From Business Cards to Business Relationships: Personal Branding and Profitable Networking Made Easy, 2nd Edition

For example, it's inconsiderate to chew with your mouth open or to talk with food in your mouth. It's inconsiderate to lick your fingers, especially when you are about to shake someone's hand. It's inconsiderate to shovel food into your mouth or to focus so much on food that you ignore others at the table. It's inconsiderate to put your dirty napkin on the table for others to see while they are still eating. It's inconsiderate to monopolize the conversation with topics that make people feel uncomfortable. You get the picture.

Place Settings

Solids are on the left, liquids on the right. That means your bread plate is on the left side beside your forks, and your drinking glasses are on the right side above the knife and spoons. To make this easy to remember, make the “OK” sign with your fingers with both hands. Your left hand forms the letter b for bread and your right forms a d for drinks. As the first person to sit at the table, this trick will help you start the plates and glasses correctly.