Food Culture & Dining Etiquette

Unit Three

Case Study You invited your Western friend Jane home

for dinner. Your family prepared a big mean in honour of your guest, with lost of local Chinese specialties. However, soon after the meal began, you all noticed that Jane wasn’t eating very much, you encouraged her to eat more…

Each time you urged her to eat more, she would comment on how wonderful all the food was, and would eat a little bit more, but she still didn’t eat very much.

Why do you think Jane ate so little?

Possibilities Jane isn’t very accustomed to Chinese food or

doesn’t like it very much Jane wasn’t feeling well and didn’t feel like eating

much Jane may be on some kind of diet (lose weight,

medical reasons like high cholesterol or food allergies)

Food taboos (for religious or moral reasons, vegetarian)

Culture Notes Delicacies: When Western host guests to a

meal, like Chinese, they will generally try to serve guests a meal that is special. However, they often don’t go to as much effort and expense to serve delicacies as Chinese would

Other possible reasons Westerners might hesitate to indulge at a Chinese banquet:

On a whole, Canadian and American cooking tends to be somewhat more bland than the cooking in most parts of China

Some Westerners have allergic reactions to MSG Some religions won’t drink alcoholic beverages

Sequence of Course Serving Appetizer (cold or hot) Soup/Salad Fish (or sea food) The Main Course Dessert Black tea or coffee

Table Setting (Casual)

Table Settings (Fine Dining)

Table Settings (Semi Formal)

Table Settings (Semi-Formal)

Table Settings (Formal)

Casual Setting

Formal Setting

Guest Etiquette Taboos: if you have a special diet, let your

host know in advance. This is better than leaving food uneaten

Gifts: When you are invited to someone’s home, bring along a token of your appreciation (e.g. a jar of homemade jam, a bottle of wine)

Guest Etiquette Posture: take your seat from the left of the

chair Do no slouch, elbows off the table close to

your body Do not rock back in the dining chair Napkin given goes on lap (used to be

tucked in to top of the shirt)

Guest Etiquette When at a restaurant: women’s orders are

often taken before men’s. Do not order one of the most expensive

items on the menu or more than two courses unless your hosts indicates that it is all right (work dinner, meeting someone important etc.)

Guest Etiquette When Eating: you work your way from the

outside to the inside with your cutlery Small fork & knife, medium sized fork &

knife; large fork & knife To show that you are finished eating you

lay your knife and fork together on your plate delicately

When eating: it is polite to not start eating until everyone has received their food

If people are ordering food that naturally takes longer (well done steak etc.) they will most likely tell you that you can start without them

Usually a restaurant will bring everything out together but if not, keep this in mind

Guest Etiquette When Drinking: you may sip on your drink

whenever you feel like it and this does not mean that everyone should drink with you

Usually when all the drinks have arrived, there is one initial ‘cheers’ and then no more unless it is a very special occasion

Always ensure your water is always full to avoid getting drunk

Guest Etiquette Noises: turn off your cell phone until the dinner is

over Do not slurp soup (try to avoid blowing on hot

foods and beverages) Do not speak with your mouth full If you must blow your nose, excuse yourself from

the table If you burp, make it subtle and always excuse

yourself

Guest Etiquette Good-byes: when the meal or gathering is

over, be certain to personally thank your host and shake their hand

Tell them how much you have enjoyed yourself and hope to meet them again soon

Do not ask for a take-home bag of food but take one if they insist

Guest Etiquette Leave at an appropriate time You may hand out your business card only when

your hosts or other guests ask; but remember: Do not mix business and pleasure unless you are asked to

Follow Up: always send a thank-you note the next day. If you cannot find the time for this, call the next day to express your appreciation.