6/ Table manners

Although rules regarding (относительно, касательно) table manners are not very strict (жестокие, требовательные) in Britain, it is considered rude to eat and drink noisily. At formal meals, the cutlery (ножи) is placed in the order in which it will be used, starting from the outside and working in. The dessert spoon and fork are usually laid at the top of your place setting, not at the side.

After each course, the knife and fork should be laid side by side in the middle of the plate. This shows that you have finished and the plate can be removed. If you leave the knife and fork apart (в стороне, отдельно), it will show that you have not yet finished eating.

It is considered impolite to smoke between courses unless your hosts say otherwise. It is polite to ask permission before you smoke in people’s homes.

In Britain, smoking is now forbidden in many public places, e.g. in shops, in theatres and in cinemas.

The ABC of table manners:

1. Do not attract undue (чрезмерное) attention to yourself in public.

2. When eating take as much as you want, but eat as much as you take.

3. Do not eat too fast or too slowly, cut as you eat.

4. Take a little of every dish that is offered to you.

5. Sit up straight and face the table, do not put your elbows on the table while eating.

6. Do not reach across the table – simply say: “Would you please pass the salt”, etc.

7. At a small party do not start eating until all are served. At a large party it is not necessary to wait for all. The hostess gives a signal to her guests by saying:”Start eating, please (your food will get cold).

8. There is no rule about eating everything on your plate, to indicate that you have had enough place the knife and fork together, not criss-cross.

9. When refusing a dish or helping simply say:”No, thank you,” when accepting – “Yes, please”.

10. Do not leave the spoon in your cup, when drinking tea or coffee.

11. Do not empty your glass in one gulp/ at a gulp (too quickly).

8/Advantages and disadvantages of eating out

Eating out can be a fun thing to do with your family and friends. Going to a restaurant to enjoy a freshly cooked meal that you do not have to clean up after is a fun way to relax. Many restaurants also serve food that many people do not have the time to cook on their own or do not know how to prepare.

There are some disadvantages to eating out, however. One problem with eating at a restaurant is that it is more expensive than eating at home. Since there are so many people who work at restaurants who all need to be paid, it costs a lot more than buying the ingredients at the grocery store and making dinner at home.

Another problem with eating out is that it can be unhealthy. You don't prepare the food yourself, so sometimes it's hard to know which ingredients are going into your meal. This can be a problem for people who avoid certain ingredients because of health problems or for people who are trying to stop eating fat, sugar or preservatives. This is especially true at fast food restaurants, which often have fatty, sugary foods.

In general, eating in is always a reasonable choice for anybody. That's because you want to enjoy your private special soup or improve your relationship between members in your family, or maybe because you want to save your money.