Some suggestions of basic table manners

As you know, China has the longest continue civilization in the world. Therefore, China has developed a set of specific regulations including table manners for us to follow. In general, Chinese table manners are not very different from the western ones, however, since these two cultures had developed separately for many centuries. As a result, there are still slight differences between them. If we live in the western world, it is a good practice to following their rules of the game when we are around them. As I always say "Acting like an American if we are around Americans, and acting like a Chinese if we are around Chinese" I think in most cases, being polite and having good manners is being considerate to others.

I don't think that I am an expert on manners, and I don't even think that I know the table manners very well. However, since I am a detail oriented person, and I have learned a lot from others in this forum, I would like to share some of my observations of table manners with you.

1. Sitting straight while we eat is a basic requirement, which is true for both Chinese and western table manners.

2. Don't make any noise while we chew on the food that is true for both Chinese and western table manners.

3. Never open our month when we chew on food.

4. Do not let the silverware scratch the plate/bowl, since that will make a terrible noise.

5. Never sucking fingers in front of others.

6. Don't use bread to dip in the sauce in our plate; I think you can do that at home in front of your hubby though.

7. Never chew on bones in front of others, if you don't  want disgust your husband/wife.

8. The western table manners also require that you push the soup spoon away (outward) from us when eating soup.

9. When eating the appetizer, main course, desert…etc, cut a bite size of food, put it entirely into our mouth, then cut another piece, never cut all the food up.

10. When we eat soup, don't suck on the soup from our spoon, since that will make noise.

11. Teaspoon is used for stirring coffee or tea, never use it to drink coffee, I have never seen anyone do that anyway.

12. If we go to a formal dinner, there will be several utensils in front of you, use the outer ones first, then the inner ones.

13. Eating Chinese noodle soup at home, that is a challenge for me. I usually use a Chinese spoon and chopsticks, use the chopsticks to pick up some noodles into the Chinese spoon, and put them entirely into the mouth. That can avoid the noodles hanging out from our mouth.

14. Do not burp (belch) in front of others, you may do that in front of you hubby though

15. Trying to eat slowly will always help too