Don’t crowd the buffet Don’t graze, take what you want and walk away Appetizers may be eaten with your fingers, unless very elaborate When in doubt, follow your host

Host will signal when to be seated at the dining table
Wait until all are served before beginning to eat

1. Food Culture &
Dining Etiquette

2. Case Study
You invited your Western friend Jane home
for dinner. Your family prepared a big mean
in honor 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…

3. 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?

4. 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)

5. Culture Notes
Delicacies: When Westerners host guests to
a meal, like Chinese, they will generally try to
serve guests a special dinner. However, they
often don’t go to as much effort and
expense to serve delicacies as the Chinese
would

6. 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

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

8. Table Setting (Casual)

9. Table Settings (Fine Dining)

10. Table Settings (Semi Formal)

11. Table Settings (Semi-Formal)

12. Table Settings (Formal)

13. Casual Setting

14. Formal Setting

15. 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)

16. 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)

17. 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.)

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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.