Table manners@bangalore

Hi ,
I want to learn table manner(how to use spoon and fork and knife during official party), how to arrange the table for a party, how to behave in a party, how to dress when I go for a party etc.

Can anyone tell me about such course or anyone who teaches this in Bangalore.

i always feel that i am not able to behave well in parties and mostly i try to avoid parties.

Please help me

thanks in advance

Originally Posted by bhansury

Hi ,
i always feel that i am not able to behave well in parties and mostly i try to avoid parties

Please help me

thanks in advance

Hi Bhansury,

Sorry, I don't have the answer for your query. I am sure other ILites will be able to help you on that.


What made you think that you won't be able to behave well in parties? You are no lesser than any one else dear .

how to behave in a party - Be yourself ,nobody can do tat better

how to dress when I go for a party etc - It depends on the party theme. If it's a potluck party[Informal party] , you can ask the host whether there is a dress code, if not feel free to wear what ever you feel comfortable - salwar/jeans/saree as long as it's not vulgar.
For formal parties,again it would be wise to check with hosts abt the dress code - Some people expect you to show up in a cocktail dress, so it'll be better to check with them beforehand.

Check out the link - American Table Manners

I hope this'll answers all your questions.

The Secrets of the Formal Place Setting
How to Use the Fork, Knife, and Spoon
How to Use a Napkin
Tips and Pitfalls
What You Can Eat with Your Fingers


Also, Check out the videos in ehow.com
Advice for Dinner Etiquette & Proper Table Manners: Video Series | eHow Videos



Last but not the least, practise eating with cutlery couple of times at home. Trust me you'll do great.


Hope this helps.

Bhansury:
I can understand your frustration when it comes to proper etiquette. A comfort level is always there when you don't need to think about this during social functions. When I was a kid, my grandmother used to give me lessons on this: walking properly with a book balanced on the head, different place settings and utensils, etc. I could never play with any toy that was a gift until I had sent a handwritten thank you for it to the sender. Due to those lessons I always felt at ease even as a little kid. Since then things that have come up in my life have been proper correspondence to important people, greeting various people, negotiating doors when hierarchical position is not clear, how to address people in business and social situations. My suggestion to you is to get a good book and study it. Sillygurl has given some links but you will need to know more at depth to be fully prepared. Miss Manners is quite good so maybe one of her books. I really applaud your interest.

Hi...
I am an American and I grew up using fork/spoon but if I go to formal dinners I have no idea - there are like three forks three spoons and different knives. I end up using the same cutlery for the entire meal- I am sure this isn't right. I never learned it cause in my house we never had different cutlery.

When I lived in India I lived in south India and even stayed in very traditional homes where people did not have forks, and spoons were used only for serving. Knives, only for cutting veggies and not at the dinner table. People ate the meat with their hands, and in America though some meat is eaten with hand, many prefer to cut with a knife and put in mouth with a fork. My friends there would not have ever seen anyone eat like that before.

Many meal time etiquette was new to me... Like in Chennai people will slurp rasam or curds off the plate. This is a no-no here in my family. But somehow I learned this when I was there and never questioned it.

When I lived in Chennai I had to learn to eat with my hand- it is a new experience. If one is used to and comfortable eating with the hand, eating with spoon/fork is a new experience.

I for instance never realized there are actually rules to eating with hand. In america we think people who eat with hand play with food after a certain age unless you have sandwich, pizza, chicken wings which are eaten with hand.... then in India, esp south eating with only right hand is there. Eating with cutlery in America people use both hands: especially when cutting with fork and knife. This may not be true in other cultures.. not sure.

What is your specific concern?

If you want to learn cross cultural adjustment tips try a place called Global Adjustments. They usually teach foreigners to adjust to American culture, but maybe they can do something like pair you with a foreigner to teach you or something?

Hi

thank you so much .

You can play at the Bangalore Club, which is quite hard to get a membership for, but since I have relatives with a long history of membership there, I can get in. Unfortunately you probably won't be able to get in