taught me to rest fork and spoon at the 6 o’clock position after finishing a meal. His reasoning was because that is exactly how the queen does, and it would be an insult not to follow the queen. I seem to be the only one that’s heard of this way though.