英国餐桌礼仪(中英文)

The Role of Manners?

There is not much call for a complete working knowledge of table manners in America today. Many families only gather all at once around the dinner table at holiday feasts, and most restaurants are too casual to require, or even to allow for, more than basic good table manners. If, having dropped his napkin, a diner at a bistro were to attempt to practice proper etiquette by signaling a member of the staff to bring a fresh one, he would probably have to do without a napkin at all. Try as he might to make eye contact and indicate the nature of the problem with a subtle wiggle of the eyebrow and downward flicker of the glance, he is likely to succeed only in causing his date to think he is making a play for the server. Although strict good manners forbid placing a used eating utensil back on the table, the server removing a plate on which a fork has quite properly been positioned "pointing at 11 o'clock" might just plop that item back where it started, making more of a clatter than if the diner had simply done it herself.

From time to time -- perhaps at an important business dinner, a romantic date at an expensive restaurant, or a first dinner with the family of the person who may be "the One" -- it is necessary to display a more sophisticated knowledge of table etiquette. This is not difficult, once you have mastered the basics. Anyone armed with this core knowledge and the ability to adapt smoothly to the situation at hand will be able to handle even the most formal event. The goal is not, after all, to demonstrate utter mastery of the most arcane details of etiquette (which would be quite difficult considering the wide variations of customs in different cultures and from generation to generation), but rather to behave with graciousness and poise at the table.

Mastering the Basics

Much of the difficulty encountered in learning table manners derives from the struggle to master the ritual handling of the various tools involved. In order to display the right social veneer, it is necessary to sit at the table with elegant ease and wield the utensils with aplomb. The diner who leaves the napkin folded on his plate until it obstructs the placement of his appetizer plate reveals his lack of training. The dinner party guest who observes with dismay the array of flatware on either side of her plate, need only take the time to learn the simple secret to the plan. There are, of course, a few tips and pitfalls to be aware of, as well as the occasional surprising item you can eat with your hands. Here is a quick guide which will help steer you through even the most formal of occasions.本回答被提问者采纳

Table
Manners
in
England
(UK)
The
British
generally
pay
a
lot
of
attention
to
good
table
manners.
Even
young
children
are
expected
to
eat
properly
with
knife
and
fork.
We
eat
most
of
our
food
with
cutlery.
The
foods
we
don't
eat
with
a
knife,
fork
or
spoon
include
sandwiches,
crisps,
corn
on
the
cob,
and
fruit.
Things
you
should
do:
If
you
cannot
eat
a
certain
type
of
food
or
have
some
special
needs,
tell
your
host
several
days
before
the
dinner
party.
If
you
are
a
guest,
it
is
polite
to
wait
until
your
host
starts
eating
or
indicates
you
should
do
so.
It
shows
consideration.
Always
chew
and
swallow
all
the
food
in
your
mouth
before
taking
more
or
taking
a
drink.
You
may
eat
chicken
and
pizza
with
your
fingers
if
you
are
at
a
barbecue,
finger
buffet
or
very
informal
setting.
Otherwise
always
use
a
knife
and
fork.
Always
say
thank
you
when
served
something.
It
shows
appreciation.
When
eating
rolls,
break
off
a
piece
of
bread
before
buttering.
Eating
it
whole
looks
tacky.
When
eating
soup,
tip
the
bowl
away
from
you
and
scoop
the
soup
up
with
your
spoon.
When
you
have
finished
eating,
and
to
let
others
know
that
you
have,
place
your
knife
and
folk
together,
with
the
prongs
(tines)
on
the
fork
facing
upwards,
on
your
plate.
In
a
restaurant,
it
is
normal
to
pay
for
your
food
by
putting
your
money
on
the
plate
the
bill
comes
on.
Things
you
should
not
do:
Never
lick
or
put
your
knife
in
your
mouth.
It
is
impolite
to
start
eating
before
everyone
has
been
served
unless
your
host
says
that
you
don't
need
to
wait.
Never
chew
with
your
mouth
open.
No
one
wants
to
see
food
being
chewed
or
hearing
it
being
chomped
on.
It
is
impolite
to
have
your
elbows
on
the
table
while
you
are
eating.
Don't
reach
over
someone's
plate
for
something,
ask
for
the
item
to
be
passed.
Never
talk
with
food
in
your
mouth.
It
is
impolite
to
put
too
much
food
in
your
mouth.
Never
use
your
fingers
to
push
food
onto
your
spoon
or
fork.
It
is
impolite
to
slurp
your
food
or
eat
noisily.
Never
blow
your
nose
on
a
napkin
(serviette).
Napkins
are
for
dabbing
your
lips
and
only
for
that.
Never
take
food
from
your
neighbours
plate.
Never
pick
food
out
of
your
teeth
with
your
fingernails.
Things
that
are
ok
to
do:
It
is
ok
to
eat
and
drink
something
while
walking
down
the
street,
unless
you
want
to
seem
posh.
It
is
ok
to
pour
your
own
drink
when
eating
with
other
people,
but
it
is
more
polite
to
offer
pouring
drinks
to
the
people
sitting
on
either
side
of
you.
It
is
ok
to
put
milk
and
sugar
in
your
tea
and
coffee
or
to
drink
them
both
without
either.
I
am
not
used
to
eating
with
a
knife
and
fork.
What
do
I
need
to
know?
We
eat
continental
style,
with
fork
in
the
left
hand
and
the
knife
in
the
right
(or
the
other
way
round
if
you
are
left
handed).
At
the
top
of
your
plate
will
be
a
dessert
spoon
and
dessert
fork.
If
you
are
eating
at
a
formal
dinner
party,
you
will
come
across
many
knives
and
forks.
Start
with
the
utensils
on
the
outside
and
work
your
way
inward
with
each
subsequent
course
How
to
eat
with
a
knife
and
fork
in
England
The
fork
is
held
in
the
left
hand
and
the
knife
in
the
right.
If
you
have
a
knife
in
one
hand,
it
is
wrong
to
have
a
fork
in
the
other
with
the
prongs
(tines)
pointed
up.
Hold
your
knife
with
the
handle
in
your
palm
and
your
folk
in
the
other
hand
with
the
prongs
pointing
downwards.