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winnetkacurrent.com life & arts
the winnetka current | March 8, 2018 | 31
On their best behavior
Winnetka girls
learn dining
etiquette at
Community House
Alexa Burnell
Freelance Reporter
Young girls came dressed
in their fanciest garb to
the Winnetka Community
House on Feb. 25, ready to
put their manners to the test
during local teacher and etiquette
expert Sara Berto’s
White Gloves, Black Tie
etiquette class.
Upon arrival, girls
learned how to decorate
a formal dining table
with cloths, flowers, butter
and plates. Berto, of
Glenview, then directed
the girls to a small table,
where they were asked to
serve themselves appetizers
and then mingle with
the group.
“Stand up straight and be
patient while you wait in
line to get your food,” she
said. “Once you have your
appetizer, you may mingle
with your guests. Be sure
to introduce yourself and
remember to say, ‘Yes,
please,’ or ‘No, thank you,’
when offered something to
eat.”
Berto discussed with the
girls the difference between
formal and informal eating.
For example, mingling at
party while nibbling on appetizers
is considered informal
eating, with slightly
less-rigid rules.
“For informal eating,
you don’t need to wait for
everyone to be served to
eat, but you must still be
polite, gracious and always,
always, chew with
your mouth closed,” she
said.
Berto also discussed
the importance of making
guests feel comfortable and
welcome at a party.
Etiquette instructor and Glenview resident Sara
Berto teaches girls from Winnetka formal dining and
social etiquette Feb. 25 at the Winnetka Community
House’s White Gloves, Black Tie event. PHOTOS BY ALEXA
BURNELL/22ND CENTURY MEDIA
Clementine Bransfield, of Winnetka, learns how to greet
new people properly and how to be a gracious dinner
guest.
“If you notice someone
standing alone, make it a
point to go greet them and
introduce yourself,” she
said. “Strike up a conversation
and put them at ease.”
Next, Berto taught the
girls the appropriate way
to introduce themselves to
a person they have just met.
“Look them in the eye
and shake their hand, but
for no longer than five
seconds,” she explained.
“When you reach out your
hand, extend from the
wrist, not the elbow.”
During a brief break, the
girls discussed what they
had learned about table and
dining etiquette.
“You should not put your
elbows on the table or talk
with your mouth full,”
Winnetka’s Mimi Fritzsche
said. “Never play with your
food or use your fingers to
eat food, unless it’s something
like pizza.”
Before sitting down to
a fancy lunch, the girls
learned about proper table
setting and the importance
of sitting upright,
not slouching. Berto’s No.
1 rule was about keeping
technology away from the
table.
“You should never have
your phone at the table, and
for goodness sake, don’t
jump up in the middle of
a meal to answer a call,”
Berto said. “Meal time is
a chance to come together
and talk with company. Put
the phones and all other
technology away.”
For more information
about Berto’s instruction
through her Confidence
With Etiquette program,
visit confidencewithetiquette.com.
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