A Northwest food historian explores the art of dining in a special free lecture at San Juan Community Theatre on March 3.

Humanities Washington and Living History Lectures, in conjunction with the SJCT production of A.R. Gurney’s “The Dining Room,” present Tames Alan’s “Trial by Fork: Formal Victorian Dining Demystified.”

Historian Alan’s one-hour program will “explore a time of forgotten elegance, when one changed into dinner clothes and chose jewelry to reflect candlelight — a time where setting the table was an art and serving a meal was a well-choreographed dance.”

Suitable for middle school students through adults, the entertaining and informative presentation also details how the formal manners of the Victorian age translated into the good manners of today.