Dining Etiquette

Upon being invited to a Danish home: Show up on time. Danish people are on time in both social and professional settings. Before entering the house, check to see if you need to take your shoes off. To find out if the hostess prefers that you bring a dish, get in touch with her in advance. Offer to assist the hostess with the meal's preparation or clean-up afterward. Since they typically handle the decoration themselves and are proud of their successes, Danes like displaying their homes. So when you ask to see their home, they are delighted. Don't talk about business.

Await instructions on where to sit. There might be a seating arrangement. Continental table manners dictate that you should eat with your knife in your right hand and fork in your left hand. When eating, keep your hands out in plain sight. Maintain having your wrists perched on the table's edge. Attempt everything. Be prepared to receive additional servings. Without insulting your hosts, you can decline. Complete the food in your plate. Danes dislike throwing away food. Place your knife and fork across your plate once you have finished eating, tines facing up and handles pointing to the right. During the dessert course, the man seated to the hostess' left usually makes a toast of gratitude. Wait until the host toasts with "Skol" before starting to eat. When toasting, hold your glass up to about eye level and look directly at those who are seated next to you.