When Dinner Is Announced
on Nov 13, 2009 in Introduction It is the duty of the butler to "count heads" so that he may know when the company has arrived. As soon as he has announced the last person, he notifies the cook. The cook being ready, the butler, having glanced into the dining-room to see that windo...

Introductions at Dinner
on Nov 7, 2009 in Introduction The host must always see that every gentleman either knows or is presented to the lady he is to "take in" to dinner, and also, if possible, to the one who is to sit at the other side of him. If the latter introduction is overlooked, people sitting ne...

Dress for Dinner
on Jul 29, 2009 in Etiquette For an informal dinner a woman may wear a semi-evening dress of the sort suitable for afternoon while her partner wears the regular dinner jacket. For a formal affair formal decollete dress with the hair arranged somewhat more elaborately than usual...

Do Not Experiment For Strangers
on Jul 27, 2009 in Planning Typical dinner-party dishes are invariably the temptation no less than the downfall of ambitious ignorance. Never let an inexperienced cook attempt a new dish for company, no matter how attractive her description of it may sound. Try it yourself, or...

Dinner Party: Do Not Experiment For Strangers
on Jul 27, 2009 in Planning Typical dinner-party dishes are invariably the temptation no less than the downfall of ambitious ignorance. Never let an inexperienced cook attempt a new dish for company, no matter how attractive her description of it may sound. Try it yourself, or...

Entertainment During the Party
on Jun 17, 2009 in Entertainment Some hostesses like to provide special entertainment for their guests -- professional dancers, elocutionists, or singers. But here "circumstances must alter cases." As a matter of fact, not very much entertainment is really required, for if the gue...

Seating the Guests
on Apr 8, 2009The seating should be arranged by placing cards bearing the names of each guest next to each plate if the party is a large one. This method may be pursued if the party is small, though, in this case it is quite possible for the hostess to indicate g...

Equal Number of Men and Women
on Feb 27, 2009 in Etiquette The hostess, in inviting her guests, should be sure that there is an equal number of men and women. Husbands and wives should never be sent into the dining-room together. The usual order of precedence is as follows: The host leads with the lady wh...

Dinner Party: Equal Number of Men and Women
on Feb 27, 2009 in Etiquette The hostess, in inviting her guests, should be sure that there is an equal number of men and women. Husbands and wives should never be sent into the dining-room together. The usual order of precedence is as follows: The host leads with the lady wh...

Finger Foods
on Feb 25, 2009 in Difficult Foods Lobster claws may be pulled apart with the fingers. Shrimps also, when served whole in their shells, may be separated, peeled and eaten with the fingers. Fruits such as oranges, apples, grapes, peaches and plums are all eaten with the fingers. Cel...