Table Manners and Etiquettes in America
Cut large pieces of meat, potatoes and vegetables into bite size pieces. Eat the pieces one at a time.
Some foods may be eaten with your fingers. If you are not sure if it is proper to eat something by picking it up with your fingers watch what others do before doing so yourself.
Sit up straight at the table, never lean backward, nor forward and also never let the elbows touch the table. This makes a good impression. When you are not eating, keep your hands on your lap or rest on the table.
At the completion of a meal, carefully place the napkin at the left of your place setting or if the plates have been cleared, place the napkin in the center without actually refolding to original state.
Some of the rules mentioned here may be somewhat relaxed in informal settings.
The best way to learn good manners is to watch others. Observe the way your western friends eat. This is the best way to avoid making mistakes when you are unsure of what to do. If all of these are properly done, then just enjoy your meal.
资料来源：《酒店业英语》，上海交通大学出版社，2017.在线资源
While eating, remember not to talk with your mouth full of food.
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t the table, ask others to pass you dishes that are out of your reach. Good phrases to know are: “Please pass the ____” or “Could you hand me the ____, please?” If asked to pass the salt to someone, you should pass both the salt and pepper which are placed on the table together. Hand the salt and pepper to the person seated next to you. Do not reach over the person next to you to pass anything to others.lways put the napkin on your lap first. Before you leave the table, fold your napkin and put it beside your plate.
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s the meal is served, use the silverware farthest from the plate first. When eating something in a bowl, do not leave the spoon in the bowl. Put it on the plate beneath the bowl. Soup, as well as all American food is eaten quietly. Do not slurp the soup. The soup spoon is used by moving the spoon away from you. Do not over fill the spoon. The bowl may be tipped slightly away from you to allow the last bit of soup to be collected on the spoon. Do not pick the bowl up to hold it closer to your mouth. When you have finished your meal, place your knife and fork side by side on the plate. This signals that you have finished eating. Manners in every country are different. What is polite in China may not be polite in the United States. These basic rules will help you enjoy western food with your American friends.
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t the very beginning, a
