When it comes to dinner etiquette, there is no shortage of help out there on the internet. Queen Victoria would have been amused. I shall tell you what she did later.
UK
A quick reminder about Britain:
Forks are placed on the tabled with tines up. However, they are used for eating with tines down to spear the peas, not upwards as if the fork were a spoon or a shovel.
Elbows off the table.
Don't take the last piece of cake or anything else without checking nobody else wants it.
No dunking bread in soup.
When you have finished, place knife and fork together on the plate in the six 'clock position.
France
Demonstrate savoir faire and gain some cache.
The French dunk biscuits in coffee at breakfast time. They use bread to scoop up soup and the last of the gravy.
Merci, or thank you means no thank you. I was offered coffee and kept saying merci, thanks, but never got any.
The French put their knife and fork together at the end of the meal in the five o'clock position.
Germany
The Germans, like the French, finish with knives and forks in the five o'clock
position.
https://www.german-way.com/travel-and-tourism/germany-for-tourists/dining-out-in-germany/dining-etiquette-in-germany/
Spain
According to the writer below, the Spaniards are like the French banning hands hidden in laps, up to no good.
They eat croissants and toasts with small knives and forks.
No dipping bread in soup, but you can push food onto your fork.
http://www.notesfromspain.com/2007/03/29/spanish-table-manners-do-you-know-the-rules/
As in the UK, wait for everybody to be served wine, and for the host to suggest a toast, then clink glasses with everybody and maintain eye contact.
French bread, as in France is crumbly so you tear it with your fingers and don't attempt t cut it into neat slices because if you did that you would make a huge mess.
A Singaporean asks me:
"But if you break bread with your hands - what about the crumbs!"
I suggest you watch your companions. As in Singapore, you do not drop peanut shells on the floor, but in Raffles bar you are allowed to follow the fashion, the tradition of years ago and do so.
Coffee
The story goes that Queen Victoria visited the home of a miner. The miner offered her tea. Then he picked up the saucer and drank from it.
Queen Victoria did as he did.
In her house, he would have been expected to follow the court customs. But in his house, she followed the customs of the host.
As they say, when in Rome, do what the Romans do.
Italy
The Italians have espresso coffee, a short strong coffee, as an after dinner pick me up. At breakfast time they drink a long milky coffee. Italian waiters sometimes get irate. The believe that when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
UK
On the other hand, we could consider whether we want to be right - or to make money. In Britain we have a saying: The Customer Is King.
In the USA, the customers are very casual, and after cutting up their meat, just eat with a fork.
The staff also pack up your leftovers to take home. You don't have to ask the staff when you want the leftovers. The staff usually ask you!
Useful Websites
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. I have several more tips in posts on etiquette. Please share links to your favourite posts.
UK flag.
UK
A quick reminder about Britain:
Forks are placed on the tabled with tines up. However, they are used for eating with tines down to spear the peas, not upwards as if the fork were a spoon or a shovel.
Elbows off the table.
Don't take the last piece of cake or anything else without checking nobody else wants it.
No dunking bread in soup.
When you have finished, place knife and fork together on the plate in the six 'clock position.
French flag.
France
Demonstrate savoir faire and gain some cache.
The French dunk biscuits in coffee at breakfast time. They use bread to scoop up soup and the last of the gravy.
Merci, or thank you means no thank you. I was offered coffee and kept saying merci, thanks, but never got any.
The French put their knife and fork together at the end of the meal in the five o'clock position.
Germany
The Germans, like the French, finish with knives and forks in the five o'clock
position.
https://www.german-way.com/travel-and-tourism/germany-for-tourists/dining-out-in-germany/dining-etiquette-in-germany/
Flag of Spain.
Spain
According to the writer below, the Spaniards are like the French banning hands hidden in laps, up to no good.
They eat croissants and toasts with small knives and forks.
No dipping bread in soup, but you can push food onto your fork.
http://www.notesfromspain.com/2007/03/29/spanish-table-manners-do-you-know-the-rules/
Swiss Flag.
SwitzerlandAs in the UK, wait for everybody to be served wine, and for the host to suggest a toast, then clink glasses with everybody and maintain eye contact.
French bread, as in France is crumbly so you tear it with your fingers and don't attempt t cut it into neat slices because if you did that you would make a huge mess.
A Singaporean asks me:
"But if you break bread with your hands - what about the crumbs!"
I suggest you watch your companions. As in Singapore, you do not drop peanut shells on the floor, but in Raffles bar you are allowed to follow the fashion, the tradition of years ago and do so.
Coffee
The story goes that Queen Victoria visited the home of a miner. The miner offered her tea. Then he picked up the saucer and drank from it.
Queen Victoria did as he did.
In her house, he would have been expected to follow the court customs. But in his house, she followed the customs of the host.
As they say, when in Rome, do what the Romans do.
Italy
The Italians have espresso coffee, a short strong coffee, as an after dinner pick me up. At breakfast time they drink a long milky coffee. Italian waiters sometimes get irate. The believe that when in Rome, do as the Romans do.
UK flag.
Queen Victoria would have understood.
UK
On the other hand, we could consider whether we want to be right - or to make money. In Britain we have a saying: The Customer Is King.
In the USA, the customers are very casual, and after cutting up their meat, just eat with a fork.
The staff also pack up your leftovers to take home. You don't have to ask the staff when you want the leftovers. The staff usually ask you!
Useful Websites
TRAVEL TO LONDON & Beyond
visitbritain.com
Switzerland
myswitzerland,com
Spain
www.spain.info
France
visitfrance.co.uk
Germany
germany.travel/en
ITALY
italiantouristboard.co.uk
umbriatourism.it
USA
visittheusa.co.uk
Switzerland
myswitzerland,com
Spain
www.spain.info
France
visitfrance.co.uk
Germany
germany.travel/en
ITALY
italiantouristboard.co.uk
umbriatourism.it
USA
visittheusa.co.uk
BRITISH DINNER ETIQUETTE
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker. I have several more tips in posts on etiquette. Please share links to your favourite posts.
