Scribd
Upload
75 views

Table Manners

Table manners vary across cultures. In India, it is customary to share food and offer guests food multiple times. It is considered respectful to finish everything on one's plate or take only what can be finished. In China, guests should wait to eat until the host invites them to do so. Chopsticks should be used properly without gestures or pointing. In Costa Rica, one should wait for the host to say "Buen Provecho" before eating and keep hands visible and on the table.

Uploaded by

DayiLii
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
75 views

Table Manners

Table manners vary across cultures. In India, it is customary to share food and offer guests food multiple times. It is considered respectful to finish everything on one's plate or take only what can be finished. In China, guests should wait to eat until the host invites them to do so. Chopsticks should be used properly without gestures or pointing. In Costa Rica, one should wait for the host to say "Buen Provecho" before eating and keep hands visible and on the table.

Uploaded by

DayiLii
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 2

Table Manners

Table Manners around the world


Table manners are the rules of etiquette used while eating, which may also include the
appropriate use of utensils. Different cultures observe different rules for table manners. Each
family or group sets its own standards for how strictly these rules are to be enforced.
Some examples of table manner around the world:

India:
Irrespective of whether one consumes food using cutlery or with their hand (typically
the right hand), one is expected to wash hands before and after consuming food.
During the course of the meal, cleaning one's eating hand with a cloth or paper
tissue is considered unhygienic, though with the advent of restaurant dining, it is
becoming more acceptable. One may be asked to wash their hands before and after
sitting down to a meal.
It is customary to share food with anyone who wants it; however, not from the plate
one is eating from.
It is rude for one's host to not offer guests food multiple times.
Similarly, it is expected that one should not leave the table before the host or until
the eldest person has finished their food.
It was not traditional to use dining napkins or paper tissues while eating, however,
this is now the case in most of North India. In South India, an unfolded long towel on
right shoulder is a tradition, which can be used to wipe one's hands after washing.
However, this is mostly followed only on formal occasions.
It is not necessary to taste each and every dish prepared, but one should finish
everything on the plate as it is considered a respect for served food, and food is
sacred. For this reason, one should take only as much food on the plate as they can
finish. However, this is not general phenomenon. Depending on the family or
community, one can leave the leftover food on the plate if they cannot eat any more.
Also, at many places, someone insisting someone to try a dish or serving special
dishes in excess, is considered as a sign of their affection towards them.
Playing with food or in any way distorting the food is unacceptable. Eating at a
medium pace is important, as eating too slowly may imply that you dislike the food,
whereas eating too quickly is rude.

China:

a. A round dining table is more popular than a rectangular or square one. As many
people who can be seated comfortably around it conveniently face one another. The
guest of honor is always seated to the right of the host; the next in line will sit on his
left. Guests should be seated after the host's invitation, and it is discourteous to seat
guests at the place where the dishes are served.
b. Dining may only begin once the host and all his guests are seated. The host
should actively take care of all his guests, inviting them to enjoy their meal.

c. On a typical Chinese dining table there are always a cup, a bowl on a small dish,
together with the chopsticks and spoons. Dishes are always presented in the center
of the table.

d. Apart from soup, all dishes should be eaten with chopsticks. The Chinese are
particular about the use of chopsticks. There are many no-no's such as twiddling with
chopsticks, licking chopsticks, or using them to stir up the food, gesture with them or
point them at others. Never stick chopsticks in the center of rice, as this is the way to
sacrifice and is therefore considered to be inauspicious.

e. Keep your dining pace accorded with other people. Never smoke when dining.

f. A formal dining is always accompanied by tea, beer or distilled spirit. The one who
sit closest to the teapot or wine bottle should pour them for others from the senior
and superior to the junior and inferior. And when other people fill your cup or glass,
you should express your thanks. Guests can not pour tea or wine themselves.

Costa Rica:
Do not begin eating your meal until you hear the host say “Buen Provecho”. Then it
is okay to begin eating.
The knife is always held in the left hand, and the fork in the right.
When a meal is finished, utensils are typically laid parallel to each other on the plate.
When not using your hands for eating, hands should always be kept on the table and
within sight. You can rest your hands and wrists on the table, but never your elbows.
When dining at a home, dishes are always passed to the left.
Never cut your salad with a knife, instead bunch the lettuce up on your fork.
The most honored position is at the head of the table. If there are two hosts, one will
be at each end of the table. Male guests will sit to the right of the main host, and
females will sit to the left.
When it comes to paying the bill, it is customary for the one who invited the guests to
pay the bill. This can change, however, and is sometimes determined by rank.
Tipping 10% at restaurants is sufficient.

You might also like