Eating together Unit 2 Knives and forks are used for most Western food. Reading and vocabulary Look at the photo of a Western meal. Talk about the differences between a Western meal and a Chinese meal. People use a knife and fork at a Western meal. Read the passage and answer the questions. Who is the passage written for? Where might you see a passage like this? Do as the Romans do We often say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." So when you eat Western food, do as Westerners do. Here are some things that you may need to know about eating together in the West. In some Western countries, lunch is usually eaten at about 1 pm. Dinner is served around 7 pm or even later. In Spain it is usual to have lunch at 3 pm and dinner at 10 pm! At the start of a meal, the French say "Bon appétit", and the Italians say "Buon appetito". But there is nothing similar to say in English. "Enjoy your meal" is usually only said by the person who brings the food. Knives and forks are used for most Western food. The fork is held in your left hand and the knife in your right, and the food is held with the fork and cut with the knife. Soup is eaten with a spoon. However, there is some food which you can eat with your fingers, such as chicken wings and hamburgers. During the meal, you may be invited to serve yourself (usually the ladies before the gentlemen) by someone who says, "Help yourself." Or you will be served by someone who asks, "Would you like some…?" You can take it and say, "Thank you." If you are given something you do not like, you can just say, for example, "I'm sorry. I don't eat meat", or "I don't eat fish". No one will be cross. If you are offered more food but cannot eat any more, just say, "No, thanks. It was delicious, but I've had enough." Remember that it is polite to say that you enjoy every dish when it is served, and that you have enjoyed the food at the end of a meal. It is sometimes difficult to know when the meal is over. If you are invited to dinner by Western friends, you will be expected to stay and talk around the dinner table long after the last dish is served, and it is not polite if you leave as soon as you finish eating. The rule is: Watch the other people. Do as they do.