An accessory may be a thing of secondary or subordinate importance
but one cannot deny that they add to the beauty, convenience and effectiveness
of whatever they are accessorizing.
The
dining table is definitely one of the most important piece of furniture in any
home. For it is over this piece that the family gathers two to three times a
day, to share not only their meals but also their thoughts and deeds. Therefore
it is very necessary that a lot of thought goes into choosing the table that
would suit your purpose.
While
choosing a dining table one has to take into consideration a few points. Like
for example
design is important but not at the cost of basics. All tables
should have a height of 30 inches and correspondingly the chairs should have a
height of 18 inches whereas for kids an extra cushion can be added.
For a
table for two to four persons, the convenient size is 3 feet square (minimum
2.5 feet square is required), or 4 by 2 feet rectangle or 3 feet diameter if
it's a round table. For more than four people, you have to choose between a
rectangle or round table with the size increasing correspondingly to the number
of persons you want to accommodate on one table. Availability of space is
however the prime aspect. The material and design come next, which has to
complement the rest of the décor. Wood is still the most preferred choice.
Allow good leg space and facility for chairs to be pushed in when not in use.
Chairs should be sturdy and designed to support the right posture for sitting.
A water- proof tabletop is the most ideal.
A
side table should ideally, compliment all dining tables. It not only has a
utility value but can also add to the aesthetics and make the room look full.
It can be utilized to keep crockery, cutlery, glassware, jugs, mats, ice
buckets, napkins, coasters, candle stands, cruet sets, flower vases, menu
stands, other decorative pieces, trays etc. If space provides one can also keep
preservatives like pickles, sauces etc.
It definitely increases the efficiency
of service. Make it a point however to ensure that after the meal all things
come back to the side table properly washed, wiped and stacked in its original
place. The
worktop of the side table should be at 34 inches from the ground. You can have
the display cabinet designed upto a height of 72 inches above the worktop,
fitted at the back of the side table. Width of the side table should be 18-24
inches. Upto the worktop, the side table can have cupboards with shelves and
drawers to keep various things. They should be lined with sound absorbing
cloth.
You can also keep an electric heating plate on top, which can keep a few
dishes warm while they wait their turn to be served. With the side table at
your service you can empty your dining table and double its use for study etc.
To the Manners Born
The word Manners is defined in dictionary as social
conduct as per the rules prevalent in the society that one lives in. And if one
aspires to attain any degree of social standing it is absolutely necessary to
conform to these rules. There are Manners set for every aspect of social
existence among which Table Manners play an important part in making a
favourable impression. They are visible signals of our behaviour and upbringing
and therefore essential to professional as well as personal success.
Posture: Sit up straight at the table, never
lean backward, nor forward and also never let the elbows touch the table. This
makes a good impression. When you are not eating, keep your hands on your lap
or rest on the table.
"Please" and "Thank you"
are basic manners at the table: Say "Please" when asking
people to pass you something and "Thank you" when you receive
something.
The best way to use a napkin: The napkin should be
placed on the lap to catch crumbs or drips while eating food and should be kept
back on the table neatly, after the meal is finished.
Food is passed at a family meal by the head
of the family or the host/hostess: It is often passed in a
counterclockwise movement around the table.
Wait for others to start eating. In many homes they
say a prayer first.
It is best to order foods that can be eaten
with a knife and a fork. Finger foods can be messy and are best left for
informal dining.
The only way to eat is slowly and quietly. Chew small bites of
food and swallow with the mouth closed.
Smoking should not be done while dining out.
One should avoid touching nose, teeth and
combing hair while dinning.
The table and tablecloth should be kept
clean. Do
not put bones or any other morsels on the table.
Avoid spitting anything out. If there is something
in the mouth, which can't be swallowed, quietly put it in a paper napkin and
then continue. (e.g. bones, seeds, etc.)
End the meal properly. When a person has
finished eating, the fork and the knife are placed diagonally crossed across
the plate, this is the best way to inform the server that you have finished
eating.
When you have finished eating, express
appreciation for the meal. You can perhaps say "What a delicious meal!
Thank you so much." And then wait for all to be finished before leaving
the table.
To handle some of the unfortunate and
embarrassing moments while eating food, following are some tips:
If some beverage or food is spilled on some
guest while eating: The
best way is to handle the situation with a calm and quiet frame of mind.
Apologise first and then using the cloth napkin and water wipe it gently or
else gently guide the guest to the wash room.
When a bug appears: If a bug or anything
of that sort appears in your salad etc. quietly send it back but do not point
it out because it might ruin the entire dinner for the rest of the people.
To remove a distasteful food item from the
mouth: The
food should be removed in the napkin discreetly and the food morsel should be
kept out of view from others.
If a piece of silverware falls onto the
floor: It
should be picked up if one can reach it and the server should be told to
replenish it with a clean one.
Some food items can be eaten with fingers: Some food tastes better
when eaten with fingers. So you can eat with your fingers provided you use just
the first two segments of the thumb, the index and middle fingers to pop the
food into the mouth. Avoid licking fingers after finishing the food. Food should
be always eaten with right hand.
Image Credit: Google
Comments
Post a Comment