[MRM]

I seem to recall that official Emilly Post-approved ettiquette states no napkins as bibs unless you are eating Italian or lobster. That being said, I disagree. I think if you are wearing a suit it is required that you are able to eat without covering yourself. It's not that hard. it requires more time and smaller bites, but that's part of manners anyway. If you can't handle that, you shouldn't be wearing a suit.

A more important rule of ettiquette is that you never cut more than four bites of food at a time. You put your knife on the rim of the plate, not on the table and not gangplank style on the plate, in between cutting. Small bites, use the napkin often, your glasses are always to the right of your plate, and you start with the silverware that is the farthest away from the plate first; and that's about all the ettiquette you need. Really, it's all about making it easy on people to watch you eat.

Now in a casual rib place where they serve by the platter, there is no ettiquete. Pile on the ribs and corn pone, dive in with both hands, quaff the beer and keep the napkins coming. But don't wear a suit.