Africa In many African countries, eating is done without cutlery, with the right hand, from a communal dish (or dishes). Muslims often say grace (bismillah) before dining.[edit] Tanzanian table manners It is rude to show up early at dinner; try to be 15–30 minutes later than expected. It is considered pretentious to use forks or knives to eat Chapati or Ugali. If eating on a mat or carpet, do not expose the sole of your foot, it is considered very rude. Children may eat with the adults if instructed to do so. Many Tanzanian table manners are similar to British table manners. It is considered rude to talk or laugh with food in your mouth. Let the host know how good the meal is, but don't exaggerate; it might be taken the wrong way. Avoid touching your face, nose, ears and hair while eating. It is rude to drink beer straight from the bottle; you are expected to pour it into a glass. In some regions like Zanzibar, some dinner tables are gender-segregated. [edit] Asia and Oceania [edit] Afghan table manners The breaking of bread, a common mealtime food Guests are always seated farthest from the door; when there are no guests the grandparents are seated farthest away from the door. Depending on the customs of the household, a prayer may be offered before and/or after the meal. Guests are offered food first and expected to eat the most, while the hosts begin to eat last and the least. Guests should refrain from eating too much, unless the hosts coaxes them to eat more, which he/she almost always will. A host who coaxes his/her guests is considered a good, gracious host. The host should always ask at least three times if the guest wants more food, and the guest should refuse at least three times. Guests are always given the best portions of the food. Refusing to eat however is considered bad manners, and guests should eat. Likewise, failure to offer food or to be attentive is considered bad manners for a host. Traditionally food is eaten with bare hands. However, cutlery is sometimes provided, depending on the private culture of the host. Only the right hand should be used when eating with your hands. There are proper ways of picking up rice and other loose food without spilling any, which one should learn and practice. Wasting food is frowned upon. When cutlery is provided it is usually a spoon and fork, since there is seldom need for the use of a knife when eating Afghani food. Even when cutlery is provided it is acceptable to eat with your hands as well. Soup may be eaten by soaking bread in it. Food remnants should be collected with slices of bread. Sometimes it is common to eat collectively from one large plate. One should always eat from one's own side. If bread is dropped on the floor while eating at a table, the bread should be picked up, kissed, and put to one's forehead before putting the bread back somewhere other than the floor. If eating on the floor, make sure that your feet do not touch the food. Compliments to the chef are customary; however, compliments should be acknowledged with extreme modesty. Traditionally, service during dinner is performed by the oldest. First, water is brought in a jug with a very large saucer to wash the hands. The jug and saucer usually are made of some sort of metal. The food is then served. This may be followed by fruit and then tea. Tea is served after dinner, with dried fruits, sweets, and sugar cubes. When tea is served, the cup of a guest must never be empty, and snacks must be offered. The guest should never be asked if he or she wants tea. The host should simply serve the tea. A guest never serves him or herself tea, nor performs a refill. The host must be attentive and refill tea cups until the guest is satiated. Afghans drink a great amount of tea and having 2-3 cups of tea at a sitting is common. Once the guest has finished drinking tea, the guest can flip their tea cup over to signal that they are done. Eating or talking with one's mouth full is frowned upon. Even if one is extremely hungry, one should refrain from being over zealous at the table. One must never sit with one's back to anyone, especially an elder or a guest. One must never sit with feet stretched out toward anyone, especially an elder or a guest. After eating, the jug of water is brought out again to wash hands. A towel may be provided. [edit] Chinese table manners It has been suggested that Chinese table manner be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)Generally, Chinese table manners are more informal than the West, although there are more rules concerning interactions with other guests due to high levels of social interaction as a result of the communal style of serving.[edit] Chopstick usage It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Eating utensil etiquette. (Discuss)Chopsticks should always be held correctly, i.e. between the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand. When not in use, chopsticks must always be placed neatly on the table with two sticks lying tidily next to each other at both ends. Failure to do so is evocative of the way the dead would be placed in a coffin before the funeral and is a major faux pas. Chopsticks are traditionally held in the right hand only, even for the left-handed. Although chopsticks may now be found in either hand, a few still consider left-handed chopstick use improper etiquette. One explanation for the treatment of such usage as improper is that within the confines of a round table this may be inconvenient. Never point the chopsticks at another person. This amounts to insulting that person and is a major faux pas. Never wave your chopsticks around as if they were an extension of your hand gestures. Never bang chopsticks like drumsticks. This is akin to telling others at the table you are a beggar. Never use chopsticks to move bowls or plates. Never suck the chopsticks. Decide what to pick up before reaching with chopsticks, instead of hovering them over or rummaging through dishes. To keep chopsticks off the table, they can be rested horizontally on one's plate or bowl; a chopstick rest (commonly found in restaurants) can also be used. When picking up a piece of food, never use the tips of your chopsticks to poke through the food as with a fork; exceptions include tearing apart larger items such as vegetables. In more informal settings, smaller items or those more difficult to pick up such as cherry tomatoes or fishballs may be stabbed, but this is frowned upon by traditionalists. Never stab chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice, as this resembles incense sticks used at temples to pay respects to the deceased. This is considered the ultimate dinner table faux pas. .