|
Country |
Etiquette Custom |
Food/Recipes Ideas |
|
Venezuela |
Dining Etiquette
If you are invited to a Venezuelan's house:
Arrive 15 to 30 minutes later than invited.
Arriving on time or early shows that you are too eager, which is
interpreted as greedy.
Dress conservatively but with an elegant flair. Smart casual dress
is usually acceptable.
Never decline an offer of coffee, as it is a symbol of hospitality
to Venezuelans.
Table manners
- Wait for the host or hostess to tell you where to sit. There
may be a seating plan.
- Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand
and the knife in the right while eating.
- Do not begin eating until all other diners are seated, unless
encouraged by the host to start.
- The host saying 'buen provecho' (enjoy or have a good meal) is the
customary invitation for everyone to eat.
- In most cases, a maid or server will place food on your plate,
although large dinner parties may be buffet style.
- Always keep your hands visible when eating, but do not rest your
elbows on the table.
- Food is always eaten with utensils. Even fruit is eaten with a
knife and fork.
- Keep your napkin on your lap while eating.
Wait for a toast to be made before taking the first sip of your
drink. Venezuelans typically toast with the word 'salud'.
- The host makes the first toast.
- When not using utensils, rest the tips on the edge of the plate
with the handles resting on the table.
- It is considered polite to leave a small amount of food on your
plate when you have finished eating.
- When you have finished eating, place your knife and fork
diagonally across the plate with the prongs facing down and the
handles facing to the right |
Black beans and rice
Chicken
Fruit
|
|
New Zealand |
Dining Etiquette
- Remove your shoes at the door
- Wait to be told where to sit.
Table manners
- Meals are often served family-style.
- Keep your elbows off the table and your hands above the table when
eating.
- Table manners are Continental -- hold the fork in the left hand
and the knife in the right while eating.
- Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork
parallel on your plate with the handles facing to the right. |
Shepherd’s pie
Chocolate cake with heavy cream drizzled over top |
|
Egypt |
Dining Etiquette
- If you are invited into an Egyptian's house:
You would normally remove your shoes before entering.
- Dress well and conservatively. Appearances are important to
Egyptians.
- Compliment the host on the house.
Table manners
- Wait for the host or hostess to tell you where to sit.
- Eat with the right hand only.
- It is considered a sincere compliment to take second helpings.
- Always show appreciation for the meal.
- Salting your food is considered an insult.
- Leave a small amount of food on your plate when you have finished
eating. Otherwise they will keep filling it up for you! |
Couscous
Flat bread
Humus?
Babaganoush?
Pineapple rice dessert |
|
Cook Islands |
Dining Etiquette
- Guests are presented with a lei
- It is considered bad luck to throw a lei away. When the lei is
no longer wearable, some people cut the string and cast the
individual flowers into the ocean. Others may hang the withering lei
somewhere inside or outside the house. A lei is love, and one
doesn't throw away love.
- Older people may be called "auntie" or "uncle" by friends,
neighbors, and even complete strangers. No blood relationship is
implied. While "aunties" and "uncles" are often old family friends,
it can also be appropriate to address an elderly stranger as
"auntie" or "uncle." This is considered respectful but friendly. The
use of formal titles such as "Mr." or "Mrs." feels cold and
unfriendly to many island residents.
- Everyone is expected to remove his/her footwear (if wearing
any) before entering a home or other place of residence
Table manners
- Eat with hands
- Okay to Burp after meal |
Chicken or pork
Rice
Kumara (sliced sweet potato)
Rukau (creamed spinach)
Pawpaw w/ ice cream or mangoes/bananas/pineapple/starfruit |
|
China |
Dining Etiquette
- Arrive on time.
- Remove your shoes before entering the house.
- Bring a small gift to the hostess.
- Eat well to demonstrate that you are enjoying the food!
Table manners
- Learn to use chopsticks.
- Wait to be told where to sit. The guest of honor will be given a
seat facing the door.
- The host begins eating first.
- You should try everything that is offered to you.
- Never eat the last piece from the serving tray.
- Be observant to other peoples' needs.
- Chopsticks should be returned to the chopstick rest after every
few bites and when you drink or stop to speak.
- The host offers the first toast.
- Do not put bones in your bowl. Place them on the table or in a
special bowl for that purpose.
- Hold the rice bowl close to your mouth while eating.
- Make slurping or belching sounds; it merely indicates that they
are enjoying their food. |
White Rice
Stir fry
Potstickers
Rice pudding mixed with fruit (cherries/dates)
Mandarin oranges
Mango
Fortune cookies (not originally a Chinese dessert) |
|
England |
Dining Etiquette
- Always be punctual in England. Arriving a few minutes early for
safety is acceptable.
- A simple handshake is the standard greeting (for both men and
women) for business occasions and for visiting a home.
- Eye contact is seldom kept during British conversations.
- To signal that something is to be kept confidential or secret,
tap your nose.
Table manners
- Put knife in our right hand and a fork in the left, and neither
is laid down until the end of the meal. Then they are placed
together vertically on the plate. Everything is cut and then eaten
from the fork in the left hand. No elbows on the table; eat
everything on your plate |
Fish and chips
Salt, malt vinegar, tomato sauce (ketchup)
Yorkshire pudding
Trifle
Beef roast |
|
Italy |
Dining Etiquette
- Arrive 30 minutes late in most places (check with colleagues to
see if you should arrive later than that).
- Arriving on time or early is considered inappropriate.
- At a large party you may introduce yourself.
- At a smaller gathering the host usually handles the introductions.
Table manners
- Always keep your hands visible when eating.
- Keep your wrists resting on the edge of the table.
- When you have finished eating, place your knife and fork across
your plate with the prongs facing down and the handles facing to the
right.
- Do not sit down until you are invited to and told where to sit.
- Do not begin eating until the hostess starts.
- Only men give toasts.
- It is polite to leave some food on your plate after a meal.
- Do not eat spaghetti with a fork and spoon! |
Spaghetti and meatballs
Biscotti and hot chocolate |