Be a Gracious Host

Be a Gracious Host

If you've ordered gourmet prepared foods, perhaps you are hosting an elegant night in your home. If you really want to turn on the charm and be a gracious host, follow these pointers on dining etiquette, courtesy of www.oldfashionedliving.com.

1. Greet your guests as they come to the door. Have a place for their personal items. Introduce people. Accept hostess gifts graciously. If you are the guest, please try to bring a hostess gift that is small and one which the hostess will not feel the need to use that night (a dessert or flowers). A well prepared hostess will already have the table decorated and dessert planned, so it would be difficult and awkward for her to try and work in a gift like this.

2. Offer guests beverages and appetizers immediately.

3. During appetizers, slip out to the kitchen quickly to get the first course on the table before the guests are asked to take their seats. Unless that first course is hot, then you would wait until the guests are seated.

4. Call guests to the table and direct them to where you want them to sit, even with placards there can be some uncomfortable moments.

5. Follow an etiquette book as far as setting the table. Many things have changed in recent years and all the pieces that were used before aren't necessary, and some utensils are placed in different locations. A guest should never have to move a utensil to get to his/her napkin.

6. Untensils should be used from the outside in. A used utensil should never be placed back onto the table cloth--rest it against or on the side of the plate. Napkins should remain on guests' laps and never placed upon the table again until the meal is over. If you must excuse yourself, place it on your seat and then back on your lap when you return.

7. After each course, remove the plate and utensils used.

8. After the main entree, remove all plates, used utensils, salt and pepper, butter, dressing, and so on. The dessert fork and spoon are usually placed at the top of the plate. They remain on the table until dessert is served.

9. Serve dessert and coffee cups. Place sugar and creamer on the table.

10. After dessert, you do not need to remove the dessert dishes, unless they will be seen from the living room or family room for the rest of the evening.

11. Appetizers and cocktail glasses should have been cleared already.

12. Games and conversation are both acceptable after dessert

13. When guests leave, walk them to the door, say a brief good-bye and return to the other guests. If you are the guest, do not engage the host in a long conversation at the door.

14. What do we do with the children?
a. You can feed your children early and let them greet guests and serve appetizers; then quietly slip off to watch some TV and go to sleep (you may wish to have a baby sitter help facilitate this.)
b. You can order pizza and cokes for teenagers and then let them eat and watch a parent-approved movie in a family room away from the dining area.
c. You can give them jobs and let them participate in the entire evening by adding a "children's table."