Tiffany Nielsen

Dining Etiquette, Business Etiquette and Children's Workshop

Bread Etiquette

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Bread etiquette

It’s not fancy, it’s just etiquette.

Bread Etiquette: Pass it to the Right or Left?

Not only will you guarantee that anyone seated at your table will have their share of bread, but your Passing Bread Etiquette you will make your proud for knowing an important social etiquette skill that will serve you well socially and professionally.

Serve Others First

If you are the first person to reach for a bread basket or plate, remember to serve yourself last! Yes, I said last. It’s far more courteous to pass the bread to your neighbor than it is for you to indulge first. Why? When we gather around a table to share a meal with others, it’s just that- a sharing process. By taking a piece for yourself without thinking if others might like a piece too, can come across  as self-serving.

Passing Bread to the Right or to the Left?

The first step is to reach in for the bread and happily pass it to the person on your right. If there’s not a person to your right, common sense will tell you to look across your table or to your left. Obviously, if you are dining alone then by all means serve yourself.

What about Butter?

If individual butter dishes aren’t provided,  pass the shared butter dish to the guest seated to your right side. If there’s not a person to your right, then pass it to the person to your left or perhaps across the table.    

If you are looking for more dining etiquette tips, then I’m positive you will want to read, Which Fork Do I Use? 

Tiffany’s Etiquette Tip: Pass the bread first. Serve yourself last.

Be an Adult with Manners

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Adult Manners Matter

Don’t give up on good manners!

Teaching kids manners takes patience and a strong will. Some listen, learn and adapt quickly while others will mock you until you give up. Don’t give up!  As an adult, it is your responsibility to lead by example in order for kids to trust good manners are fashionable- not a form of punishment.

Here are a few of my timeless holiday guidelines for adults:

Lazy bums– Holiday Sloths are people who are too lazy to get up off the couch as house guests arrive with presents and food for all to enjoy. Don’t be a sloth! Get up and greet people and show your good manners.

Can’t ever say too many thanks! – After your kids say their thanks for presents (words, hugs, kisses, smiles, etc… all which work well), it’s the parents turn to also give thanks for the gifts given to their children. Teach and show your kids the art of gratitude and good manners.

Cell Phones – Texting, snapping and scrolling as presents are being passed out is extremely rude. Break up with your cell phone! Be present and show good manners.

Remember that the Inn Keeper wasn’t too lazy or behaving in a self-consumed manner when a special family came knocking at his door.  He accommodated, greeted and provided the best hospitality he could give to his guests. Be the Inn Keeper.

 

 

 

Table Settings for Informal and Formal Meals

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Let your imagination and creativy lead you as you align your table settings.

Laguiole Flatware, 5-Piece Place Setting in Red from Williams Sonoma.

 One plate, one fork, one knife, and a spoon are typical pieces included in  everyday table settings.

A drinking glass or cup for water, milk, etc… sits at the upper right side of your plate.

You will most likely encounter informal table settings at home, in restaurants and at informal parties and receptions.

To set formal table settings, start with an informal table setting then build from there, adding chargers or placemats, additional silverware for a multi-course meal, pretty glassware, your best dishes and a bread plate and butter spreader.

The most important tip I can give you doesn’t come from a store; it comes from your heart, and your own desire to preserve the traditions of dining together. If it’s only one night a year you are able to gather people at your table, let it be a special night. Be as formal or informal as you prefer without losing sight of how blessed you are to have people dining at your table.

We have more table setting tips at www.tiffanynielsen.com/blog. Enjoy and thank you for sharing our mission to preserve the traditions of etiquette and manners.

 

 

 

 

Valentine’s Day Dining Etiquette… Showing the Love with Manners

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Valentine’s Day Dining
Showing the Love with Manners

What I love the most about Valentine’s Day is the opportunity to find a special way to say “I love you” in a way that goes beyond the usual “I love you” as I’m running frantically out the door for an important event. Thankfully, I’m coming up on my fourth wedding anniversary, which I’m totally excited about because I spent most of my adult life single, and a lot of that time dateless on Valentine’s Day. Poor me, I know.

Recognizing that today’s message gets to you at the heat of last minute Valentines prep work, I want you to know I’m scrambling myself to make it extra special. Since “What’s for dinner” is standard conversation in our house, I’ve decided to serve up the evening’s dinner within a formal service laced with extra décor. Maybe you want to do the same; therefore, here are my Valentine’s Day tips to help you show love with good manners.

Formal Dining Place Setting

Place Setting for Formal Dining

Formal vs. Informal. Going beyond the norm is what will make your gift of cooking special. A good menu primer is a three to five course meal with all the trimmings associated with the ultimate place setting. Likely, you have all you need stacked in your cabinets. Pull it out, swish your place settings through a sudsy soap bath to clear the dust, dry and off you go to the table. Lay out your best cloth or even a colorful bed sheet if that’s all you have available (nobody but you will know). And, in case the place setting has you baffled, here are some good examples you can follow.

Place Setting for Casual Dining

Place Setting for Casual Dining

Do what works for you.

Dishing-Up a Little Scoop of Manners. When we arrive to the dining table, let’s keep in mind that cell phone usage at the dining table is the number one faux pas in the dining etiquette world. Yes, we like to be available and kill time combing Facebook and glancing at emails (like we ever just glance…) in between service, but all this kills the mood and serves up nothing but more disconnect. Arrive ready to be accessible to the people you are with. Give your love and undying attention to those who have made time to be with you, and only you.

And, if Valentine’s Day ends up being a first date, second date or part of the courting process for more potential dates remember this: He who asks pays. So, if you do the asking, count on paying. Going “Dutch” is so unromantic on Valentine’s Day, but if you insist on pitching in, discuss money before the date begins to avoid spoiling the mood.

If you think you are off the hook now, no not just yet. “A smiling face is half the meal”. This Latvian Proverb is true. Smile, smile and smile. Smile at everyone, even the ones who won’t smile back. Smile in gratitude, happiness and joy. Be happy this Valentine’s Day with anyone and everyone. Couple yourselves with the likes of happy, generous people. Snuggle with your pets. Be the gracious wonderful person you are. You are loved.

© Tiffany Nielsen. All Rights Reserved.

Dining Etiquette and Licking Knives

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Photo courtesy of Google Images

Licking a knife at home is one thing, but licking a knife in public can be seen as an etiquette mishap. Cleaning up what’s left on the blade of a knife could be a personal preference or an old habit for some to break- I get it.

I recently watched a woman in a restaurant lick her knife blade dry. From the tip of the blade to the start of the handle, she didn’t dare let that dressing go to waste.

One problem with licking knives is that it’s dangerous. A bleeding tongue would feel miserable.

If a person interviewing for a job is invited to join a potential employer for a meal, licking salad dressing, butter, or whatever from a knife will likely become an unforgettable moment for the employer. It could also turn out to be a lost opportunity for the applicant. I suppose the interview situation would be different if the job somehow involved knife tricks.

I’ve seen plenty of people use knives as toothpicks, to pry open bottles and so on. So be it. However, licking knives during a job interview won’t necessarily leave a positive impression. Not everyone has stopped caring about etiquette.

Like I said earlier, this may be personal preference or old habits for some. For others, they may not know that there is the option not to lick their knives. In other words, no one taught them any different or they didn’t care to listen.

The moral of the blog is to create awareness and help anyone looking for modern, helpful etiquette tips.

 

© Tiffany Nielsen. All Rights Reserved.