Customer Reviews

American Dining and Entertaining Etiquette; Manners for the Table

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

The advice in this DVD is good: Ms. Kern spends most of the time filming a table, explaining in detail how to navigate your way in several table settings, what each utensile and plate is for, what is the correct order for glasses, how to hold the fork, etc. However, in that long sequence she is alone and the plates and glasses are empty. Thus, for instance, when she describes how to interact with the other guests at the table or deal with the food in front of you she is just describing what you should do instead of actually showing you what to do. Well a book can do that. I bought a DVD on etiquette expecting to see a display of good manners rather than, mostly, having them described to me. Nevertheless, I was not able to find a better DVD on etiquette so I would recommend this one.

This really was a helpful video on dining etiquette. Its interesting in that you go right into Ruth's house and use her silver and china to work on your manners and presentation. Now, my one complaint was that the bulk of the video was on how the fork and knife were proportioned, napkin placed, etc. I was looking for a bit more on hostessing and entertaining, etc. You get what you pay for---you see how to set a table for luncheon, formal and dinner parties. What fork to eat with, which glass to drink from, etc. I was hoping for a more well-rounded video on all topics, as well as a greater time length. But I feel I have gained something. Try to see if you can rent it from somewhere and save your money! (Library? Video Store? Used off Amazon.com?)

This video on American dining etiquette is essentially the same video as the VHS version of the same name; however, it is a better value because of the 'indexing.'

In other words, if you want to know 'How to hold your knife and fork' or 'How to pass items at the table,' you do not have to fast forward to get to the spot on the tape that explains that. You just have to click onto the proper index and voila, there you are.

The price of the DVD is the same as the VHS version ([$$]) but this DVD version is definitely a better value.

I am looking forward to Ms. Kern's book, "American Dining Etiquette" which is supposed to include etiquette for party giving.

I purchased American Dining and Entertaining Etiquette; Manners for the Table as a training tool for our young adults participating in our annual cotillion. After previewing the tape, I am very disappointed. Ms. Kern is quite boring and would not hold the interest of me as a 43 year old adult. I would not torture our youth by forcing them to watch this video. There was too much discussion on wine and where to serve the guest and no real demonstration as I expected. May I suggest you redo the video and have actual people at the table. Demonstrate how the table should be arranged, the place setting, etc. Also consider showing real people having a meal utilizing the proper instruments. Include proper conversation and provide tips for various negative encounters (spill water or beverage, how to request additional food, what to do if you don't like the food on your plate, etc.) that may occur and how to recover from them. Do a video just for young adults demonstrating how men should seat women, show bad manners vs. good manners, etc.

I HATED this video!!! In fact, there is a video on YouTube by a woman named Nancy R. Mitchell called "Basic Dining Etiquette" that's 100 times better than this one.

I can list many problems but the main ones are the following:
--She NEVER gives examples with REAL food
--She's VERY disorganized in the way she presents this info
--She uses this video as an excuse to show off her house, and she does spend most of her time showing off her house
--A lot of her advice is not practical or relevant to business dining, etc.
--I don't agree with some of the things she says about etiquette, based on what I've heard from REAL WINE EXPERTS, such as when she says it's okay to hold a wine red wine glass from the top
--She demonstrates ONLY the "American Style" way of holding utensils, which even though it's an appropriate way, it is not practical. At least the YouTube videos by Nancy Mitchell show the viewer both ways: American Style and Continental Style

Bottom line, DON'T waste your money on this video. :S

It's my own fault for not researching this more. This is fine if you are wanting to serve high society but definitely wouldn't fly with high school students. Decided to shelf this one rather than risk their rath and being forced to watch something that in no way relates to them. Keep in mind I teach in a very affluent suburb of the city.

My video arrived in outstanding condition in a timely manner. I would purchase additional items from this vendor in the future

I bought this for my little sister. She had no respect for food after having been in boarding school all her life. Its not like she had no table manners. Boarding school kids do a lot of food fighting and apparently, she still hadn't realized that a real world is judgemental. Had to bring her back to the family basics. Eating with style is fashionable. There is no reason not to have fashionable dinning manners. Its a valuable set of rules in life.