Topic:Table manners

Why I want to introduce the topic?
What is the definition of the delicious food?
What is the way to enjoy the delicious food?
How to eat and how to taste?

People may chew carefully and swallow slowly or eat their food like wolves and tigers. There are many kinds of ways to eat with appetite, what is the etiquette people have to pay atteneion to when eating in a restaurant?The basic repect and politeness to others is much more important in public place so today I want to introduce the table manners to everyone!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jyK8rAkU1Y

Basic table manners

1. When a dish is presented, the food is served to one's plate and then passed on to the next person.

2. Chew with the mouth closed, and do not talk when chewing a mouthful of food.

3. Do not talk at an excessively loud volume.

4. If at all possible, refrain from coughing or sneezing at the table.

5. Never tilt back your chair while at the table, or at any other time.

6. Tea or coffee should never be poured into the saucer to cool but should be sipped from the cup. Alternatively, ice may be used to cool either.

7. Do not make unbecoming noises while eating.

8. Do not play with food or table utensils.

9. Do not indicate that the food is not to your taste.

10.Do not leave the table before the others without asking the host or hostess to be excused.

11. Do not put your elbows on the table or slouch.

12.Finish all food presented to you if possible.

13.Do not blow your nose at the table.

14.Do not eat food with your fingers unless it is finger foods such as bread, chicken wings, pizza, etc.

15.Do not start eating until everyone is served.

Question for American table manners

Q: What is the correct position for a coffee cup in a formal place setting?

A: The coffee cup and saucer is placed to the right of the place setting, to the right of the furthest utensil. Since most people are right-handed, the handle should face to the right.


Q: After the completion of a formal dinner, where do you place your utensils?

A: Place the knife and fork parallel to one another across the plate with the knife blade facing inward toward the plate. Position the knife and fork in the position of ten o’clock to four o’clock.

Q: How should I fold a large napkin before placing it in my lap?
A: Large dinner napkins should be folded in half after opening and before placing on one's lap.

Q. Is it proper for a woman to apply lipstick at the table after a meal?
A. It is appropriate for a woman to excuse herself and apply lipstick in a private area such as a restroom.


Q. When should the host/hostess of a dinner party be served?
A. The host/hostess of a dinner party should be the last one served. If the meal is getting cold, the host/hostess may state something to the effect, "Please begin while the food is still warm".


Q. At a formal dinner party, how do I properly serve and remove the dishes and glasses?
A. When entertaining formally, dishes are presented or served at guest's left and removed from the right side. Glasses are filled from the right.


Q. When dining at a fine restaurant should you eat different types of food on your plate individually or eat all the food groups together?
A. It is appropriate to eat all items together as the different foods complement one another.


Q. When eating meat, should you cut one piece, put your knife down, then eat the piece, or should you cut all of your meat up first, and then eat the meat?
A. When eating meat, always cut and eat one small piece at a time. If you are eating American style, you may put your knife down, switch your fork to your other hand and eat your bite. If you are eating continental style, you may cut the piece of meat and eat it without putting setting your knife on your plate. Continental Dining Style is becoming more prevalent today and is considered the preferred method of eating.


Q. What direction should food be passed at the table?
A. Food should be passed to the right, or counter-clockwise.

Q. Is it wrong to stand when a lady excuses herself from the table? What is the proper etiquette when the woman excuses herself and returns?
A. In a social setting, it is always appropriate for a male to stand when a female is taking her leave. However, in a business setting, it is not always necessary for a male to rise whenever his female coworker(s) leave the table.


Q. When dining out, is it okay to share your food with the others at the table for tasting purposes?
A. Yes, it is appropriate to share when others at the table are also willing to share. However, always request additional small plates and clean utensils for dividing the shared food.


Q. Where do I place my napkin when briefly excusing myself during the meal?
A. Place your napkin on the chair when excusing yourself during the meal as it is not appropriate to place a soiled napkin on the table while people are still eating. At the completion of a meal, carefully place the napkin at the left of your place setting or if the plates have been cleared, place the napkin in the center without actually refolding to original state.


Q. Who pays the bill when dining out?
A. When entertaining a guest, such as when out for dinner or cocktails, the person who extended the invitation (regardless of gender) is responsible for paying the bill.


Q. When do I use the salad fork?

A. When served a salad as the main entree(主菜), use your dinner fork or entree fork. Also, if your salad is served as a side dish on your main entree plate, use your dinner fork. Otherwise, use your salad fork for your salad!


Q. What is the correct way to butter bread or a roll?
A. When served bread or a roll on a bread/butter plate; break the bread with your fingers into pieces small enough for one or two bites; butter a pulled apart piece and then eat it. Do not butter the entire roll or piece of bread at one time.


Q. Which side of the guest should I pour wine from at the dinner table?
A. Pour wine and all beverages from the right, while standing behind and to the right of the guest.


Q. When should charger plates(大淺盤) be removed from the dinner table?
A. The charger plates should be on the table when the guests are seated. The soup, fish or salad course are served on top of the charger. It is customary for the charger plate to be removed prior to the serving of the entree(主菜) or dinner course. Some people however, prefer to leave the charger plate on the table during the entree because they enjoy the appearance of the charger. Regardless of if you remove the charge after the soup, fish, salad or entree, the charger plate should always be removed before the dessert course.


Q. What is the correct way to serve yourself a portion of brie cheese(一種白色柔軟的乾酪)? Do you just cut a piece from the soft part or try to cut off a portion including the hard skin?
A. Serve yourself an entire piece of cheese neatly and then you may cut away the crust on your own plate.


Q. When you have some food in your mouth that you don’t want to swallow, what should you do?
A. Move the food forward with your tongue onto the fork and place it back on the side of your plate.


Q. What do you do when the salad has big pieces of lettuce? Can you cut them with your knife?
A. Years ago, when knife blades were still made of silver, this was true, as the vinegar harmed the blades. However, today, most knife blades are stainless steel and therefore, may be used to cut lettuce into smaller bites.


Q. Where should I put my napkin at the completion of the meal?
A. At the completion of a meal, carefully place the napkin at the left of your place setting or if the plates have been cleared, place the napkin in the center without actually refolding to original state.

Different cultures lead to dissimilar table manners!

Japanese Table Manners

1. It is acceptable for noodles to be slurped, although impolite in other countries.

2. Wasting food is considered impolite, so many Japanese will eat every grain of rice in their bowl.

3. It is polite to finish all the saké in your cup before you are served more. When you have had enough, it is polite to leave your saké cup full to show that you do not care for more.

4. Some restaurants provide a damp towel, used for wiping the hands before a meal. Although some men may use it to wipe their faces, women should only use it for their hands. When you are done, fold it and place it back on its tray.

5. There are specific ways to enjoy sushi and proper manners to show appreciation to the sushi chef.

6. Pour just enough soy sauce. Soy sauce is considered important in Japanese cuisine, and wasting it is extremely rude.

7. As much as possible, refrain from adding extra wasabi to sushi as this is considered impolite to the sushi chef; as he is considered a sushi expert and has placed the right amount of wasabi.

8. Hold sushi with either hands or chopsticks.

9. Dip the topping into the soy sauce, rather than the rice. If you dip the rice, it tends to separate.

10.It is important to know how to handle your chopsticks.


Chinese Table Manners

1.Chinese traditionally eat rice from a bowl. The rice bowl is raised to the mouth and the rice pushed into the mouth using the chopsticks. Some Chinese find it offensive to scoop rice from the bowl using a spoon. If rice is served on a plate, as is more common in the West, it is acceptable and more practical to eat it with a fork or spoon.

2. It is acceptable to transfer food to people who have a close relation with you if you noticed they are having difficulty picking up the food (close relation for example: parents, grandparents, children or significant others). Also it is a sign of respect to pass food to the elderly first before the dinner starts.

3. Never place your chopsticks on rice facing upwards. Any stick-like object facing upward resembles the incense sticks that Chinese use as offerings to deceased family members.

4. When communal chopsticks are supplied with shared plates of food, it is considered impolite to use your own chopsticks to pick up the food from the shared plate or eat using the communal chopsticks.

Cereal

With the coming of twenty-first centuries, more and more people are under continual pressure. This pressure not only comes from works but also comes from peers or family. So in recent years, people come to pay much attention on leisure time and be willing to spend more time and money on it. As far as I am concerned, breakfast time is the most beautiful time in a day. To be universally known, a well-balanced breakfast allows people to perform at their peak all day long. Some start their mornings with a sandwich, others opt for an egg cakes, and still others choose a cup of milk and a piece of cake. To me, before I go to school in the morning everyday, I am satisfied to sit on the dining table and enjoy my breakfast like cereal.


The first cereal that resembles what is eaten nowadays was invented in America in 1863. At the time, breakfast for many Americans was made up of animal products like eggs, bacon, and sausage. Consequently, digestion problems were fairly common. Faced with many constipated patrons, the owner of a health farm came up with Granula. This high-fiber bran cereal got the bowels moving but was not convenient given that it had to soak overnight before it was soft enough to be eaten.


As accidents may lead to greatness, a common breakfast cereal was actually a mistake. Harvey Kellogg, another health farm operator, had boiled some wheat. After rolling it out and leaving it overnight, he awoke to find his table covered in wheat flakes.


At first, cereals were marketed towards health-conscious customers. But, shortly after the Second World War, cereal companies started targeting children. To add lots of sugar and toy surprises in every box, sales of cereals increased. Times have changed and now most cereals for children have added vitamins and minerals to make them more nutritious.


Whether you like it hot or cold, in a bag or bowl, breakfast is doubtlessly the most important meal of the day.


Sugar Tits Cereal http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgtvBzd2nhg