During a meal, it is common to encounter awkward situations such as food getting stuck between your teeth, accidentally dropping your cutlery, or even finding foreign objects in your dish. Improper handling can give the impression of being impolite, and even worse, it can ruin your own and others' appetite. To navigate these situations gracefully and handle them properly, one should pay attention to the eight "don'ts" of dining etiquette.
1. Avoid wearing strong perfume, so as not to overpower the scent of the food.
2. When attending a formal dinner, ladies should avoid wearing hats and high boots.
3. If your cutlery or napkin drops on the floor, do not crawl under the table to pick it up. Instead, ask a waiter to provide you with a new one.
4. When food gets stuck between your teeth, do not frantically use a toothpick to remove it. Try drinking some water to see if the situation improves. If not, go to the restroom to deal with it.
5. If you find a foreign object in your dish, do not panic and alert your neighbor, as it may affect their appetite. Stay calm, quickly use a napkin to pick it out and discard it.
6. Avoid unconsciously waving your cutlery around while engaged in lively conversation.
7. Do not spit food out while eating. If you encounter something too spicy or hot, you can quickly drink some ice water to adjust. If you really cannot eat it, go to the restroom to deal with it.
8. Ladies should remove their lipstick before the meal to avoid leaving lip prints on glasses or tableware, which can give an impression of being unclean.