The Formal Dining Quiz

1. The host has inadvertantly filled your Burgundy glass with Chimay Grand Reserve. Upon noticing this faux pas, you immediately -

Toss the contents at the host and challange him to a duel.

Inconspicuously pour it it into the gravy boat.

To avoid embarrassing the host you immediately toast Father Theodore at the Abbey of Scourmont.

Father Theodore is the Trappist who isolated the yeast strain for Chimay beer.

Explanation

Father Theodore is the Trappist who isolated the yeast strain for Chimay beer.

2. Annie R. Gregory points out that a gentleman half unfolds his napkin and places it over his left knee .

True

False

I think this should be standard fare for all dining.

Explanation

I think this should be standard fare for all dining.

3. According to Ellen Easton, there is only one place for the napkin at a truly formal dinner.

Folded into a swan and placed on the dinner plate.

Folded into a sailer's hat, and placed on the charger.

On the left with the closed edge to the left.

Folded in half and tucked into your shirt.

Ellen Easton is quite renowned for her tea party etiquette. The Royal family has approved of her work.

Explanation

Ellen Easton is quite renowned for her tea party etiquette. The Royal family has approved of her work.

4. Upon completion of the meal, one should place his fork in the 11o'clock position with the tines down. The knife should be placed next to that with the blade's cutting edge facing the fork.

True

False

Once again there is a difference between Continental and American dining customs.

Explanation

Once again there is a difference between Continental and American dining customs.

5. Who asked about the location of the salad bowl as a reply to the 2006 email?

Christina

Judge Laura the Psychic Magistrate

Katie

Bernie Kittens

Harry Giggins

Of course it's neither Gary nor Bud, however, I am bound by contract to include them in two blogs per year.

Explanation

Of course it's neither Gary nor Bud, however, I am bound by contract to include them in two blogs per year.

6. The salt cellar has been passed to you without a salt spoon. You improvise by doing what?

You use your dinner knife to dispense the salt.

Treat the cellar as a Zen garden and rake with your fork.

As you may recall the salt cellar is passed alone, unlike the salt and pepper shaker which must be passed together.

Explanation

As you may recall the salt cellar is passed alone, unlike the salt and pepper shaker which must be passed together.

7. A place card for a formal dinner for Mimi White would read.

Ms. Mimi White

The Meemster

Mrs. Michael A. White

Mrs. Margaret Mary White

Mrs. Mimi White

Contrary to popular belief The Meemster is not correct.

Explanation

Contrary to popular belief The Meemster is not correct.

8. According to Claudia Lutman, the napkin is also a great location to insert the menu card.

True that.

False.

So wrong that Ellen Easton would probbaly whip her ass if they were ever at tea together.

Answer A must be wrong.

Inserting a menu card into a napkin may not be technically wrong but it certainly makes me cringe just thinking about it.

Explanation

Inserting a menu card into a napkin may not be technically wrong but it certainly makes me cringe just thinking about it.

9. According to www.butlersguild.com every place setting should be exactly the same, to the ____; an inexperienced butler may use a measuring device..

Inch

Millimeter

A flaxen hair width

0.75 to 1.25 inched, 0.5 inches being the visual resolution of an inebriated dinner guest.

Flaxen is the finest hair, sporting a diameter of about 35 micrometers; black, the coarsest is about 110 micrometers. Determining hair diameter is rather complex, but quite readily lends itself to laser diffraction. This will have to he be the topic of another tale,as there is an important myth to dispel about hair thickness.

Explanation

Flaxen is the finest hair, sporting a diameter of about 35 micrometers; black, the coarsest is about 110 micrometers. Determining hair diameter is rather complex, but quite readily lends itself to laser diffraction. This will have to he be the topic of another tale,as there is an important myth to dispel about hair thickness.