I raised my daughters with table manners from the time they could actually use an utensil. My mantra to them was: "People may not always notice good table manners, but they always notice bad manners!"

bless you man for educating us folks from low middle class families

Met my girlfriend’s parents last night.. this helped me immensely, I think they love me!

“Manners maketh the man” It’s extraordinary how many people don’t know what table manners are, so this helpful guide is very useful. Good manners like with most other things in life, are designed to help make our interactions with others much more pleasant and enjoyable

To the people who are complaining that this stuff is snobbery / only for rich people: at some point, no matter our economic background, many people will be invited to formal things like weddings. It's nice to know what the customs are so you can comfortably blend in without worrying whether or not you're acting "appropriately". I mean, you could show up to your best friend's wedding in a leather jumpsuit or an S&M outfit and I'm sure they'd accept you, but... then the question becomes, are you being respectful of all the other guests and the formality of the occasion? Cultural customs are a funny thing. On one level, it's all bullshit. On another, it's like wearing a costume to a theme party. It's considerate, even though everyone knows it's not real.

I can't imagine anyone who wouldn't benefit from watching this video. Well done 👌

When you stop learning , you get left behind . Never stop educating yourself

I know people like to think all of this is silly but good manners are appreciated almost everywhere. It shows respect for yourself and for the comfort of those around you - it isn’t something they should expect but something you can offer just like “please” and “thank you”

I wasn't brought up with tables manners like these and it feels so good to know them now thank you so much

As far as your tips for setting the table ('b' and 'd' for bread and drink) I'd like to add something. I was taught which utensils go on the right and left side of the table very young, and it wasn't until I got into my 20s that I learned this: the words 'left' and 'fork' both have four letters, and the words 'right', 'knife', and 'spoon' all have five letters. So your fork(s) go on the left of the plate, and the knife and spoon(s) go on the right side of the plate.

I never realized how consequential proper table manners were until I watched this video. From using the right utensils to knowing how to hold a discussion, there are so many little details that can make a big difference in how others perceive us at the table. I'm going to start implementing these tips in my own life! Thank You!

The 'Rude' version of the host is like Mr Bean at a dinner. 😂

As someone who was never raised in a family where manners were never stressed, this is a big help! Thanks for making this.

Thanks for your tips. I forced my 20 year old son to watch, because he lost his table manners at college! He watched it and remembered a few things. Thanks!

I'd been practicing table manners whenever we have formal family gatherings, like weddings, and my relatives were quick to notice that I was actually urging them to do the same without saying a word.

His expressions when illustrating are funny honestly!

Who's the jerk who serves corn at a formal dinner

There is also a way to put your napkin on your lap. You fold it in half and then lay it on your lap with the open side towards you. So when you pick up the napkin to wipe your mouth you only take one layer and wipe with the inside so when you put it back on your lap you cannot see the stain and your clothes stay clean.

Wonderful video. I'd only like to point out that, if you need to leave the table but are not finished with the current plate/course, do NOT place your napkin on the table. Napkins should be placed in the chair and returned to the lap when resuming the meal. Placing the napkin loosely to the left of the plate indicates that you are completely finished with the dining experience.

Thank you so much. I'm 20 and I'm just learning about these things. My parents never taught me. Thank god there are people who share their knowledge on KZfaq :)

I like the idea of using most of these table manners at home...everyday...too. Treat family like friends and you'll be surprised how special they feel and act. Thanks! Great blog!

You just saved me. I have a very formal dinner with my husband family and he's associated at a Manor (very fancy)Thanks a bunch it was super helpful

Right now, I’m homeschooled and watching this kind of videos. There are sure many importants things to learn in the internet too! And I hope a lot of people understand this rather than thinking that homeschooling destroys social ability.

First thing... sorry, your eyes is making me feel like there is more of you than meet the eyes, something of the soul but I Love You. Thanks for teaching me all on this video. You are a hero.

he looks like Leo di Caprio/Chris Pine/Ryan Reynolds 😊

that was really helpful...thank you! 😊 and you have a very nice style of talking- i thought i would be bored but your discussion was great and kept me engaged throughout..🙂

I love your “bad manners” examples!

I was literally laughing the whole time at the awkward things shown in this video 😂😂😂😂😂😂

this video double convinces me: that's why i like to eat alone , away from others bad table manners & gossips

1.5 M people learning table manners 😁

"Smaller manageable bites" MUKBANG has left the chat.

OMG! Such a straight forward and non-judgmental guide to table manners; some people make an unnecessarily big deal about does and don'ts! This is an easy, and non-threatening, guide to follow. The only change that I suggest is putting your napkin on the chair when you excuse yourself for any reason and, as you say, putting it slightly folded on the left only when everyone is finished eating and ready to leave the table.

"Manners maketh man"

I did not know there was a western way and a continental way to use utensils. I learned something new 😊

Great upload. Just subscribed. "Your glass can look like a crime scene"😁😁😂😂😂

This is the BEST Dining Etiquette video for Americans! Thank you so much for sharing! Be blessed!

Thanks, It is so disgusting to see people talking with their mouth full. I wish children were taught in school such a basic thing.

Congratulations, Distilled Man! Thank you so much for this excellent video which was fun to watch! I will be eternally grateful that I was taught dining etiquette/table manners from a very young age at home, which I still maintain to this day. I did, however find your video was absolutely great, easy to grasp and quite entertaining. This should be taught in schools. It is also extremely helpful to people who come from a non-western background, particularly those who are business folks, who need to learn western table manners & dining etiquette when attending business lunches or dinners in western countries. I am a traveling English teacher (I also teach Business English) so I am going to show videos like these to my students to help them better understand table manners and dining etiquette in a western context. I agree with you 100% - whilst no one is going to be offended if you don't do everything perfectly, it is always respectful to be considerate of others at the table. Also, with conversation one should stay away talking about the lat time you ate something bad and you vomited/spewed the whole night...!!! or when you had diarrhea and anything to do with dirty stuff like the toilets you had to use when traveling through places with terrible washrooms etc With the end of your meal, you can also place the fork and knife together across the plate, like a clock showing 6pm with the napkin (or as we say in British English 'serviette'). Thank you so much, for doing this video and I look forward to more of your videos.

I love how you sound so easy going. Makes this video much more relaxing to watch 👍

I’ve been made fun of because I eat continental style, even though I’m dominant right handed. Glad to know it’s socially excepted. I find it easier than switching all the time.

Was a great refresher for the next formal dining experience!

Thank you Mama and Dad for making us do this for every meal we ate as a family. Which was a minimum of five nights a week even if we ate late. And we come from a podunk town in Iowa where this was definitely not common. I picked up the not switching utensils myself because I'm lazy and hand switching is a lot. And as a lefty, you're forced to learn to use both hands anyway. They loosened up a little with my youngest sister and brother, but that was because there was a huge gap in ages between the two sets of kids. They still never had to worry about my brother embarrassing himself in public. Funnily enough I do this now with my own daughter. She's two and even her high chair has properly set utensils and a napkin. Obviously we aren't overly strict with manners at two, but she does pretty good in public because we've set her up for success at home. We work on sitting still and talking quietly, but out one of us leaves the situation if she's having a bad day. We teach kids to say please and thank you and you're welcome; teach them to send thank you cards for gifts that they receive (well, I write thank you notes and we send pictures that she's colored as thanks); and a myriad of other little things in their daily lives to be decent citizens. Why not teach table manners? I guess I was set up from a young age to use appropriate manners for the situation and I want to pass that along because it does make a difference in how you're perceived in the world. I feel the need to point out that we're not even close to being well off, but manners are one of the few things in the world that are still free to use.

Thank you! You covered so many important points. Have you created a video for gentlemen dining out? This would include walking into the restaurant, seating, ordering, appetizers, to name a few. Thanks again for teaching men how to be gentlemen!

What an excellent resource for my Etiquette class! Thanks, Distilled Man!

"Basic table manners" Me from India still searching where the heck is my table while sitting on a mat... gotta keep Western dream alive! 😂

I am far from the most proper person in the world but I, now understand why people have told me that I have great table manner. Thank you for the further explanation.

Thank you for teaching men manners

PSA: If you ever go to Europe, and especially France, nothing is a finger food unless you are at a fast food chain. Even in a more casual restaurant or at a friend's house, nine times out of ten, if you are served a hamburger and fries or a pizza, you are expected to eat it with a fork and knife. You get a pass after joking on how you are American, but if you are trying to impress, always go for the cutlery, even for foods like wings. The only thing that is accepted as a finger food is seafood and a little rinsing bowl or towels are provided in that case. And even seafood is regulated... How to eat oysters, mussels, langoustines, has its rules too. so when in doubt use your cutlery and don't order seafood. Or wait and look at how your host is eating the dish.

I follow just about all these etiquette rules, but even learned a few new things (like how to place your silverware when you're finished eating, and waiting for others to sit down before I do) and my family tends to think its weird that I eat so "fancy". I thought it was really cool to learn there is a name for the way I eat. You learn something new everyday haha

We watched this video as a family and learned while enjoying it. Thank you for the video that taught with humor.

I wasn’t sure if my tables manners were correct, we never really were taught. We just followed what our parents were doing… and you know what? This is what we learned! Thanks for the refresher!

Great video, the dessert spoon always goes on top of the dessert fork though in both European and American dining.

your video was really helpful Thanks for amazing effort

Thank you for posting this. Growing up I was not taught manners of any kind; my parents were ignorant. Proper ettiquette is easy to learn.

The best. Straight to the point and complete.

I absolutely love your examples of the wrong way to do things. Really very funny. You had me in stitches. Very informative, fun and entertaining. This is truly a great video. Thank you and very well done!! Good manners never go out of style!!

Cell phones off! Good reminder! Thank you. :-)

Shared this video with family and young folks as a reminder. Thanks.

Yes I found it helpful and your way of telling it was decent and gentle. Thanks

A mixture of Ryan Reynolds and Chris Pine...

I needed this reminder. Cell phone reminder too, thanks. I've been lacking my etiquette. He even demonstrated how to NOT do things, I love it.

The projected viewers are supposed to be foreigners from Asia and beyond, who are wealthy enough to have a home in London, Florida, etc. They are rich folk, but Asian eating etiquette is very different. And also Americans and Europeans who upgraded their social status from middle class to upper class! Great video! 👍

It is always a good thing to practice good manners especially at the dinner table. I simply thank you for sharing this.

My parents and I are going out to dinner with the principal from the most reputable school in Ohio and even though I already knew these table manners, this video is a great reinforcement!

Great video.

Emily Post was my earliest guide for table manners.

In middle school we where taught the place setting and table manners but throughout time I forgot. I still use table manners obviously but not much the place setting. This video really helped me remember and learn a few news things so thank you for making this video. :)

Thank you for this. Mostly known stuff... but they are always left ignored or taken for granted. Very clear presenting. I am a new subscriber from Sri Lanka to your channel . Roxi

Thanks a lot, i learnt a very important part of daily etiquettes. Before watching this vedio table manners ~nil.

Thank you so much for this lesson, I was taught the basic but was still overwhelmed during my first formal dining with so many utensils and wine glasses, :) It's a gem to know these things... Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! There are so many out thee who miight benefit from these simple tips. Thank you.

Greetings, all the way from Pakistan! Love your videos! keep doing what you doing!

I just want to say that you are a very refined gentleman. This video-format had everything: from humor, to insight and even more tips as I watched. Some of these table manners were already somewhat familiar to me (grew up in a Muslim household) but there was so much more to learn, I noticed. Thank you for providing this helpful video. It’s not shameful to want to learn these kind of things, as it makes one look aware of themselves and on improving.

I adore your humorous displays of poor manners and etiquette. You crack me up! Your facial expressions are great!

I've been learning table manners since I was a child thank God for my mother and this video is a great reminder.

Wow amazing It so educative n interesting programme keep up e good job dear

seriously amazing tips ....thnx a lot and a big hug from india side...

Thank you so much for your teachings

Probably the most accurate and universal i have seen so far. In some other videos they will tell u to place the knife and fork at six which is quite rare and I'm pretty sure usual dining place will get confused. That's more of a French style. Also while taking breaks or done with the meal i saw some videos actually placed their utensils inside of the plate which is not a crime but better refined if we left a little bit of that utensils edge outside of the plate. Very well done video

this one was really helpful.i didn't know a few of them,n now it feels good to know it all. ;)

hey i've seen ur all videos ... really helpfulll ❤ need more videos like this... Hina khan here n love from pakistan

I am happy that I taught my kids the proper table manners at an early age to prepare them especially for parties at hotels. Whenever they attend parties and I am not around I feel confident that they will do the proper thing even when I am not with them.

This guy did it in the funniest and most effective way possoble! Well done

Actually a couple of things 1.please remove hats at table. Thank you. 2. Soup....as a ship goes out to sea, I tip my spoon away from me. No forward scooping or it could end up in your lap! A lot of these manners especially in Canada, come from British mess dinner protocol. (Yes I was in the military). Great way to learn the reasons for the protocols is to attend one. We had a guest night one time where you could bring a guest. My husband was most impressed because they explained everything. It is so much more enjoyable when people have manners at the table. That doesn’t mean less fun, just better dining experience

very informative video , keep up the good work. Greetings from Panama.

Excellent video. Stressful situation made easy. Table manners will always matter.

Oh, my gosh! I LOVE how you acted out the improper ways! Hilarious!!! Thank you for the information. It's always good to learn something new or be reminded of something already known.

He's acting is hilarious yet very good ❤️❤️❤️

I don't know if i could go that mannerly smooth, I always mess up my area at the table

So cordial - yet so authoritative guidance to a middle class old man like me - thanx a lot ! Great 👌

Totally informative ,thanks for sharing

"Can you pass the salt?" I am perfectly capable of passing the salt. The question is, am I willing to? Please rephrase the question... :) (Great lesson in table manners - our family learned a lot!)

In terms of when you can start eating : if you're at a really long table (I mean like 20+ people) and the person to either side of you as well as opposite you and to either side of them has been served, you're good to go. That's so that the first people who are served don't have cold food by the time the last person gets their food.

Thank you, some bits I did not know. Much appreciated!

Great video! Love the fact that it was concise.

Wow!! That's amazing.. Love from Bangladesh ❤🇧🇩

I was taught when finished eating to leave my cutlery a little to the left of 12/6, not to pick corn on the cob to use little corn forks, the only food you may pick up to eat is something with a bone in. Nice video many thanks

Great video. Thanks!

Dear Sir(s): I liked this video very much. It was definitely helpful, as it reinforces the basic good manners of dining etiquette. Sometimes, it is helpful for me to have a really good guide, as is this video. There is an abundance of relevant information about good etiquette out there, that can be, at the least, a great challenge. Sometimes it can be too difficult to sift through and make sense of different viewing guides for etiquette, especially for someone who does is lacking experience of how to discriminate those debates on his or her own. I thank goodness for smart guides like Table Manners 101: Basic Dining Etiquette. Thank you.

Great fun and good instructional video; however, some of your information regarding napkins is incorrect. A dirty/used napkin never goes back on the table. It stays in your lap until the meal is over and you are leaving the table for good. If you have to step away from the table during the meal, the napkin goes in the chair. Like you said, it' about courtesy (no one wants to look at a dirty napkin). :)