Haiti Dining Etiquette
Dining etiquette for making a toast. The most common toast is salud (to your health).
Dining etiquette for beginning to eat. Start eating only after the host says, "Bon appetite!"
Dining etiquette for using utensils. Knives and forks are used the European way (the knife remains in the right hand, and the fork remains in the left throughout the meal). When the meal is finished, the knife and fork are laid parallel to each other across the right side of the plate. If you put both utensils down on the plate for any real length of time, it is a sign to the waitstaff that you are finished, and your plate may be taken away from you.
When not holding utensils, your hands are expected to be visible above the table: this means you do not keep them in your lap; instead, rest the wrists on top of the table.
Dining etiquette for passing food. At the table, pass all dishes to your left.
Dining etiquette for seating. The most honored position is at the head of the table, with the most important guest seated immediately to the right of the host (women to the right of the host, and men to the right of the hostess). If there is a hosting couple, one will be at each end of the table. Men and women are seated next to one another, and couples are often broken up and seated next to people they may not have previously known. Men typically rise when women enter the room, and continue to hold doors for women and allow them to enter a room first.
Dining etiquette for eating in a restaurant. In informal restaurants, you may be required to share a table. Waitstaff may be summoned by making eye contact; waving or calling their names is very impolite.
Dining etiquette for discussing business. Take your cue from your Haitian associates: if they bring up business, then it's okay to discuss it.
Dining etiquette for eating in the home. It is considered bad form to leave the table during the meal. If it is a formal meal, be sure to allow more senior members of your party to enter ahead of you: men should move aside to allow women to enter ahead of them.
related:
caribbean dining etiquette
north american dining etiquette
Table Manners
It's easy to impress at the dinner table! Just take a few minutes to read through our table manners section and you'll be the most sophisticated diner at the table.
Read MoreInternational Dining Etiquette
Visit our international dining etiquette section for more etiquette tips for your next trip overseas or hosting international guests!
Read MoreWine Tasting Etiquette
Once it is poured into the proper glass, it’s time to evaluate and enjoy the wine. Evaluating wine involves four basic steps – looking, swirling, smelling, and tasting.
- Step #1 – Look. Holding the wine glass up against a white background, such as a napkin or table cloth, to evaluate its color and clarity. Red wines should range in color from deep purple to brick red. White wines should range in color from lemon gold to golden amber.
- Step #2 – Swirl. Swirl the wine in your glass to aerate it.
- Step #3 – Smell. Put your nose in the glass and take a deep breath. Older wines should have subtler aromas than younger ones.
- Step #4 – Taste. To taste the wine, fill your mouth about ½ full and subtly swish the wine around.
Table Setting Etiquette
Helpful hints for setting the perfect table!
Visit our table setting section for information on:
- Formal table settings.
- Informal table settings.