A multicourse meal

A modern multicourse meal will typically consist of several of the fol­lowing meal courses, as well as suitable beverages to fit the course being served:

• Appetizer or starter with 1st wine, typically a white wine

• Salad

• Soup

• Main course with 2nd wine, typically a red wine

• Dessert with a dessert wine

• After-dinner coffee with liqueur, brandy, cognac or grappa

Unit 7. Restaurants

• Fruit and cheese

There may be drinks and snacks served both before and after the meal.

There may be served something to clean the palate between courses, such as a sorbet.

The order of the courses will likely vary depending on local custom.

Customs, traditions, and etiquette

Customs and traditions regarding eating and meals varies from coun­try to country, as well as within countries, based on such factors as re­gional differences, social class, education, and religion. In a complex, multi-cultural society there is increased risk of different customs and tra­ditions clashing. What is correct behaviour, and what is not, and in what circumstances is the provenance of etiquette.

Examples of different customs and traditions:

Food in some cultures is eaten from individual plates or bowls, while in other cultures people eat from a common one. Even where people tend to eat from individual plates, there may be exceptions, as in the case of some small pieces of food that can be held in the hand easily, such as cookies or some snack foods, where it is common to eat from a com­mon plate, biscuit tin, or similar container.

Different cultures might have different rules for eating the same item. In the USA people eat sausages in a bun, or with a knife and fork, while in some countries in Europe sausages are held between the fingers while being eaten.

In some cultures, it is considered proper to wait until everyone is seat­ed before starting to eat, while in other cultures it is not an issue.

In some cultures it is considered proper to wait for the host to give the command before guests sit at the table for a meal, while in other cultures there are different rules.

In some religions, people pray or read aloud from a religious text be­fore and possibly also after eating. In diverse, religiously mixed compa­ny where some people might want to pray, and others might not, it may be proper etiquette to allow for a short time of silence allowing those who want to do so, the chance to pray.

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