Let Emily Post help you set the table

Published 2:57 pm Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Ask Emily: If you drag out Grandma’s linen tablecloth only for special occasions, you might need a refresher on where to put the napkins.

Go to the mother ship — The Emily Post Institute. You can make a quick visit online to www.emilypost.com/everyday/table_settings.htm and find all the basics on setting a formal table.

Diagrams of place settings for various levels of formality include descriptions and a simple mnenomic, FORKS, that seems like a stretch because there’s no “R” on the table, but if it helps, use it.

While you’re there, you might want to take a peek at “holiday etiquette.” A favorite:

“FHB — an acronym to be whispered to immediate family ONLY! FHB means ‘Family Hold Back.’ If there is a critical shortage of a critical food item, discretely whisper to family members, ‘FHB the dark meat.’ It’s the secret signal that guests get first dibs on the dark meat.”

Herald staff