Good table manners

Good table manners: Italian dining etiquette

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Good table manners are typical of each country: how to set the table, what to do and what to avoid, where to sit down at the table, when to help and what to say, how to behave with hosts and masters of the house. Italian dining etiquette is taught to children early in family context and nursery and primary schools. Here some suggestions on what is considered proper in Rome as well as in the rest of Italy.

Eating and dining are customary in Italy: Italians are gourmets and love to gather for special or common events such as parties, ceremonies, festivities. On the other hand every day is characterized by three meals at least.
Standard Italian meals begin with breakfast early in the morning, it continues with a traditional lunch – between 13.00 and 15.00 – which is the longest meal on Sunday. In Rome as well as in the rest of Italy, especially in the south, this is a sacred family moment to share with relatives in view of the festivities – Christmas, New Year’s Day, Easter. Finally from 20.00 to 10.00 dinner is generally served.

A well set table is quite wide and spacious, not excessively, in order to favour conversation between guests. Place mats can be used in informal occasions but in Italy tablecloths are preferred. Table centerpiece or decoration can be placed in the centre. In Italy to avoid bad luck fellow diners should never be 13…The number of plates varies depending on the menu and the same applies to cutlery: knives to the right and forks and spoons to the left. The style of eating is ‘Continental’. Never use your fingers when eating, it’s very impolite... It is also advisable to use a fork and knife with fruits. Dishes are passed to the left.

You can take your place when invited. Sitting at table a man and a woman alternate. The master and mistress of the house sit at the head of the table, one on one. Before sitting you should wash your hand. When fellow diners take up their seat they should wait for their mistress to be seated: it is also considered rude to begin eating or leave the table before the mistress does.
Once seated avoid leaning on your elbows, hands should be always visible during the meal. It is bad manners to lay down arms on your lap while your napkin has to be bent on it.

Before and after drinking you should clean your lips with the napkin. Chewing keep your mouth closed and don’t make little shoe that is collecting the sauce in the plate with a piece of bread. If replete you can leave a small amount of food on your plate and if you don’t want more wine you should leave your wineglass quite full.
When you have finished eating the cutlery have to lay perpendicularly on the plate.

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