Ina Garten Holiday Dinner Etiquette Tips

If you like big meals with family and friends, gobbling up goodies, then feeling really sleepy after, then holiday dinners really are the best. Getting together with loved ones, sharing memories and reasons for being with one another is lovely but the food — oh, all the food — also helps.

Despite the best intentions, though, family get-togethers don’t always go off without a hitch. But if you want to keep it as easy-breezy as possible, here are some tips that would inspire even the ultimate hostess herself, Ina Garten. She’s built a career around food, from making it to entertaining around it, but does it such an easy, relatable way. So whether you’re attending a fun dinner party or hosting one of your own, here is some formal dinner etiquette advice we’d like to pass along to you. Because sometimes the most basic table manners are the most important.

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Don't forget to RSVP

It’s common courtesy but in this day and age of busy, it’s easy to forget to respond to an invitation to a dinner party. But to properly plan it, your host needs to know how many people are attending — and, most importantly, how many people they are feeding. So RSVP ASAP. It’s the polite thing to do.

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Dietary Dilemma

When you RSVP is also a good time to let the host in on any dietary restrictions or allergies. And, of course, it’s always OK to ask if a dish contains particular ingredients that could have serious medical consequences. With some advance notice, they can accommodate, but sometimes it’s easier to offer to bring a dish to make things that much easier for them. That being said, the host should serve some items that are friendly (and delicious) for everyone so that they can be enjoyed by everyone.

For those watching their carbs, try Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta. You can also eliminate the balsamic all together, to keep the sugars super-low, and if you want to make it vegan, replace the pancetta with olives!

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Punctuality Perfection

Don’t be so late that the other guests, who have their dinner etiquette down, already have their knife and fork in hand. But don’t be super-early either. A host is typically running around, prepping, maybe still getting ready, basically ensuring that everything is as perfect as can be so you being there early means you’re only in the way. It’s like the Wizard of Oz; they don’t want you to see behind the curtain!

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Give A Gift

You know when the host tells you to just bring yourselF? Ignore them. By no means do you have to bring an entree but, rather, something that can be enjoyed the day of by everyone, or saved for a later date. Think: an artisanal bread that’ll be great for leftover sandwiches, a mason jar of Salted Caramel Nuts (a recipe directly from The Barefoot Contessa, of course), a box of brittle or maybe even a small potted herb that infuses the home with a lovely aroma.

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Smell Ya Later

Hosts should avoid scented candles in case of sensitivities or allergies. The only aromas in the air should be roasting meats, maybe some stuffing or a fragrant pasta, and freshly baked desserts, like Ina’s delish Chocolate Ganache Cake, that are cooling.

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Constant Carvings

Never carve at the table; it’s just too messy. Hosts can present the bird or that gorgeous slab of meat (like Ina’s English Rib Roast) to the guests (for pics and customary “oohs” and “aahs”) before returning to the kitchen with it to be carved. Also, it’s not necessarily the responsibility of the host, nor is it solely the man’s job. Enlist the person who’s got the most skills with a knife or electric carver — but no pressure. Only if they’re feeling up to it, that is.

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Don't Phone It In

Anyone with good table manners knows that the only thing that should be in a guest’s hands is cutlery, so put the phones away. Holiday meals should be cell-free zones so Instagram the decked-out dinner table or the piles of tasty food before the actual eating begins. And once you’ve snapped those oh-so-perfectly filtered pics, turn your phone off (or, at the very least, switch your phone to silent) and put it away until it’s post-dinner posting time. (Though it’s understandable. Ina’s Red Berry Trifle is definitely Instagrammable.)

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Fill 'Er Up

While it’s the host’s job to make sure their guests have had enough to eat and no one’s glass is empty, it takes an attentive guest to notice if the host’s glass has been filled too. It’s a simple gesture that goes a long way.

Need the perfect holiday cocktail? Give Ina’s French 75 or Jalapeno Margarita a try.

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Clean On Me

Offer to help clean up so the host isn’t up for another hour doing dishes and tidying tables. By being thoughtful and helpful, they can go to bed at a decent time. And it’s not for completely selfless reasons. It also allows for you to snack on a little more food, if you’re still hungry.

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Get Out

Never be that guest who overstays their welcome. If you’ve been chatting up a storm and realize that you’re the last person to leave, finish up the chit-chat and make your exit. Don’t forget to thank your host as you leave — you want them to know all their hard work didn’t go unnoticed. By making sure they feel appreciated and that all their dinner party was a success.

Holiday Dinner Etiquette Tips That Would Make Ina Garten Proud