Fine Dining Etiquette

Being born in an average Pakistani family, I had never really attended formal 7 course meals until I went abroad. As you all know, Pakistani formal meals are mostly 3 course with several dishes served as part of a single course rather than having 7 different types of dishes served as individual courses. Therefore, the first time I attended a 7-course formal dinner, I was overwhelmed with the table setting, the dinnerware, etc. It was nothing I had ever seen before. Luckily, my mother, despite being a born and bred "desi", has a penchant for learning things that are foreign to our culture (fashion, food, etc., you name it) and over the years she made sure I learned a thing or two from her. That is why I didn't make a fool of myself the first time I sat at a formal dinner abroad and knew exactly which fork and knife to use for what.

So here are a few tips for those who are interested to know about fine dining etiquette and like me, have not been brought up in families who host 7 course meals. :p 

1. The ultra-formal table setting for 7 course meals

 Source: http://askchefchristy.com/blog/tag/formal-dining/

A demitasse is a small cup used to serve Turkish coffee or espresso. There should be a demitasse spoon also present at the table to accompany the cup.

Without any demitasse, here is another option:

2. Slightly less formal with no cocktail shrimp as the 1st course and no demitasse either.

Source: Picture taken from here 

When it comes to dining, not only the position of the dinnerware is important but how to use your knife and fork during meals is an important part of table etiquette. There are two commonly used methods:

1. The American way: The first picture shows the position of the fork and the spoon while resting during meals and the second picture shows the position after you are finished.

2. The Continental way: Again, The first picture shows the position of the fork and the spoon while resting during meals and the second picture shows the position after you are finished.

Read the full article here.

Having said all this, I still say: Jo maza hath se khanay mein hai, wo kahin nahi. :p

Happy eating! :)