Complete Western Etiquette
Start ordering!
●From appetizer to coffee, this is the most traditional set meal format: appetizer → soup → fish dish → meat dish 1 (main course) → frozen fruit → meat dish 2 → salad → dessert → Fruit coffee. You can drink a little aperitif before the appetizer, or you can choose a very small amount of snacks.
●Simplified full meals: Today, except for Western meals at wedding banquets, full meals like the above are becoming increasingly rare, and generally there is only one meat dish. In the restaurant, you can eat in sequence according to the combination of dishes decided by the restaurant, or you can mix and match your favorite dishes according to your own preferences.
*Use knives and forks correctly and don’t make a fool of yourself
●Hold the fork in your left hand, cut with the knife in your right hand, and then use the fork to lift the food. In the entrance. If the food is finely chopped, use the front of a fork to scoop it up. Of course, on a casual occasion when dining with friends, if you don’t need a knife, you can use your right hand to hold a fork and eat.
●The message conveyed by placing the knife and fork: When dining, it is a figure of eight. The front and back of the fork can be facing up, but the side must be facing you. When the blade is pointed at others, it is hostile. After the meal, you can place the fork with the front side facing up, the blade of the knife facing inwards and the fork together, and place it parallel to the dinner plate.
●Napkins are prepared to prevent clothes from getting dirty during meals. It is usually opened after ordering the meal, folded in half and placed on the lap. When leaving temporarily or after eating, never hang the napkin on the back of the chair or ball it up on the table.
●Correct posture and appropriate angles have a considerable impact on your elegance. *Enjoy various dishes easily and happily
●How to eat appetizers: Appetizers are a bit like cold cuts in Chinese food, including caviar, smoked mandarin fish, raw ham, crayfish, oysters or snails, etc. You can More casual.
●How to drink soup: Never make a sound when drinking soup. It is easier to drink by tilting the spoon slightly. If the soup is still very hot, stir it back and forth quietly with a spoon to bring the temperature down. After finishing the soup, place the spoon directly in the soup plate or on the dinner plate.
●How to eat bread: Bread is generally available in unlimited quantities, so don’t eat too much bread. In order not to eat too much bread, it is best to eat bread after the appetizers and soup are served. When eating bread, you should tear off bite-sized pieces with your hands before eating. Never use a knife or fork to cut or fork the bread.
●How to eat meat dishes: Meat dishes should be cut from the left, and the sauce should be placed on the inside of the plate. The vegetables placed next to the steak are not just for decoration, but are added for nutritional balance, so they should be eaten alternately with the meat. Don't cut all the meat into pieces at the beginning, otherwise all the delicious gravy will flow out.
●How to eat fish dishes: There will always be lemons in fish dishes. You can press the lemons cut into rounds with a knife to let the lemon fragrance penetrate into the fish dishes; you can use half-moon-shaped lemon slices. Prick the flesh of the fruit lightly with a fork, pinch the lemon gently with your right hand, and squeeze a drop or two onto the fish dish. The sauce should not be poured directly on the food, but should be placed on the outside of the plate. ●How to eat lettuce salad: The types of salads range from simple green vegetables to luxurious seafood or meat, or salads with added lettuce, etc. Knives and forks must be used in formal occasions. If the salad is in a large bowl or a large plate, you have to use a male fork and a male spoon to pick up the salad from the large plate...
●How to drink coffee: Steam-pressurized coffee is best after a meal Espresso, because espresso contains very little caffeine, you can drink it safely even at night. Take a small sip first and taste the aroma of the coffee, then add the appropriate amount of sugar and milk according to your preference. *Details of etiquette before and after meals
●Before going to the restaurant, it is best to call and make a reservation in advance.
●After entering the restaurant, larger items such as coats can be stored in the cloakroom, while handbags and carry-on items can be placed by the feet of the chairs.
●If it is a private dinner, women should be given priority when seated; and if it is a business dinner, bosses or elders should be seated first. When seated, you must sit from the left side.
●It is best to smoke after a meal and only after drinking coffee. If you really can’t help but want to smoke, please go elsewhere.
●Clothing is also crucial. Pay attention to clean appearance and minimize makeup and decorations.
Sauce on the knife.
"If the soup is too hot and you blow it with your mouth to cool it, it will be a disgrace; don't make a hissing sound when drinking; don't put bread in the soup and eat it together; don't put the plate down when drinking soup Lifting and licking the spoon is definitely not in line with Western etiquette.
After tearing the bread, if you still hold a larger piece of bread in your left hand, you cannot eat the bread held in your right hand; you cannot pick up the whole bread and bite it without tearing it open.
Once the washbasin is brought up, do not drink the water, do not squeeze the lemon in the basin, and do not put both hands in it for washing at the same time.
*Error Demonstration Collection
●It will appear very uncultivated
Don’t be so involved in chatting that you wave the knife and fork in your hand forgetfully.
Do not put your elbows on the table while eating.
"It is very rude to talk and laugh loudly because of the presence of "Lianhuansiba".
Don’t look around, always pay attention to the people at other tables.
Do not speak loudly to people at other tables.
You are not allowed to pick your teeth with toothpicks at your seat after the meal.
●Can cause displeasure to others
Rubbing your hair during meals will give the impression of uncleanness.
It is very rude to burp too loudly.
Eating without saying a word will inevitably make your companions think that you are "not very satisfied" with the meal.
It is very rude to make fun of others.
●Pay attention to your usual bad habits
Do not collect the crumbs dropped on the table with your hands or sweep them to the floor.
Yawning is also impolite.
Do not exchange dishes with your companions without permission.
Don’t talk with something in your mouth.
It is also impolite to touch up your makeup in your seat.
How to eat fruits
Apples and pears--at a banquet, apples or pears should be taken with your hands and placed on a plate. You can peel it using a spiral style. If this is difficult to do, just put the fruit on a plate, cut it in half, remove the core and cut it into cubes, and then eat it with a fork or fruit knife. If the occasion is more casual, you can eat it with your hands.
Avocados--Avocados should be eaten with a spoon if they are in the shell, or with a fork if they are sliced ??and served on a plate or tossed in a salad.
Banana--If you eat a banana at the table, peel it first, then cut it into sections with a knife, and then eat it with a fork. In informal occasions such as picnics, beaches, etc., peel the banana in half and eat it like a monkey.
When eating figs - fresh figs as an appetizer with spiced ham, they should be eaten with the skin and a knife and fork. If there is a hard rod on it, cut it off with a knife (otherwise you will not be able to chew it). When eating as a dessert after a meal, first cut the figs into quarters, soak them in orange juice or cream, and eat them with a knife and fork.
Grapefruit (orange, tangerine)--When eating grapefruit, cut it in half and then scoop it out with a teaspoon or pointed grapefruit spoon. In an informal setting, carefully squeeze grapefruit juice into a teaspoon.
There are two ways to peel an orange, both of which require the use of a sharp knife. Method 1: Spiral peeling. Method 2: First use a knife to cut off the skin at both ends, and then cut off the skin piece by piece vertically. After peeling, you can break off the orange flesh. If the cut off part is not big, you can eat it in one bite. If it is too big, use a dessert knife and fork to cut it before eating. If the oranges are cut, you can use a grapefruit spoon or teaspoon to scoop them out like a grapefruit. To eat an orange, you must first peel it off with your hands and then eat it piece by piece. You may want to peel and remove the white covering film, especially if the film is thick.
Grapes - There is nothing particular about grapes. Just eat them one by one. If the grapes have seeds, Lin puts the grapes into his mouth, chews the flesh, and then spits the seeds into his hands. To easily peel off the skin of a grape, hold the stem to your mouth and squeeze the juice into your mouth using your middle finger and paper. Finally, put the remaining grape skins on the plate.
Mango, papaya - whole mango, first cut in half lengthwise with a sharp fruit knife, and then cut into quarters and halves. Using a fork, transfer each piece to a plate, skin side up, and peel off the mango skin. You can also eat it with a spoon like you would an avocado. For example, cut the mango in half, dig out the core and keep the skin. Eating papaya is like eating avocado or small watermelon. Cut it in half first, pull out the seeds, and then eat it with a spoon.
Peach and plum--cut the peach and plum into half and half, then into quarter and half, and remove the core with a knife. The skin can be peeled off, but it is also good if cut into small pieces with the skin on and eaten with a dessert knife and fork.
Persimmons--There are two ways to eat persimmons: one is to cut it in half and then scoop out the flesh with a spoon; the other is to place the persimmon upright on a plate with the handle facing down and cut it into pieces. Cut into four pieces, then cut into appropriately sized pieces with the help of a knife and fork. To eat, spit out the persimmon core in a spoon and place it on the side of your plate. Don't eat persimmon skin as it is too bitter and astringent.
Pineapple (pulp) - very simple, when eating pineapple slices, always use a knife and fork.
Strawberries - Large strawberries can be eaten whole with the handle and dipped in white sugar (from your own plate). Then put the strawberry stems on your plate. If the strawberries are being folded into the cream, of course use a spoon.
Watermelon - Watermelon cut into pieces is generally eaten with a knife and fork. Watermelon seeds eaten into the mouth should be cleaned immediately, spit out in the concave hand, and then put on your own plate.
Berrys and cherries - there are many ways to eat them, depending on the situation. Generally speaking, when eating berries, you must use a spoon whether there is cream or not; He spat it out gracefully into his concave hand and put it on his plate.
How to eat bone-in food
Birds: Cut off the wings and legs first, then eat the body parts with the help of a knife and fork. You can eat the wings and legs with your hands, but not the body parts. Chicken: Eat half of the chicken first. Separate the chicken legs and wings from the joints with a knife and fork. Then use a fork to hold the chicken legs (chicken breasts or wings) steady, and use a knife to cut the meat into appropriate-sized pieces. Only cut two or three slices at a time. If the occasion is very formal and it is not suitable for taking out knives and forks, just leave it alone. If you're in an informal setting, you can handle small pieces of bone with your hands, but you can use one hand.
Steak: Insert a fork or sharp knife into the center of a beef, pork or lamb steak. If the ribs have paper sleeves, you can grab them with your hands and cut the meat off the bones without making your hands greasy. In formal occasions or when dining in restaurants, you cannot chew the bones with your hands, even if they are wrapped in paper sleeves. These extra things are basically for decoration and are not meant for you to eat a big meal. In addition, in informal situations, you can only pick it up and eat it when there is no soup on the bones.
For fish, first cut off the head and tail of the fish with a knife and fork and place them on the edge of the plate. Then use the tip of the knife to split the fish from head to tail along the bones. At this time you have three options: 1. Slide the fish bones out 2. Spread the fish flat and take out the fish bones 3. Peel off the top piece and remove the bones after eating. If you eat small bones in your mouth, use your thumb to If you pinch it with your index finger, people who love fish will eat the small fish head, and it is very lucky to eat the cheek of the fish.
How to arrange the knife and fork
When dining, the knife and fork are arranged in a figure-eight shape. If you take a short break during the meal, you can place the knife and fork on the plate, with the knife head and fork tip facing each other. The "one" shape or the "eight" shape, with the knife and fork facing you, means you should continue eating. If you are talking, you can hold the knife and fork without putting it down. However, if you need to make gestures, you should put down the knife and fork. Never wave the knife and fork in the air. It should be noted that at no time should one end of the knife and fork be placed on the plate and the other end on the table. In addition to cutting food into your mouth, knives and forks also have another very important function. The arrangement of knives and forks conveys the message of "meal in progress" or "end of meal". The waiter uses this method to judge the dining situation of the guests, and whether to clear away the tableware and prepare for the next service, etc., so I hope Jirun can remember the correct way to arrange the tableware. Special attention should be paid to the fact that the blade side of the knife must face you. There are two ways to place it at the end of the meal: after the meal is over, you can put the bottom of the fork upward, the edge of the knife inward and close to the fork, and place it parallel to the dinner plate. The following placement methods are divided into British style and French style. No matter which method is used, the French style is the most commonly used.
Try to put the handle into the dinner plate. This will prevent it from falling due to contact and makes it easier for the waiter to clean it up. When attending a wedding banquet, no matter how the tableware is placed in the "dining" position, all dishes should be put away as soon as the main guests finish eating. Therefore, during banquets, remember to focus on the main guests. At a banquet, a pair of knives and forks are used for each dish. The knives and forks placed in front of you are taken from the outside inward, because the order in which the knives and forks are placed is exactly the order in which each dish is served. The knives and forks are gone, and the serving of food is over. When talking or resting, the knife and fork should be placed flat on both sides of the plate in a figure-eight shape. On the contrary, if the knife and fork handles are placed side by side on the plate, it means that the dish has been used, and the waiter will remove the plate. If it is an appetizer or dessert that can be eaten directly with a fork, there is no need to deliberately use a knife. At family dinners or casual gatherings with friends, softer dishes such as salads and omelette rice can be eaten with just a fork. However, using knives and forks at formal banquets can give people a more elegant and neat feeling. In addition, in Europe and other places, you can often see people eating with a fork in their right hand and bread in their left hand. No matter how neat and elegant the meal is, dining like this can only be done at home or in a popular restaurant, and it will never work in a high-end restaurant. Just leave the unused knife on the table and the waiter will take it away automatically. Although placing the knife and fork together on the plate signals the end of the meal, there is no need to specifically place the clean knife on the soiled plate. Just leave the unused tableware in its original state. It would seem strange to insist on following the rules of form. It is most correct to adapt to circumstances and deal with things according to the situation at that time. Even if you drop it, you won't be embarrassed, but if you bend down to pick it up, it will be embarrassing. So when something falls, it’s best to ask the waiter to pick it up for you. The waiter is always paying attention to the guest's situation, so he will bring new tableware quickly. If the waiter does not notice, you can slightly raise your hand towards the waiter and try not to attract other people's attention. The waiter's job is to make the meal more enjoyable for the guests, so make requests of them whenever possible.
Basic usage of knife and fork
The basic action after the food is served is "hold the knife in your right hand to cut, and then hold the fork in your left hand to fork the food." Use a fork to press the left end of the food and secure it. Use a knife to cut off about a bite-sized portion of the food along the side of the fork. The fork can be placed directly on the food and put into the mouth. To put it simply, "press it with the fork and then use it." Cut with a knife." If you want to cut food smoothly, start with your posture! Correct posture and appropriate angles are very important. If the elbows on both sides are too high, the angle of the knife and fork will be too large and the knife and fork will be in an upright position. On the contrary, if the elbows are too low, the knife and fork will be in a fallen position, so there is no way to cut the food properly. Relax your shoulders and wrists, do not open your arms, and keep the angle between the knife and the dinner plate at about 15 degrees. Here are seven key points: Sit upright facing the food; relax your shoulders and wrists; keep your arms close to your body; keep your elbows not too high or low; keep the knife and fork at an angle to the plate; hold the food firmly with the fork; Move the knife gently and use pressure when applying pressure. In this way, not only can the food be cut easily, but the posture also looks quite elegant. There is also a key to how the knife moves. First, apply force to the fork in your left hand
Talk about Western food etiquette
To be honest, Western food may not be to everyone’s taste. My wife once expressed her emotion to me in private, saying that eating Western food is all about the form, and the content is not important. She told me that I was eating Western food with you, but I was never full. There were red candles, white napkins, silver knives and forks, and the food was half-cooked and not full. Even so, she expressed an honest feeling, but sometimes you go to someone's place to eat, for example, you are discussing things with a foreign businessman, and he invites you to eat Western food, and you have no way to avoid it. When you go abroad and find Chinese food in some places, the food is not authentic and often very expensive. In this case, there will be problems with Western food etiquette.
First of all, I want to briefly talk about what Western food is. Strictly speaking, the term Western food is not very rigorous, and it is difficult for you to clearly explain what Western food is. All we can say is that the so-called Western food refers to a general term for food in Western countries. Its basic characteristic is that you need to use a knife and fork to eat. There are actually three major categories of dining styles. The first category is what we call the Oriental style, which is to use chopsticks.
Chinese, Japanese, Koreans, and Laotians use chopsticks to eat. Of course, some chopsticks are different from chopsticks. For example, if you go to Korea, you will find that Korean chopsticks are generally made of metal, relatively flat, and pointed. Because they eat barbecue, they can be eaten with a fork, half a fork. We have square and round ones here. I mean the customs are different in ten miles, and the customs are different in hundreds of miles. In our oriental style, we usually eat with chopsticks. Another type we can call the Indian or Arab type. What are their characteristics? It does not use utensils and eats directly with hands. The general characteristic is to use your right hand to gather the things you want to put into your mouth together, and then put it into your mouth. If necessary, there is a hand-washing bowl and you can rinse your fingers in it. We have seen situations like this a lot, and it is not uncommon and strange, and we cannot get used to it, but this was not the case a few years ago. I remember that a few years ago, just after the reform and opening up, it was strange to see it at that time. A few colleagues and I went to eat Indian food. Well, as soon as it was served, they put the washing bowl in front of each person and put a small plate in front of them. The shallow, silver plate was half filled with water, very clear, with lemon slices and rose petals on it. It looked very nice, a high-end restaurant. One of our brothers made a speech. Foreigners are better at eating. They gave him broth when they didn't eat. There was no other way. We had no choice but to accompany him, and each of us drank a bowl of handwashing water. Because he is the guest of honor, you can't embarrass the guest of honor. Can you say something to him? You say you are stupid, but you can't say it. You can only accompany him and risk your life to accompany a gentleman. I still remember it. More than 20 years have passed. , I still can’t forget this incident. I drank a bowl of hand-washing water with someone, but luckily I haven’t washed it yet. It’s such a characteristic. The other is from Western countries, which features the use of knives and forks to eat. But strictly speaking, there are still big differences between British food, Russian food, French food, Italian food and Spanish food, but they are similar in the eyes of Chinese people, so we call them Western food.
Western food etiquette involves many aspects, such as the order of eating. There is a big difference between Western food and Chinese food. Chinese food is usually a full table, and Western food is eaten one after another, one after another, and one after another, so the order of ordering is very particular. Furthermore, the placement and use of tableware are very particular, and you cannot mess around. Of course, a friend of mine also told me that the most enjoyable way to eat Western food is to use chopsticks, which is actually impossible. Furthermore, there are certain things to be done in your manners at the dinner table. For example, when eating Western food, your hands should not be placed under the table as I mentioned last time. They should be arranged crosswise between men and women. For example, Western food is usually served at a long table. I am a gentleman, and there must be beauties across from and on both sides of me. Moreover, it is the habit of foreigners to put people they don’t know together in order to make more friends and build good relationships. Son, let's communicate and get to know each other. It's troublesome to always put acquaintances together. Do you understand why you can't put your hands down there? Then it's troublesome if you put your hands down there. You said you scratched an itch. What if you scratched it in the wrong place? your hands. When eating Western food, your hands should be like mine now. They should be placed on top of the counter, not on the bottom. Sometimes it doesn’t look good if you put it down. It has very serious details.
Then there is another important point in Western table manners, that is, communication at the table should be particular. For example, who you talk to, what words you say, who you talk to first, and who you talk to after are all important. For example, if you go to a formal Western restaurant, you will find that a formal Western restaurant is completely different from a Chinese restaurant. What is the difference? You won't see waitresses on site. At most, waitresses are there to pay the bill, check out, and take tables, but the ones who serve the plates and dishes are all men. Because Western food puts ladies first, men do the work and women eat, so if you are going to attend a Western-style family dinner, if you are a well-educated man, the first person you should greet is the hostess, hello madam. If the hostess makes the soup herself and cooks for you, you have to praise that the dish is delicious. Regardless of whether it’s really delicious or fake, you have to say it’s delicious. This is respect for the hostess and her whole family. If you don’t pay attention to these issues I just mentioned, you will get into trouble. Let me tell you two joke.
About ten years ago, I once went to eat Western food with a girl. It was a business event. It was my turn to be the host at this official event, so I invited her. I asked her, do you want Chinese food or Western food? , she told me to eat Western food, that’s fine. When we got to a seat, a private seat, a very quiet place, ladies are given priority and usually we have to ask the lady to order. The menu was given to her. I told her at the time, I said you are free to do whatever you want, you are welcome, just order it.
Of course, she and I have a working relationship, not a romantic relationship, so I can't sit next to her when they order food, let alone watch, otherwise they will say that I can't bear to spend money. She was ordering food there, and I was looking at the street view. Since it was next to the window, I saw that the girl was quite skillful and ordered the menu very quickly, so she only ordered a few. At that time, the waiter said something and I didn't pay much attention to it. The waiter asked, do you want anything else? I misunderstood that the food she ordered was too cheap. I told her to just listen to the lady and serve whatever she ordered. According to the general rules of Western food, the first course of the starter will be served ten minutes after ordering, and then the next one will be served, and the next one will be served after finishing the meal. Well, after 15 minutes, no one is seen. I went out, we were in a private dining room, and I asked the waiter at the door. I said, go find someone for me. Why didn’t the food come? Okay, he ran to look for me, but when I turned around, he was gone too. . I walked out again and found the foreman, where was my dish? He said I would look for you right away, but after a while he disappeared. Finally, I got anxious and ran to find the general manager. The general manager was not there, but the general manager’s secretary was. I told the secretary about this and the secretary took it very seriously and said Impossible, I mean it's impossible. I'm lying to you. I know the rules of Western food. You've been serving this appetizer for ten minutes, but you can see it's almost half an hour now. He said that I would find it for you. The girl was also very serious at that time, wearing a tube skirt and making a running pose, which made me embarrassed to say anything. She ran to the operating room and couldn't come out. I don't have a good temper, so I stepped in. As soon as I stepped in, I found a few of them gathering there and chatting. As soon as she saw me coming in, the lady asked, "What are you doing?" Do you really want it? His attitude is different, he seems more confident, and he doesn't look sorry for me anymore. I said of course, who wants the food I ordered? She said go ahead. Good guy, seven waiters lined up to serve me the food, and every dish in that high-end restaurant was covered with a lid. They were placed in front of us first and the lids were lifted at the same time. I was stupid. Do you know what the lady ordered? ? Ordered seven soups, she ordered seven soups. Because we were eating at a high-end French restaurant and the menu was all in French. Do you understand? On our menu, the lady was kind-hearted when ordering. She helped me save money. On the menu, we put the soup at the front for Western food, which was relatively cheaper. Later she told me how she ordered it, and she was like I know the Arabic numerals, and it’s cheaper. I ordered the odd number 13579. I got seven servings of soup. How do I drink seven servings of soup? We are thirsty and drink two for each person. We can’t drink 3.5.
Of course I have seen more ruthless ones. I have a student. The boy was talking to his girlfriend. The girls in his dormitory were making noises and making noises. The boy had just started working as a reporter in a newspaper. He said that you could treat us to dinner. The boy said, "Okay, please come." Went to a foreign-related hotel. We played bowling first and then had dinner. The girl was ordering over there. After a long time of ordering, the food didn’t come. This reporter was a bit like that sometimes. I couldn’t bear it anymore and went to find the general manager. Why did I want the food? Not on? The general manager asked someone to check it out. He said it was a ghost. There were three or four of us sitting there. Could it be that we were cheating? It didn’t come up, and there wasn’t even a plate. But when I asked later, it actually came up. Do you know what you ordered? Ordered four pieces of music. There is a live performer here who doesn’t understand foreign languages. He will play even if you don’t order. If you order, they will play whatever you order, so it becomes a matter of ordering.
So I joke with others, I say whether you eat Western food or Chinese food, there are too many dish names that you don’t know and you haven’t heard of. Professor Jin, let alone eating Western food, sometimes you won’t be able to handle the things you encounter when eating Chinese food. For example, I once ate a dish called Green Dragon Crossing the River. I thought this dish was quite elegant. It was the Year of the Dragon that year, so I thought of making a Green Dragon Crossing the River. I put a green onion in a long bowl and spread it from one end to the other. On the other side, there is a pot of soup and a blue dragon crossing the river. I also had a dish called Mother and Son Reunion. What was it? There is a chick in the belly of a hen, and the mother and her son are reunited. There is something even more ruthless, brotherhood, a chicken leg, a pig leg, brotherhood. There are two legs, so you can’t tell this thing when you look at it, so sometimes there are certain things to pay attention to when ordering food, whether it is Chinese food or Western food. If you want to save trouble, here are three tips for you. What is the first trick? The first trick is the easiest. If you don’t understand, just follow it.
For example, there is someone next to you, for example, you think Professor Jin is quite good. Professor Jin is next to you. Professor Jin orders a borscht, a tenderloin, such as grilled fish or steak, and then orders a vegetable salad. Then it is most convenient for you, just like him, you will not make mistakes, you will not make mistakes. If you make a mistake in a group fight, we will make mistakes together. If you make a mistake, everyone is wrong, then it is not a mistake. If you make a mistake, you will be confused. What's the second option? Order the set meal. Business-type restaurants have set menus, which are not only reasonably matched, but also cost-effective. For those of you who don’t understand the characteristics of Western food, this is the easiest thing to do, and you will never go wrong. Another way is to ask someone to help you, so don't be polite. Ask familiar people around you, elders, and professionals to help you. Don't mess around, otherwise you will be self-defeating. It is very particular about ordering.
In addition, the use of tableware should be particular. Let me tell you another example that I heard from hearsay. It is said to be true. After the Sino-Japanese War of 1898-1894, China was humiliated. When the troops came to the city, Cixi, the Manchu Qing government, sent a certain senior official to Japan to talk things over. This senior official had a high status, but he probably rarely encountered Western food. I don’t understand. He made a mistake when it came to table manners. Western tableware cannot be wiped. Even if the tableware is placed on the table or next to the napkin, it has actually been steamed and sterilized. It is usually the dishwashing cabinet used by foreigners to wash dishes. The stove is for steaming, so generally speaking, the tableware is very clean, so you can't wipe it. If you take a napkin to wipe the tableware in front of the host, it is equivalent to scolding him. I think this thing is not good. If it's clean, please change it for me. You are being provocative. This is often the case when two companies are discussing business, and the relationship between the two countries is not good, so they are looking for trouble and using the topic to their advantage. At that time, a certain senior official we sent to Japan to discuss matters was invited by a senior Japanese official. These two people were personal friends, but each country had its own masters in the war, so they argued with each other at the negotiation table. China's national strength was not strong at that time, and it must have suffered a loss when it suffered a defeat. When we talked about this after the Sino-Japanese War of 1898-1894, we suffered a loss. This senior official was angry. In fact, he was not angry at the time. He was used to his actions. He sat there and ate. For Western food, take the knife and fork and wipe it. The Japanese guy opposite misunderstood and thought he didn't think he was a friend enough because the two were friends, so he told the waiter to change. After changing a pair of knives and forks, we continue to wipe them, then change them, and then wipe them. Historical records say that if this happens seven times, it means changing seven sets of knives and forks in a row. This is also a matter of making a fool of yourself. So in view of this, I will introduce to you the relevant Western food etiquette in more detail.
First of all, let me talk about the meal order of Western food, which is the order in which you order and eat the dishes. To be honest, if no one is around, you can eat whatever you want, but for a more formal banquet, there is a certain order of Western food. Generally speaking, they are divided into two categories: dinner and light meals. So let me first tell you about the importance of dinner. Generally speaking, there are several dishes in a dinner. The first dish is usually called the appetizer or the first dish. Strictly speaking, it is an appetizer, such as salad, and sometimes foie gras. , jelly, mud and so on, but the main appetizer that we Chinese are familiar with is salad. There are many kinds of salads, such as vegetable salad, which is more refreshing, seafood salad, which is more expensive, and Assorted salads, mixed together. In addition, this appetizer also has things like mud and jelly. I would like to use an analogy for the so-called mashed potatoes. Many comrades have eaten mashed potatoes from KFC. Some comrades have eaten fruit mashed in Western restaurants, grinding pineapples, apples, and pears into a sticky substance. This is actually In Western food, it is also an appetizer. You can usually choose one type. There are also jelly. For example, you have eaten jelly before. Have you seen jelly for children? Sometimes it also cooks the vegetables for Western food. After it is cooked, it is made into a solid form and frozen. It is also an appetizer. This is the first dish. One of the characteristics of toupan is that it is lighter and more refreshing, which helps you to open up your appetite and prepare for the main meal. Therefore, strictly speaking, it is not a dish, but a prelude.
The second course of the Western-style meal is about to begin. If we say that the previous part is the prelude, then the following is the prologue and the soup begins. Western food is a bit similar to Cantonese food. You drink soup first. The soup in Western food is also called appetizer soup. But to be honest, I personally don’t understand why the soup in Western food is called appetizer soup. I usually feel full as soon as I drink it, but they call it appetizer soup. It's called appetizer soup. For example, there are three types: red soup, clear soup, and white soup. We Beijingers are more familiar with red soup, because Beijingers used to prefer Lao Mo. Moscow restaurants eat Russian food, and the borscht in Russian food is Russian red cabbage soup. .
This is a red soup made with garlic juice, cabbage, carrots, and tomatoes. It is a sweet and sour soup that many people like to drink. There are also white soups, mushroom soups, cream soups, which are more common in French cuisine, and consommes, which are lighter soups.