Food Finesse - How do I eat that food?

Food Finesse Since you’ll be eating for the rest of your life, you should be confident while you are eating! Here are a few guidelines for some specific foods: Apples and Pears: In casual situation, eat fruit with your fingers. Bacon: If crisp, it’s a finger food. If limp, use a knife and fork. Baked Potato: With a knife, slit the potato and push the ends toward the center with your fingers. Add butter, sour cream, and whatever else you like. Bananas: At dinner, cut, peel, and eat with fork. On a picnic, peel and eat monkey style. Barbecued Ribs: These are definitely a finger food, but nothing is finger lickin’ good. Bread, Rolls, Muffins, Biscuits: Break off a small piece; butter and eat only this much at a time. Don’t butter or cut the whole roll. Break and butter your bread over your bread plate to keep crumbs where they belong. Butter: Butter is placed on your bread plate, if you have one; if not, put the butter on your dinner plate. Celery, Carrot Sticks, Pickles: Eat with your fingers. Cheese Spread: Spread a little on a cracker; don’t weigh it down. Corn on the Cob: Butter, salt, and eat a few rows at a time. Butter drooling down your chin isn’t a pretty sight, so avoid overdoing it. Crackers: Sure, why not… put them in your soup, a few at a time. Large crackers should be eaten separately. Cupcakes and Brownies: Break and eat with your fingers. Dip: Dip the munchie only once before it enters your mouth. No double dipping! If the dip is on your plate, you may dip and dip and dip. French Fries: These are a finger food. Dip them into the catsup; rather than pouring catsup all over your fries. Use a fork if on main dining plate or if covered in gravy. Fried Chicken: It’s generally a finger food, but follow your host or hostess. Grapes: Cut or break off a bunch, but eat one at a time using your fingers. Gravy or Sauce: Pour it on top of whatever it’s meant for. Don’t have everything on your plate drowning in gravy. Hamburgers and Hot Dogs: Eat with your fingers. Add your toppings, but don’t overdo do it or they will get messy. Jellies (Mint, Apple, Cranberry): Spoon them onto your plate next to the meat. Take a little on your fork and eat it with the meat. Olives: Eat with your fingers. The olive pit is removed from your mouth with cupped fingers. Pizza: Hold a piece in your fingers, curling up the sides to avoid losing the filling. Use a fork if gooey or if it has lots of toppings. Popsicles and Ice Cream Bars: Keep the paper on the bottom until you are finished. Pound Cake: Use your fingers to break and eat. If you add topping, use a fork or spoon. Salad: Use your salad fork if it is a separate course. Use your dinner fork if it is part of your entrée. You may cut large pieces of lettuce with a knife (leave your knife on your salad plate) Shrimp Cocktail: Dip the shrimp into the cocktail sauce, using your seafood fork or use your fingers if the tail is on. (An entrée of Fried or broiled shrimp with the tail on or off should be eaten with a fork) Soup: Tilt the spoon away from you. When you get to the bottom, you may also tilt the bowl away from you. If your soup is too hot, be patient it will cool. Just make sure you don’t blow on it. If the soup is served in a cup with handles, pick it up and drink from it. Never ever slurp. Spaghetti: With your dinner fork, wind a few strands at a time by putting the tines down on the plate and bring it to your mouth (or use a pasta spoon to hold the pasta to the fork). Do not cut. Sticky Cake: Use a fork. Strawberries: Large strawberries may be eaten whole. Grasp the stem and take a couple of bites. Leave the stem on your plate. Sushi: May be eaten with your fingers, but mastering chopsticks will make you look like a pro. Tacos: Hold the taco in your fingers and eat from one side only. Watermelon Slice: A large slice should be cut to bite size with your knife and fork. Use cupped fingers to remove the seeds and leave them on your plate. And, how is food served? Food is served from the left and removal from the right. Note: People seated together always introduce themselves to each other as a sign of courtesy and respect, even when they expect to conduct separate conversations. Bon appétit!

The Dining Do's

Like it or not – “Table Manners” are the single most important benchmark when referring to "Good Manners." We are offering some "Table Do's" today to help you feel confident at your next business or social dining event. We also added a picture of a full table setting for your review. Dining Do’s • Sit up straight, but not stuffy. Your forearm may rest on the table if there is room and your elbows may also rest there in between courses. • Put your napkin on your lap. Use it. Place it on the table, not the chair, if you have to get up during a meal and when you are finished. • Wait for your host or hostess to begin eating or give a signal to begin. • Serve food from the left and remove from the right. Drinks are served and removed from the right. • Bring the food to your mouth, not your mouth down to the food. • Pass both the salt and pepper (one in each hand) even when someone asks for just one. • Break your bread, one piece at a time, butter and eat. • Place a soup spoon, teaspoon or iced tea spoon on the saucer under it. Nix the noise while stirring. • Pick up a dropped utensil at someone’s home (surely the hostess will notice and get you a clean one). Leave it on the floor at a restaurant and ask for another. • Remove a seed, an olive pit, a bone or a piece of gristle from your mouth with your cupped fingers. Hide it under something on your plate, not on the table or in your napkin. • Wipe your nose at the table, with a handkerchief or Kleenex if necessary, but never on your napkin. If you have to blow, excuse yourself and go to the restroom. • Eat finger foods with your fingers, but then use your napkin because nothing is “finger lickin’ good”. • Tilt the soup spoon away from you, like a ship going out to sea, and then bring it up to your mouth. • Eat what you can but don’t make an issue of what you “don’t like” or “can’t eat”; say only “No, thank you” when declining food. Please note these comments are for U.S. dining etiquette. Each culture has different ways of showing "good table manners." If you are heading to another country reach out and ask us. We will help you find out how to fit into any new cultural setting.

The Dining Don'ts

Like it or not – “Table Manners” are the single most important benchmark when referring to "Good Manners." We are offering some Table Don'ts which can be as important as Table Do's. Take these to heart and you will sure to impress! Table Manners Don’ts Don’ts • Chew or talk with your mouth open. • Slurp, smack, blow on hot food, crunch on ice, or make any other unpleasant noises. • Hold a utensil like a shovel. • Pick your teeth, apply lipstick or make-up at the table. • Take a sip of a drink while still chewing food (unless you’re choking). • Cut up all your food at once - only 2 or 3 cuts of meat at a time. • Use your utensil as a serving utensil, or put a serving utensil in your mouth. • Put a utensil on the table once it has been used; place it on a plate. • Push your plate away or stack your plates when you have finished eating. • Execute the boardinghouse reach rather than asking someone to pass you an item. • Eat from someone else’s plate. • Leave the table without saying “excuse me”. • Bring your cell phone or computer to the table. Please note these "don'ts" are related to U.S. table manners. Headed somewhere outside the U.S. and want to know the do's and don'ts of dining etiquette in that country? Just ask us. Marty@mannerspro.com or follow us on instagram or twitter @mannerspro for ongoing tips.

Beach Time Behavior

We are all heading out to beaches and lakes to celebrate this 4th of July. We have just a few tips for being a considerate beach goer or lake lounger. 

1) Beach Food

Make your food bite size so nothing gets wasted. Sand proof you food - use your ziplocs religiously. Smaller than containers and easily thrown away. Some may use coolers as the main place to congregate but the real pros will bring out the folding tables to bring it all up a notch. I love these tables from Sam'sClub. http://m.samsclub.com/ip/4-comm-adj-comm-grade-adj/prod8340198?pid=_CSE_Google_PLA_Folding_Tables&source=ifpla&CAWELAID=730010300000300481&adid=22222222628000000571&veh=sem. They come in different sizes and are very easy to tote (and useful for house parties with a quick tablecloth). 

2) Dunes & Don'ts

Keep glassware off the beach 

No boom boxes or super loud talking

Throw away your trash

Keep your dog on a leash

Secure your umbrellas

Refill any holes you dug

Don't feed the gulls

Use spf - a lot

Stay off the dunes

3) Beach Butts

Smoke if you must but keep it far from others and make sure smoke is not heading downstream to fellow sunbathers 

Now go enjoy the long weekend! 

The Perfect Party - Wrapping It Up Politely

How do you politely let guests know that the evening should come to a close? 1) Set a time on the invitation. This sets expectations at the outset of the party (e.g. Party from 6-9 pm) 2) Give a toast at the end of the party that thanks guests for coming and mention you cannot wait to do it again. This is a nice way to give everyone a not so subtle hint it is time to go home. 3) A more subtle approach may be if you start cleaning up. Guests usually pitch in or leave.

The Perfect Party - Conversation Free Flow

If your guests don't know each other one way to open up avenues for conversation is an interactive event like a wine/cheese tasting, or make your own pizza party where everyone is interacting in the kitchen. These kind of interactive events help loosen up the group and get everyone sharing. If you are up for games, card games or interactive games are also a great way to get the whole group involved. As the host you should be the facilitator - greet every single guest and give them an idea of who they may be interested in talking to because they may have something in common like they are both runners, or their kids are in the same school etc.

The Perfect Party - How To Get People To Mix and Mingle

Here are a few thoughts on how to get a perfect mix at your party: 1) Seat elderly guests in the center of things so they are no isolated on the edges. Plus their stories are always the best. 2) Shy guests? Give them a job like helping pass appetizers around. It helps them mix and gives them a reason to go around to each person without feeling awkward. 3)Name cards are a good way to mix up a table so everyone gets to know each other. Dessert is also an option to move a few guests around for the second part of the meal. 4) Kids can get in on the party too. They can be great helpers to take overcoats/purses and store those and help pass out drinks or refreshments.

Finishing School Short Course - Manners for Parties

This month we are giving you a quick finishing school short course on a variety of topics. Today's topic is manners for parties. 1) RSVP'ing - always do it and do it timely, whether yes or no. It's just polite to help your host plan. 2) Bringing Others - Whoever is on the invite is invited. If your baby is not on the invite, baby is not invited. If the invite says "Name and Family" bring everyone along. "Name and Guest" on the invite then your +1 is invited. 3) Special Food Needs - For really large parties, you should be prepared to be on your own. Don't mention your dietary needs to your host. For small dinner parties, let the host know as soon as possible and offer to bring a dish. 4) Arrival Time - for dinner party, show up 10 to 15 minutes after scheduled time. NEVER NEVER show up early because the host may not be ready. Any later than 15 minutes late, you should let the host know. 5) Saying Good-Bye - If there are fewer than a dozen people in attendance, that is your cue to move on. Say good-bye to the host and if there are more than that you can slip out and send a note that says thank you so much for a great party. 6) Leaving Promptly - do not be the last guest at a party unless you are a very close friend. The evening is over when these things happen - music is off, lights are on, server has been dismissed, and food is getting cleaned up. 7) Kicking Out Guests - If it is getting late, it is ok to let guests know you have an early morning and say you have to start cleaning. If you need to be more blunt, you can say thank you for staying until the end, I had such a good time with you, but I am going to have to turn in now.

Finishing School Short Course - Table Manners

This month we will give quick tips for a polished and professional image in any social or business situation. You don't need finishing school to learn these things - just a few reminders will get you far. Table Manners 1) Elbow placement - Elbows on table are ok if not eating. But don't use your elbow as a fulcrum for bringing food to your mouth. Wrists on the table are always ok. 2) Using the right fork for each course - Work from the outside in - salad to dessert fork. 3) Using the right bread plate - Reminder "BMW". Bread plate is on your left, Meal plate is in the middle, Water glass is on the right. 4) Digging In - Wait until everyone is served or the host gives the green light before you dig in. If its a large buffet style serving, you can eat when you get your food. If it is a preset event, wait until the hosts gives the cue. 5) Passing Food - First time around the tabel pass the food counterclockwise so the right hand is free for serving. Always pass both salt and pepper together even if asked for only one. 6) Reaching - If you can get the item near without a full arm extension, do it. Otherwise ask to have it passed. 7) Leaving the table - ask to excuse yourself (sans details - like I need to go to the bathroom - no one needs to know that). Leave your napkin to the left of your plate, not on your seat.

Being a Good Host

How do you get through the holiday parties you are hosting? 1) Relax and enjoy your party. When a host is tense, it makes the party tense. So get the help you need from kids or other friends/family to allow the planning not to take the fun out of the party. 2) Do a run-through before party day. Get out our the cups, plates, napkins, etc. Do the decorations early. Put extra ice in the freezer. When you do these it lessens the stress of party day. 3) When you introduce people, offer more than just names. Hosting means introducing your guests. Give guests a name but then tell the group how you know each other. That will spark conversations with guests so they can keep the conversations going while you host. 4) Say farewell with a snack (some may have a long drive home). I have mentioned I love parting gifts so a cookie bag or something for the way home is a great post party treat. Happy hosting! Marty Thompson Vice-President Manners Pro www.mannerspro.com

Being a Good Guest

Etiquette Rules Don't Take A Break From The Season! So here are a few pointers on how to be a good guest when going to all your holiday events. 1) For Pete's sake (or your host's), RSVP. 2) Don't arrive empty handed. 3) Talk to people you don't know. Make the party a party! 4) To start a conversation, give a compliment. Everyone likes to talk about themselves and it's an easy way to get to know a new person. 5) Ask questions. Where are you from, where did you go to school, etc. keep the conversation rolling and give you great insights. 6) Watch yourself with the drinks. Nobody wants to be the guest everyone talks about after the party so know when to say when. 7) Offer to be a helper. You will be sure to be invited back when you offer to give a hand to your host. 8) Follow up with a written thank-you. To having great parties! Marty

Give Your Events a Professional Polish Without a Big Bill

Parties and events may be a daunting task. Making them look professinal may be a further struggle. Here are few points that will help you keep your events polished and professional without using a huge budget: 1) Send professional electronic invites - Evite is nice but places like and have what I have found to be the best formats to put together a great invite. Some of these sites are free and some have a minimal charge per invite. All sites are definitely cheaper than a mailed invite (although my grandmother would have said not nearly as nice if you can do it). 2) You can dress up common food items to make them a little fancier. For example, cut your pizza into small squares rather than slices. Other ways to make food look better is the how it is laid out and the serving pieces you use. While serving pieces may be expensive, it may be a good idea to invest in some nice pieces that you can use over and over again. Pretzels have never looked so attractive! 3) Offer a singular, "signature" drink - one drink keeps you from having to buy all kinds of mixers and different varieties to fit everyone's taste. Additionally, a signature drink (some fruity, non-alcoholic base drink in a punch bowl) mixed with a sparkling wine can make a great offering for both younger and older guests simple and not break your bank! 4) Create a play list to make the event feel professional - use spotify to get together your playlist together. Mood music can make the night. Make sure toe keep the volume at a level that does not overpower the conversations. 5) Get a server to help with the event. I know this may seem like it will break a bank but it will not. Generally, you can get a server for 4 hours for about $100. Additionally, you may be able to get free help at local universities who have hotel management programs - often those schools give students credit for doing events! The best part of this help is that you can enjoy your party and attend to other guest needs besides making sure their cup is full. Polished Party Perfection! Marty Thompson

Perfect Table Settings for Your Holiday Parties

Here are two great pictures to help you set the perfect table for your upcoming parties. These are also great to use to teach the kids which fork or glass is theirs if they go to these parties with you. The easiest reminder to me is bring both index fingers to the thumbs. That makes a "b" and a "d" so you can always know which plate is your "b" bread plate and "d" drink glass. Enjoy! And here's to not doing the glass pass because someone picked up the wrong one! Happy dining! Marty