Western-style food refers to the food or dinner cooked according to the customs of western countries. Western-style food is originated in Europe and the European cooking methods were conveyed2 by an Italian—Martin Polo to China. Later, after the Opium3 War, it was transferred from “residential4 dish” to “western restaurant” and then “western-style food restaurant” run by Chinese people. It was only served for some officials and business men.
In recent years, the number of foreign guests increased rapidly. More and more hotels have western-style food services. At the same time, more and more Chinese people have accustomed5 to  the hobby of eating western-style food.
When eating western-style food, you can talk with others freely and lightly. But, when you talk with others, don't chew the food in your mouth. Generally speaking, clean your lips with napkins6 before talking or drinking.
When eating western-style food, you can not hold the plate when eating; can not stab7 the food while eating the large piece of food. You should cut the food into small pieces and then put them into your mouth.
When eating western-style food, the way of eating is similar to the way of eating Cantonese food8. That is—drink soup first and then eat the dishes. When drinking the soup, and hold the spoon with right hand, the spoon should face the outer side to ladle out9 the soup, and then put it into the mouth. Don't make any sound while drinking the soup.
When eating western-style food, the bones and thorns should not be put into the mouth when you meet the dishes which have them. The food which already eaten into the mouth can not be spit out. So you should know the food you eat when eating western-style food. For the food which you are not so sure or the food which you don't like, then you'd better not put them into your mouth.
When eating western-style food, if you leave the table without finishing the dinner, you should put the knife and fork crossed beside the plate, let the edge of the knife faces inside. If you have finished your meal, you should put the knife and fork side by side to show that the plate can be removed.

---

西餐泛指根据西方国家饮食习惯烹制出的菜点。西餐起源于欧洲，最早是由意大利人马丁·波罗将某些欧洲菜肴制作方法传到中国。鸦片战争后，洋人的“家常菜”演变为后来的“西餐厅”，及至中国人经营的“番菜馆”，仅限于官僚和商人享用。
近年来，外国游客不断增多，很多饭店都有西餐服务，同时越来越多的中国人也有了吃西餐的爱好。
吃西餐时，桌上你可以和其他人轻松自由地交谈。但是说话时嘴里不要嚼食物，通常说话前或喝酒前都要用餐巾擦一下嘴。
吃西餐时，不能端着盘子进餐；吃大块食物时，不能用刀扎着食用，而应将食物切成小块，再送入口中。
吃西餐时，跟中国广东菜吃法有点相似，先喝汤后吃菜。喝汤时，右手拿汤勺，勺口朝外舀，舀上后再送入口中，喝汤时不能发出任何声响。
吃西餐时，如遇到带骨头和带刺的菜肴，一般骨头、鱼刺不进口，而且吃进口里的食物不能再吐出来。所以吃西餐时要对菜肴有所了解，没有把握或是不爱吃的菜就不要放入口中。
吃西餐时，如席间用餐未完但有事离座，应将刀、叉交叉放在盘边，刀口朝内；如用餐完毕，表示可以撤走餐盘，则将刀叉并排放入盘中即可。

 

1. etiquette  n. 礼节，礼仪
2. convey v. 传入；搬运
3. opium  n. 鸦片
4. residential  adj. 住宅的
5. accustom  v. 使习惯于
6. napkin n. 餐巾，餐巾纸
7. stab  v. 刺，扎
8. Cantonese food 广东菜
9. ladle out 舀出 ladle  v. （用勺）舀