When dining in the West, people pay attention to eating full and enjoying the fun and atmosphere of the meal. In order to behave more skillfully when eating Western food for the first time, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with Western food etiquette.

1. Dining Occasions and Precautions

When invited to breakfast, lunch, dinner, buffet, cocktail party or tea party, there are usually only two types, one is formal and the other is casual. If you are going to a high-end restaurant, men should wear a neat jacket and leather shoes, and women should wear a suit and heeled shoes. If a formal attire is specified, men must wear a tie.

The following introduces some of the most representative occasions and precautions:

1. Buffet

A buffet (also a common one at receptions) can be breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even tea. There are cold and hot dishes, and the tableware is placed on the dining table for guests. It is usually held indoors or in a yard or garden to entertain guests of different numbers. If the venue is too small or there are no service staff, and a large number of guests are to be entertained, a buffet is the best choice.

When the buffet starts, you should wait in line to get food. Before taking the food, get yourself a plate for the food. We must adhere to the principle of "eat less and run more". Don't take too much at one time. You can take more times. After finishing your meal, put the utensils in the designated place. "Walking around without food" is not allowed. If you eat a buffet in a hotel, the price is usually based on the number of people dining. Some also stipulate the length of time for dining, and require you to finish the meal. If you have not finished the meal, you need to pay for the unfinished food out of your own pocket.

There are two types of buffets, the one that is seated and enjoys part of the service is the most wonderful. It combines an elegant setting with a relaxed atmosphere. Such a party requires a certain amount of service, unless it is small enough for the hostess to handle, and there also needs to be enough space to accommodate the dining table. The other type does not require a table, and there is no or very little service. Guests can entertain themselves and can bring their own plates, silverware and napkins to a place where they feel most comfortable, and they can discuss issues at any time.

In addition to solving the problems caused by extra services, the buffet also solves the problem of the hostess arranging tables. When guests are free to choose a location, the order of arrival and suitability are not the host's responsibility. A wide variety of dishes are often provided, so guests have plenty of choice and hosts don't have to worry about whether the menu suits their appetites.

2． Cocktail party

The format of the cocktail party is lively and simple, making it easy for people to talk. The mainstay of the reception is wine, with some small food items such as snacks, breads, sausages, etc. placed on the table or coffee table, or the waiter can hold a tray and serve the drinks and snacks to the guests, who can move around as they please. The holding time is generally from 5 pm to 7 pm. In recent years, cocktail parties are often held before and after various large-scale events in the world.

In this case, it is best to have a napkin in hand to wipe your hands at any time. Hold the cup with your left hand so that you are always ready to extend your right hand to shake hands. Don’t forget to wipe your mouth and hands with a tissue after eating. Throw used tissues into designated locations.

3． Dinner

Dinner is divided into two types: grand dinner and casual banquet.

According to Western habits, grand dinners, also known as formal banquets, are basically scheduled to be held after 8 pm. In China, they usually start at 6 pm to 7 pm. Holding this kind of banquet shows that the host attaches great importance to the theme of the banquet, or it is for a certain celebration. For formal dinners, it is generally necessary to arrange the seats and indicate the dress code on the invitation. There are toasts or toasts, and sometimes music is arranged and played live by a small band.

A banquet is a simple form of banquet. This kind of banquet has a cordial and friendly atmosphere, suitable for family and friends, and some are held at home. The clothing, seats, tableware, decoration, etc. don’t need to be too particular, but they are still different from ordinary family dinners.

According to Western custom, couples are generally invited to attend dinner parties at the same time. If you are invited, read your invitation letter carefully. It will indicate whether you will be alone, accompanied by a husband or wife, or if you are bringing a partner. When responding to an invitation, it's a good idea to tell the host their name.

4. Other things to note

One of the characteristics of Western food is that there are many tableware: cups, plates, silverware, etc. of various sizes.

The tableware is carefully arranged according to the order in which different dishes are served. Place a food plate (or soup plate) at the front of the seat, a fork in your left hand, and a knife in your right hand. The spoon is also placed to the right of the food plate. Place a dessert spoon, fork, and coffee spoon above the food plate, and a wine glass slightly forward and to the right. From the right: wine glass, champagne glass, beer glass (water glass). Stack the napkin in a beer glass (water glass) or place it on a food plate. Place the bread plate in your left hand, with the butter knife on top of it placed across the plate, with the blade facing you. The number of knives and forks for the dinner should be equal to the number of dishes. They should be arranged from outside to inside in the order of serving, with the knife edges facing inward. During meals, they should be used in order from outside to the middle. Those for appetizers, those for fish, and those for fish. At more formal dinners where meat is served, napkins are made of cloth. High-end restaurant napkins are often beautifully folded, and some are even tied with small ribbons. Be careful not to wipe your nose or face with a napkin.

Small bottles of salt and pepper can be placed in front of each set of cutlery, one between every two sets of cutlery, or even just one in the center of the dining table, so that you can** *Used a set of vials.

After the tableware is set, don’t forget to decorate the table, such as a candle holder or a small vase made of your teapot, which can add to the romantic atmosphere.

Do not put hot water in the glass when entertaining guests. This is unscientific and unsafe, because the glass can easily burn your hands. Therefore, hot water, hot tea, etc. should be placed in porcelain cups, and glass cups are used to hold ice cubes or cold water.

The way of drinking tea in the West is also different from that in China. The Chinese way of drinking tea is to put the tea leaves directly into the cup and drink it with boiling water while the tea leaves are still in the cup. In the West, tea bags are used to make tea or the tea leaves are first brewed in a teapot, and then the tea is poured out to drink without leaving any tea leaves in the tea cup.

When sitting, your body should be upright, your elbows should not be placed on the table, and your legs should not be crossed. It is best to keep the distance from the dining table to facilitate the use of tableware. Do not mess around with the tableware placed on the dining table. When the hostess picks up the napkin (if there is no hostess, look at the male host), it indicates that the meal has begun. She spreads the napkin on her legs. If the napkin is large, fold it in half and place it on her legs to cover the legs above the knees.

At a formal dinner, the man should wait for the female guest to put down her napkin before the gentleman puts it down. It is best to open the napkin with both hands. Do not open the napkin shaking back and forth. Do not pin napkins to your collar, belt, or shirt collar. When eating, the head should be kept at a certain height and should not be too low or move the head too much.

If you leave your seat temporarily during the meal, you can place the napkin on the chair. Never leave a napkin on the table, otherwise it means you don't want to eat anymore and the waiter will stop serving you.

Many hosts do not want guests to smoke at home. If you want to smoke, you can go to a designated area after dessert and get permission from the host or hostess. Don't sit at the dining table, let the guests around you enjoy the "wonderland" with you.

2. Western table manners

What you must pay attention to at the table are:

1. Western food ordering and serving order

There are four or five categories on the Western food menu, which are appetizers, soups, salads, seafood, meat, snacks, etc.

The main course should be decided first. If the main course is fish, choose meat for the appetizer, which will be more varied in taste. Except for those with particularly large appetites, it is not necessary to have a complete meal from a single dish on the menu. Just an appetizer, a main course, and a dessert are enough. You can omit the soup or omit the appetizers, which is also an ideal combination (but in Italian cuisine, pasta is considered soup, so in principle these two dishes should not be ordered together).

The formal order of serving the full meal is:

1) Appetizer. The first course of Western food is the appetizer, also called appetizer. Appetizers generally include cold appetizers and hot appetizers. Common varieties include caviar, foie gras, smoked salmon, cocktail cups, butter chicken crisp boxes, baked snails, etc. Because they are meant to appetize, appetizers generally have special flavors, with salty and sour tastes as the main ingredients, and are small in quantity but of high quality.

2) Soup. Unlike Chinese food, the second course of Western food is soup. Western soups can be roughly divided into four categories: clear soup, cream soup, vegetable soup and cold soup. Varieties include oxtail soup, various cream soups, seafood soup, American clam soup, Italian vegetable soup, Russian borscht, and French baked onion soup. There are fewer varieties of cold soup, including German cold soup, Russian cold soup, etc.

3) Side dishes. Fish dishes are generally served as the third course of Western food, also known as side dishes. Species include various freshwater and seawater fish, shellfish and molluscs. Usually aquatic products, eggs, breads, and crispy box dishes are called side dishes. Because the meat of fish and other dishes is fresh and tender, it is easier to digest, so it is placed in front of meat dishes, and its name is also different from meat dishes as main dishes. Western fish dishes pay attention to the use of special sauces, such as tartar sauce, Dutch sauce, hotel sauce, white cream sauce, archbishop sauce, American sauce and sailor fish sauce.

4) Main course. Meat and poultry dishes are the fourth course of Western food, also called the main course. The raw materials of meat dishes are taken from various parts of meat such as cattle, sheep, pigs, cowboys, etc. The most representative ones are beef or steak. Steak can be divided into sirloin steak (also called sirloin steak), fillet steak, "T" bone steak, thin steak, etc. according to its parts. Commonly used cooking methods include roasting, frying, grilling, etc. The sauces used with meat dishes mainly include Spanish sauce, thick roast sauce, mushroom sauce, Blanche sauce, etc.

The raw materials of poultry dishes are taken from chicken, duck, and goose. Game meat such as rabbit and venison are usually also included in poultry dishes. The largest variety of poultry dishes is chicken, including pheasant, turkey, and bamboo chicken, which can be boiled, fried, roasted, and braised. The main sauces include yellow gravy, curry sauce, cream sauce, etc.

5) Vegetable dishes. Vegetable dishes can be arranged after meat dishes or served at the same time as meat dishes, so they can be counted as a dish or a side dish. Vegetable dishes are called salads in Western food. Salads served with the main course are called raw vegetable salads, usually made with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, etc. The main salad dressings include vinegar sauce, French sauce, dry island sauce, cheese salad sauce, etc.

In addition to vegetables, there is also a type of salad made with fish, meat, and eggs. This type of salad generally does not add sauce and can be used as a starter in the meal sequence.

There are also some vegetables that are cooked, such as broccoli, boiled spinach, and fried potatoes. Delicatessen vegetables are usually served on the dinner plate together with the meat dishes of the main course, called side dishes.

6) Desserts. Desserts in Western food are eaten after the main course and can be regarded as the sixth course. In a real sense, it includes all the food that comes after the main course, such as puddings, pancakes, ice cream, cheese, fruits, etc. 7) Coffee and tea. The last course of a Western meal is a drink, coffee or tea. Drinking coffee usually requires adding sugar and whipping cream. Tea is usually served with peach slices and sugar.

2． The issue of ranking

Even if the guests have a higher status, status, or age than the guest of honor, they should still sit close to the host when ranking. The male host sits in the main seat, with the wife of the first important guest on his right hand, the wife of the second most important guest on his left hand, and the hostess sits opposite the male host. On either side of her are the first and second most important male guests. Now, if it is not a very formal lunch or dinner, the way a man and a woman sit apart is not important.

3． How to use knives and forks

When using knives and forks, take them from the outside to the inside. Hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand. When cutting things, hold the fork in your left hand to hold down the food, and hold the knife in your right hand to cut into small pieces. Piece, put it into your mouth with a fork. When using a knife, the blade must not face outwards. When you need to take a break during the meal, you can put down your knife and fork and place it in the center of the plate in the shape of an "eight" to indicate that you have not finished eating yet and will continue to eat. After each dish is finished, place the knife and fork side by side on the plate to indicate that you have finished eating and you can take the dish or plate away. If you are talking, you can hold the knife and fork without putting it down, but don't wave it. When you are not using a knife, you can hold a fork with your right hand, but when you need to make a gesture, you should put down the knife and fork. Never wave a knife or fork in the air. Do not hold a knife or fork in one hand while wiping your mouth with a napkin in the other hand. Don't hold a wine glass in one hand and a fork in the other to pick up food. Never place a knife and fork with one end on the plate and the other end on the table.

4. Notes on the table. Don't put makeup on at the dinner table and use a napkin to wipe your nose. Burping during meals is a big no-no. When eating, you can ask others to pass the food that is out of reach without standing up. Don't put too much food in your mouth at one time, and don't talk while chewing. Don't gorge yourself when eating. You should also put a little of the food you don't want to eat on your plate as a courtesy. You should not leave your seat in the middle of a meal. If you really need to leave, whisper hello to the guests on your left and right. When drinking and toasting, even if you don't drink, you should touch the rim of the cup to your lips to show respect. When someone pours wine for you, if you don't need it, you can simply say "No, thank you!" or cover the wine glass with your hand to express your refusal. Do not unbutton or take off your clothes in public while eating. If the host asks the guest to undress, the male guest can take off his coat and put it on the back of the chair, but he is not allowed to put his coat or his belongings on the dining table.

3. How to eat Western food

The specific way of eating Western food is very different from Chinese food.

1． When eating bread and butter, it is usually buns and sticks.

Get the bread and butter yourself, then break the bread into small pieces with your hands, spread one piece, and eat one piece.

Eat sandwiches. Small sandwiches and toast are eaten with your hands, and larger ones are cut before eating. Hot sandwiches with marinara require a knife and fork.

2． Eating meat

Westerners generally eat large pieces of meat (referring to lamb chops, steaks, pork chops, etc.). When eating, use a knife and fork to cut the meat into small pieces, just the size of a bite. Eat one piece, cut it into pieces, don't cut it all at once, and never use a fork to hold the whole piece of meat to your mouth, bite, chew, and swallow.

When eating beef (steak), since you can decide the degree of rareness according to your preference, the waiter or host will ask you the degree of rareness when making a reservation.

When eating meat with bones, such as chicken, don’t “hands-on” directly. Use a fork to secure the entire piece of meat (you can point the fork upward and press the meat with the back of the fork), and then use Insert the knife along the bone, cut the meat, and eat as you go. If the bones are very small, you can put them in your mouth with a fork. After separating the meat and bones in your mouth, cover your mouth with a napkin, spit it onto the fork and put it on a plate. However, for meat that needs to be "hands-on" directly, hand washing water is often served at the same time as the meat. Be sure to wipe your hands and mouth with a napkin frequently.

When eating fish, do not turn the fish over. After eating the upper layer, use a knife and fork to remove the fish bones before eating the lower layer.

3． Eat Salad

In Western food, salad often appears on such occasions: as a side dish of the main course, such as vegetable salad, which is common; as a spacer dish, such as between the main course and dessert ; as a first course, say chicken salad.

Use a salad fork if the salad is served in a large plate. If it is served with a main course, use a main course fork to eat it.

If the salad is a side dish, it is usually served with cheese, corn chips, etc. Start with a slice or two of bread and place it on your salad plate, followed by two or three tortilla chips. Cheese and salad are meant to be eaten with a fork, while nachos can be eaten with your hands.

If the main course salad comes with salad dressing, you can pour the salad dressing on part of the salad first and add the dressing after eating that part. Add until it reaches the lettuce leaves at the bottom of the bowl, making it easier to pour the juice.

The customary way to eat salad should be: cut large lettuce leaves into small pieces with a fork. If it is difficult to cut, you can use a knife and fork together. Cut one piece at a time and then cut again after you finish eating.

4. Drink soup

5. Oysters and clams

When eating oysters and clams, hold the shell with your left hand, use an oyster fork with your right hand to take out the oyster meat, dip it in seasonings and eat with the oyster fork. The shrimp and crab mixture can also be dipped in seasonings alone and eaten with an oyster fork.

6． Pasta

To eat pasta, roll up the noodles slowly with a fork. It is most convenient to roll four or five noodles at a time. You can also eat it with a spoon and fork, the spoon can help the fork control the slippery noodles. Don't suck it directly with your mouth, otherwise it will easily splash the juice everywhere.

7. Fruit

In many countries, fruit is served as dessert or with dessert. Usually many fruits are mixed together to make a fruit salad or fruit platter. The key to eating fruit is how to remove the core. You can't bite it whole. If you have a knife and fork, you should use it carefully. Cut it into quarters with a knife, peel and core it, and eat it with a fork. Be careful not to spill the juice. If you don't have a knife or fork, you can use your two fingers to gently remove the core from your mouth and place it on the edge of the fruit plate. It is very rude to spit out the core directly from your mouth.

8． Western fast food and snacks

Hamburgers and hot dogs are eaten with your hands, but be sure to cover them with a napkin so that the sauce flows onto the napkin and not onto your hands or clothes. Just in case, you can hold a napkin in one hand and have one or two napkins ready in the other hand.

You can hold the pizza piece with your hands and turn the outside in to prevent the filling from falling out. But there is no pizza on the dinner table.

Tortillas are a popular food eaten with hands. It can be dipped in mixed sauces such as sweet beans or ketchup and eaten.

Fried foods and potato chips can be eaten with your hands or with a fork. If you are outdoors, of course you can eat it with your hands.

Ladies should also pay attention to putting less food into their mouths every time when eating. Chew, make noise and ruin lipstick. When eating ordinary dishes, if your fingers get dirty, you can ask the waiter to bring you handwashing water.

Four. Handling of five special situations

1. What should you do when you meet your host and express gratitude?

Some hosts will say thanksgiving prayers before eating, sitting or standing, and the guests should do the same. Before praying with thanksgiving, do not eat or drink anything, and bow your head quietly. Wait until the prayer is over, then put the napkin on your lap and start eating.

2． When teeth are stuffed or foreign objects enter the mouth

If there are vegetable leaves or sand-like objects stuck between your teeth, don’t pick them with toothpicks at the table. Try drinking water; if it doesn’t work, go to the bathroom. , so you can rinse your mouth vigorously, or use a toothpick.

If you encounter unpalatable food or foreign objects in your mouth, you must be careful not to cause discomfort to those eating together, but you do not have to forcefully eat the bad food. You can cover your mouth with a napkin, quickly spit onto the napkin, and ask the waiter to change a new napkin. If there are foreign objects such as stones in the food, you can use your thumb and index finger to take them out and put them aside on the plate.

Even if a bug crawls out of your salad with all its might (this is the perfect moment to exercise your courage and grace), calmly ask for it to be changed by talking to the host or waiter. Just a wink is enough, don't make a big fuss, cry or scream, and let everyone know about it so that they don't dare to eat it.

3． What should I do after eating garlic or onions?

Eating garlic or onions while eating will not be well received at home, in the office, or at a party. We introduce several solutions:

The first is to use mouthwash;

The second is to chew gum;

The third is to wipe the inside of the mouth and tongue with a piece of lemon ;

The fourth is to chew a few tea leaves or coffee beans.

4. What should I do if I spill something on the dining table?

If something is spilled on the dining table, and a lot of it is spilled, the host should ask the waiter to clean up the stained area. If it cannot be cleaned up, he will re-pave it for you. A new napkin to cover the mess before serving the next dish. If you are at home, just use cleaning supplies to remove it.

If your seat is heavily stained, ask the host for another napkin to cover the stain, and apologize to the host and other guests. If you or a family member breaks anything belonging to the owner, you should arrange to collect the broken items together, clean them out or repair them, and return them at the owner's convenience.

5. What should I do if the knife and fork fall to the ground?

When eating, you accidentally drop the knife and fork on the ground. If you bend down to pick it up, it will not only be unsightly, but also disturb the people around you and dirty your hands. You can ask the waiter to take care of it and replace it with new tableware.

5. How to say goodbye gracefully?

The farewell time for the cocktail party after the dinner is based on common sense. If the cocktail party is not held on a weekend, it means that the farewell time should be between 11pm and midnight. If it's a weekend, it can be later. Saying goodbye should not be too early or too late.

At all kinds of (except the largest) cocktail parties, it is polite to thank the hostess in person before leaving. When thanking someone, you can leave after explaining what needs to be said. Don't keep talking so that the other person can neither do his own thing nor greet others. If you have to leave early for some reason, don't be so conspicuous in your thank you that other guests think it's time for them to leave too.

If you are the guest of honor, you must say goodbye to the host before other guests. Generally speaking, the guest of honor should say goodbye between 20 and 40 minutes after finishing the snacks. General guests should not say goodbye before the guest of honor, otherwise it will be disrespectful to the host and guest of honor. If you really need to go first because of something, explain the situation sincerely.

Guests attending the cocktail party should stand up and leave according to the time stated on the invitation. If you receive a verbal invitation (the time may not be stated), you should assume that the reception will last two hours. If a guest is lingering and the hostess has another dinner date, she should explain it tactfully. She can say in a friendly way: "I have to break up with you because I have to..."

In addition, after attending a cocktail party or an informal dinner or cocktail party, write a letter or call A phone call to express gratitude is very appropriate. If you have to meet again soon, you can also say thank you.