In Europe, people generally hold the dinner knife in their right hand and the fork in their left while dining. In the United States, people typically use only their right hand to eat, keeping their left hand on the table or in their lap. If it is necessary to cut a piece of meat, the fork is transferred to the left hand, and the knife is held in the right hand to cut. Afterward, the knife is set down, and the fork is picked up with the right hand to spear the meat. At this point, one might suddenly decide to take a sip of coffee or orange juice, so the fork is set down again to pick up the cup. Europeans often drink coffee after a meal, while Americans drink coffee throughout the meal. In short, Americans are always busy moving their left and right hands at the dinner table. Some jokingly say that Americans can use a lunar rover to walk on the moon and send photos back to Earth, but they cannot use their knives and forks properly. Americans also differ from Europeans in that they never use a fork or knife to eat bread. They cut the bread first and use their hands to bring it to their mouths. When attending a formal dinner in the United States, you will find the table filled with knives, forks, and spoons, which can be dazzling. However, there is no need to worry; simply pick them up one by one in the order they are placed, from the outside of the plate toward the inside. The small fork on the left is for salad. The spoon on the right is for soup. There is a small knife on the table called a butter knife, placed above the butter dish or to the left of the bread plate. When bread is passed around, you may take a slice and place it on your own plate. Next to the spoon is a dull knife used for cutting fish or chicken. Using these knives, forks, and spoons in an orderly manner at the dinner table will make you appear cultured and demonstrate "table manners."
During the meal, it is best not to leave your spoon in the soup bowl, coffee cup, or other dishes. The coffee spoon must be placed on the saucer, and the soup spoon must be placed on the underplate beneath the soup bowl. It is best not to make noise while drinking soup, and you should not lift the soup bowl even when reaching the last spoonful. Generally, there is only one main course and a salad, followed by dessert. If the host does not serve you enough meat, you can compliment the dish by saying "It's delicious" and ask for more. The host will be very pleased that you praised her cooking skills and will gladly serve you more. It is impolite to remain silent or ignore the person sitting next to you at the table. Use knives, forks, and spoons gently and avoid clinking them. Do not burp in front of others. Generally, do not smoke at the dinner table. After finishing the meal, place your napkin on the table; do not fold it back to its original state. When leaving the table, first help the lady next to you with her chair. After the meal, guests usually stay for another 1-2 hours. When leaving, you should say, "Thank you, I think I should be going." The host will certainly not force the guest to stay, but may say, "Really leaving? Won't you have another cup of coffee?" At this point, the guest often says, "I would love to stay a while longer, but I have to get up early tomorrow. I had a wonderful time tonight, thank you so much. Good night." If you stay overnight or spend the weekend at a host's home, you should write a thank-you note immediately afterward and include a small gift, such as a box of chocolates or a bouquet of flowers.
If a friend invites you out for lunch, you might say, "It's best to find a cheap restaurant; I'm a bit short on money."
The friend might say, "Okay, let's go to McDonald's." This meal implies that each person pays for themselves, which is what people often call "going Dutch." The friend might also say, "I'd like to take you to Johnson's Restaurant for lunch. I want you to try the steak there; it's fantastic." This means the friend intends to pay for you. If you think highly of this friend, you do not need to decline the invitation; instead, you should say, "Thank you, that sounds great." The practice of paying separately is common in many countries. While American women are accustomed to men paying for meals when dining together, nowadays, female college students or businesswomen in the United States often pay for their own meals as well. If a man invites a woman to a special occasion outside of work, such as a cocktail party, dinner, dance, or movie, this invitation implies "you are my guest." Before accepting an invitation, it is best to clarify the other person's intentions to avoid embarrassment or losing face.