The rules of a true Lord at the table

Here we are! As promised, it is the turn of the gentlemen and their rules of conduct at the table.

The table, as we know, is the best of tests to understand if we are facing a real gentleman; in fact, it doesn’t take much to reveal some “non-noble” behavior on the part of our male diners to the point of making us yearn to finish the experience as soon as possible and go home.

The board is the best testing ground for the real gentlemen and the worst for the fake ones.

Here are some of the absolutely fundamental rules to be respected:

• If you go to the restaurant, the door is usually opened by the man who enters first. This is to make sure that the environment is suitable and decent for your lady. Then, he holds the door for her and lets her in.
• As soon as dinner begins, the discussion should be as light as possible, without too many “I’s” and without flaunting exaggerated earnings, latest cars purchased, interstellar journeys to exotic places. A true gentleman is one who does not talk about himself.
• The smartphone turns off even before sitting down at the table. Never use it in the presence of a woman at the table!
• It must never rest on the table: keys, cell phone, wallet or the tragic purse.
• Of course, he will eat with his mouth closed and never speak while he has the morsel in his mouth; it seems an elementary statement but it is not so, unfortunately.
• The mouth never goes towards the plate, but it is the fork that goes towards the mouth; then, stay upright and bring the cutlery towards you.
• Avoid raised little fingers, let them stay together with the other fingers in good company.

• When talking between courses, never bring your body towards the table by leaning your elbows to listen to the interlocutor or turn your back on the person sitting next to you or, even worse, laugh out loud convulsively.

• He never serves himself first and never starts eating unless the Lady has brought the first bite into her mouth.
• If you are in a restaurant, if you really have to call the waiter, you must do so when he is near without having to raise your arms or raise your voice to be heard.
• The napkin is unfolded in the legs only at the beginning, when you sit down, using it before drinking and not exaggerated; on the other hand, a real gentleman knows how to eat and hardly gets dirty.
• If the waiter is not attentive, it will be his job to serve the water or wine when he sees his partner’s glass empty, even if she does not ask for it; it is a gesture of attention and courtesy.
• At the end of a meal, never ask for toothpicks. I wouldn’t be surprised if his partner got up and left him alone at the table.
• Naturally, she pays the bill almost imperceptibly, without calling the waiter out loud, but between a chat and another, without her partner noticing. Money at the table is always a terrible boor.
• When she leaves the room, this time it will be the lady who will go out first with the door always kept by the Lord who, we hope, has made this experience unforgettable.