France is a romantic country and a country of gourmet food. Table manners, as the name suggests, are the details that people should pay attention to at the dinner table, whether before or after a meal. The editor of SmartView introduces French dining etiquette to everyone.

1. Introduction and usage of tableware in French table manners

The romantic feelings of the French can be seen from the dining table. So, what are the knives, forks and spoons on the French dining table? ?

Generally before the meal, the waiter will place all the required knives and forks according to the dishes ordered. Place the fork on the left side of the plate, tip side up. The knife is placed to the right of the plate, with the blade facing the plate. Knives, forks, and spoons are each divided into three types: appetizer knife, appetizer fork, and appetizer spoon; main appetizer knife, appetizer fork, and appetizer spoon; dessert knife, dessert fork, and dessert spoon; and a butter spatula for spreading butter. Serve on bread. Pay attention when using it: hold the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right hand, and use them from the outside to the inside in order.

Plates

Plates should be placed one to two centimeters from the edge of the table. Deep plate, used for soup; flat plate, used for main dishes (meat, fish, etc.); bread plate, usually on the left front of the main plate, used to place bread; decorative plate, used from beginning to end from the first course to The last dish, the only plate that will not be taken away. All other dishes are served on a decorative plate which is removed before eating the cheese.

Wine glasses

The glasses are placed in front of the right side of the plate, decreasing from large to small from left to right. Usually there are at least two goblets on the dining table, one for water and the other for wine. There are also slender wine glasses for drinking champagne or sparkling wine. When changing drinks, you also need to change cups.

Napkins

In addition to the placement of tableware, the romantic French also enjoy life to the extreme. Even the placement and use of napkins also reflect the aristocratic plot. The purpose of neatly placing napkins with age-old tableware is to avoid staining clothes when eating. In addition, you can use it to wipe oil stains on your hands and mouth between meals or after finishing.

When attending a formal banquet, the hostess uses napkins to represent the beginning and end of the banquet. When the hostess spreads the napkin on her lap, it is a sign that the banquet has begun; when the hostess puts the napkin on the table, it is a sign that the banquet is over. When the party begins, all you have to do is unfold the napkin, fold it inward by a third, and lay it flat between your legs.

It is obviously not polite to talk to others with oil stains on the corners of your mouth. Whenever you take a bite of food and prepare to talk to others at the table, be sure to press the end of the napkin along your lips a few times and roll the soiled part inward.

After the meal, what you have to do is to pick up the napkin on your lap, fold it randomly, put it on the left side of the table, and then get up and leave your seat.

2. French table etiquette: dining etiquette in restaurants

1. Seat reservation: Seats must be reserved in advance, indicating the number of people, time, and location requirements (smoking or non-smoking area) ).

2. Seating: Seating is usually led by a waiter, who will even pull out a chair for the lady. The French like to arrive earlier than the scheduled meal time and have a snack such as olives and an aperitif at the bar.

3. Appetizer: The waiter will ask you if you want an aperitif before handing over the menu.

4. Ordering: The menu of French cuisine is very simple. There are only about 10 kinds of main dishes, but they are all beautifully made. The order of ordering is: the first course is usually cold dishes or soup, although the menu There are multiple varieties of first courses for you to choose from, but you can only choose one. A piece of bread will be served before the dish is served. After you finish eating, the waiter will help you remove the plate and serve the second course. The second course is soup, a delicious French soup, including thick broth, light vegetable soup and delicious seafood soup. The third course is the main dish of the meal, which is the most expressive dish in French cuisine. It is often made delicately and elegantly, making it unforgettable for diners. The most common dinner items are various kinds of steaks, including chicken steaks, fish steaks, steaks, and pork chops. This so-called steak is clean meat with bones and spines removed, and then poured with a specially prepared sauce. It is delicious and easy to eat.

5. Order wine: After ordering, you might as well have a glass of housewine.

6. Bread: Bread is usually given to guests before serving, and French baguette is a must. The French only spread butter on their bread at breakfast, so they have to bark if they want butter.

French cuisine pays great attention to sauces. You might as well use bread to dip the sauce into the bottom of the dish to show your appreciation to the chef.

7. Appetizers: In high-end restaurants, there is an appetizer before the official serving, which is usually a cold dish made of simple vegetables. After serving the main course or finishing the seafood, you will be given a cup of sorbet to wash away the remaining taste in your mouth before the next course.

8. Main course: When starting the meal, you can say "BonAppetit" (which means eating slowly).

9. Cheese: Cheese is a dish before dessert. The waiter will usually bring you a plate of cheese for you and your ex to choose, and the cheese plate will usually give you some grapes or walnuts to accompany it. When eating, red wine is the best partner.

10. Dessert: French people are accustomed to drinking coffee after eating dessert, rather than drinking coffee while eating. Some people would even order a glass of after-dinner wine (pousse-cafe) to complete the meal.

Notes

Sit from the left side of the chair. The most appropriate way to sit is from the left side. When the chair is pulled away, stand up straight at a distance that is almost touching the table. The leader will push the chair in, and you can sit down when your legs touch the chair behind you.

When dining, your upper arms and back should lean against the back of the chair, and your abdomen should be kept about a fist away from the table. It is best to avoid sitting with your feet crossed.

The formal order of serving the full meal is: ① vegetables and soup ② cod liver oil ③ fruit ④ meat ⑤ cheese ⑥ dessert and coffee ⑦ fruit, as well as pre-dinner wine and table wine. There is no need to order everything. It would be rude to order too much and not be able to finish it all.

Napkins can be opened before eating. After ordering, open the napkin during the period before the appetizer is served, fold it inward by one-third, and let the two-thirds lie flat on your legs, covering the part of your legs above the knees. It is best not to tuck the napkin into the neckline.

3. French table manners and red wine etiquette

The essence of French life style is: romance and enjoyment. Romance is love, and enjoyment is red wine. To be a tasteful person, start by drinking red wine.

Placement

The red wine glass must be placed on the right side of the water glass. This is the stress and precautions of Western food.

Pouring wine

1. Fill 1/3 full of red wine, 1/2 full of white wine, and 3/4 full of sparkling wine (such as champagne).

2. Shake the bottle at the end after pouring a glass of wine to prevent any drippings from remaining.

Holding the glass

When holding the wine glass, hold the stem of the glass. This will not only prevent the temperature of the wine from rising, but also allow you to appreciate the purity and luster of the red wine, which will also look better. elegant.

Clink glasses

1. When clinking glasses with a woman, look directly at the other person. There is an old legend in France. If you don’t do this, you will have bad luck in the next seven years.

2. If you are not very good at drinking, you don’t have to drink every time. Just keep smiling and be humble and polite.

Taboos of French table etiquette

1. When sitting, your body should be upright, your elbows should not be placed on the table, your feet should not be crossed, and the distance from the table should be such that the tableware is easy to use. good. Do not mess around with the tableware that has been placed on the dining table. Fold the napkin in half and place it gently in your lap.

2. When using a knife and fork to eat, take the knife and fork 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 saw it. Break into small pieces and pop into your mouth with a fork. When using a knife, the blade must not point outward. When you put down your knives and forks during a meal, they should be placed in a "eight" shape and placed on the edge of the dinner plate. The blade of the knife is facing towards you, indicating that you will continue to eat. After each dish is finished, put the knife and fork together on the plate. If you are talking, you can hold the knife and fork without putting it down. When you are not using a knife, you can also hold a fork with your right hand. However, if you need to make a gesture, you should put down the knife and fork. Never wave the knife or fork in the air, nor hold a knife or fork in one hand and hold it in the other hand. Wipe your mouth with a napkin, and do not hold a wine glass in one hand and a fork in the other hand to pick up food. Remember, never put one end of the knife and fork on the plate and the other end on the table.

3. Do not put too much food into your mouth each time, do not talk while chewing, and do not take the initiative to talk to others.

4. Don’t sip when drinking soup, chew with your mouth closed when eating, and don’t smack your lips and make a sound. If the soup is too hot, wait until it cools down slightly before eating. Do not blow it with your mouth. When drinking soup, use a spoon to scoop it from the inside out. When the soup in the soup plate is almost finished, use your left hand to slightly tilt the outside of the soup plate and scoop it out with a spoon.

When you finish eating the soup, leave the spoon in the soup plate (bowl) with the spoon handle pointing toward you.

5. When eating fish, meat and other dishes with thorns or bones, do not spit them out directly. You can cover your mouth with a napkin and spit them gently on the fork and put them on the plate. If there is a small amount of food left on the plate, do not use a fork to scrape the bottom of the plate, and do not use your fingers to help eat. Instead, eat with a small piece of bread or a fork. When eating noodles, roll them up with a fork and then put them into your mouth.

6. Bread should be broken into small pieces and put into the mouth. Do not bite the whole piece of bread. When spreading butter and jam, break the bread into small pieces before spreading.

7. When eating chicken, Europeans and Americans mostly value chicken breast meat. When eating chicken legs, you should remove the bones first and do not eat them with your hands. 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. When eating meat, you should cut it into pieces and eat them one by one. Do not cut the pieces too large or cut the meat into pieces at once.

8. Do not put on makeup at the table or use a napkin to wipe your nose. Burping during meals is the biggest no-no. If this happens, you should immediately apologize to those around you. Do not stand up when eating, and ask others to pass food that cannot be reached while sitting.

9. Don’t gorge yourself when eating. Food you do not want to eat should also be put on the plate as a courtesy. The host advises the guests to add more food. If they have an appetite, it is not considered rude to add more food. On the contrary, the host may be proud of it.

10. You are not allowed to leave the table in the middle of the meal. If you really need to leave for something, you should whisper hello to the guests on the 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 offers you a glass of wine, if you don't want it, you can simply say "No, thank you!" or cover the glass with your hand to express your refusal.

11. Smoking is not allowed until the meal is finished, and it is not allowed until the coffee is served to indicate the end of the meal. If there are female guests on the left or right, you should ask politely. Do you mind?

12. When dining, you should talk to the guests on the left and right, but avoid talking and laughing loudly. Don't just talk to a few acquaintances. If you don't know the guests, you can introduce yourself first. Don't interrupt others when they are talking.

13. If you are willing to add milk or sugar when drinking coffee, stir it evenly with a small spoon after adding it, and place the small spoon on the coffee plate. When drinking, you should hold the cup handle with your right hand, hold the saucer with your left hand, and drink directly with your mouth. Do not use a small spoon to scoop it up one by one. When eating fruit, do not bite the whole fruit. You should first cut it into 4 or 6 pieces with a fruit knife, then remove the skin and core with a knife, and eat with a fork.

14. When eating, do not unbutton or take off your clothes in public. If the host asks the guest to undress, the male guest can take off his coat and place it on the back of the chair. Do not put the coat or belongings on the dining table.