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. \x0d\\x0d\1. Dining Occasions and Precautions \x0d\\x0d\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 formal attire is specified, men must wear a tie. \x0d\\x0d\The following introduces some of the most representative occasions and precautions: \x0d\\x0d\1. Buffet \x0d\\x0d\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 different numbers of guests. 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. \x0d\\x0d\When the buffet starts, you should wait in line to get your 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. \x0d\\x0d\There are two types of buffets, the one that sits down 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. \x0d\\x0d\The buffet, in addition to solving the problems caused by extra services, 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. \x0d\\x0d\2． Cocktail party \x0d\\x0d\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. \x0d\\x0d\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. \x0d\\x0d\3． Dinner \x0d\\x0d\Dinners are divided into two types: grand dinners and casual banquets. \x0d\\x0d\ 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. \x0d\\x0d\The 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. \x0d\\x0d\ According to Western customs, couples are generally invited to attend the dinner 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.

\x0d\\x0d\4. Other things to note \x0d\\x0d\One of the characteristics of Western food is that there are many tableware: cups, plates, silverware, etc. of various sizes. \x0d\\x0d\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 are: 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. For eating meat. \x0d\\x0d\In more formal dinner parties, 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. \x0d\\x0d\Small bottles of salt and pepper can be placed in front of each set of cutlery, one can be placed 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. \x0d\\x0d\After the tableware is set, don’t forget to add table decorations, such as candle holders or a small vase made of your teapot, which can add to the romantic atmosphere. \x0d\\x0d\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. \x0d\\x0d\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. \x0d\\x0d\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. \x0d\\x0d\In a formal dinner, the man should wait for the female guest to put down the 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, your head should be kept at a certain height and should not be too low or move your head too much. \x0d\\x0d\ During the meal, if you leave your seat temporarily, you can put 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. \x0d\\x0d\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.