observed when one is in a cafe or restaurant.
Q. Should meat be cut into small pieces on one’s plate or should it be cut only a mouthful at a time?
A. It is never correct to prepare one’s food as if for a child. Only one mouthful is cut at one time.
Q. In an hotel if one drops a knife or fork while eating should he pick it up?
A. If a person drops a knife or any part of the table service, he should not pick it up. He should leave it on the floor and ask the waiter to replace it.
Q. Should a woman wear a hat to the dining room when she is a house guest of the hotel?
A. This is optional, but it is customary to wear a hat to the dining room when a guest at a large hotel. This is true even if one is a permanent guest.
Q. So often French words appear on the menu. Would you please tell me some of the most usual, and their meaning?
A. The following are some of the French words or phrases which are most frequently used on menus:
- A la carte—according to the bill-of-fare.
- A la mode—according to the mode or fashion.
- Bouillon—a clear broth.
- Entree—broiled or fried meat with vegetable, served before the roast.
- Filets mignon—small pieces of beef tenderloin, served with sauce.
- Hors d’oeuvre—appetizers such as caviar served as a special course.
- Piece de resistance—most substantial course of a dinner.
- Table d’hote—a course meal at a fixed price ready to serve, as distinguished from a la carte service.
Q. When registering at an hotel should one use the titles Mr. and Mrs.?
A. It is considered bad form for a woman to sign her name on the register without any prefix. An unmarried woman should sign, “Miss Jane Smith, Covington, Virginia,” and a man, “Paul Jordan, Topeka, Kansas.” Even a small boy should be registered. His name should read, “Master John Small, Shelbina, Mo.” “Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Jones, Emerson, Kentucky,” is proper for a man accompanied by his wife.
Q. When dining in a public restaurant, or attending a formal luncheon, is it permissible to remove the hands of long gloves and tuck them in at the wrists?
A. Gloves should be removed entirely, because they have an awkward appearance when tucked in at the wrists, and anything ugly or awkward is to be avoided.
Q. How can one keep a napkin from slipping off one’s lap when wearing a satin dress, or one of some other slippery material?
A. About the only way this can be accomplished is by tucking one or both ends of the napkin under one like a lap robe.
Q. I have seen people chew ice cream. Is this permissible?
A. Chewing ice cream is neither necessary nor is it good form.
Q. Is it correct to put crackers into soup?
A. Crackers are never put into soup. Croutons are used in this way, however.
Q. I have noticed some people take a heaping teaspoonful of ice cream and make several mouthfuls of it. Is this not incorrect?
A. Only enough ice cream for one mouthful should be taken on the spoon at one time.
Q. Is it proper for women to smoke in public?
A. In most restaurants and cafes
