Formal Dinner Tips

• The first and important thing to know is that  the table cutlery in formal dinners has a specific order. The ones that are away, that is, away from the plate, are the ones that we have to use first. And then we will continue with the rest following the same order. The forks are located to the left and the knives to the right. The spoons are also located to the right if there is soup in the menu. The cutlery for dessert is located in a horizontal position at the top of our plate. If there's a salad, the salad spoon is the first to use without a knife.

• When it comes to the glasses, there are three types in general. They are located from left to right in the following order: water, white wine, red wine. According to the occasion, we could find a champagne glass that will be the fourth and last glass.
• At the dinner table, we don't lean on the table or use our hands to support our head.We never fill up our plate!  We can have a second serving later.
• We never pick up food with a piece of bread, dip  the bread in the soup or use it to mop up sauces!
• If we need condiments or some more bread, we don't stand up nor do we stretch across the table crossing other guests to reach the item. We kindly ask the person sitting nearer to pass it to us.
• Once seated, we unfold the napkin and place it on our knees. When we finish we place it tidily to the right side of our plate.
• We should not be the first or the last to finish.
• The host and hostess may wish to make a toast. In this case, we raise our glass slightly. In formal dinner parties we don't clink glasses.
• We should not place our handbag  on the table. In a restaurant we hang it on the chair or place it on the floor next to our chair. If the dinner takes place at somebody's home, we leave it on our seat in the living-room.
• Unless we need to use the bathroom, we don't leave the table before the host and hostess do so.
• If the food presented to us is not to our liking, it is polite to at least make an effort to eat a small amount of it. Or at the very least, cut it up a little, and move it around the plate! In all cases, we never criticise the food or the service in a restaurant. If we feel unable to pay a compliment to the host and hostess, it's wise to remain silent.
• It's all right to leave some food in our plate if we think we have eaten enough. On the other hand, we should not clean our plate as if we haven't eaten in days!
• We never forget to thank the host and hostess before leaving. It's also good manners to send a handwritten thank-you note the following day.