©Please don't slurp the soup.......

Below is a very interesting email I'd like to share.........

Sent:

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

9:37 PM

To: the wine group
Subject: table manners - please don't slurp the soup

Dear all:

Hope you are all doing well.  This is going to be a very special note.

I couldn’t help sharing one thought with all of you here – a sound of slurping the miso soup at our wine tasting on 7/10^th at Tokyo Star in Redwood City, has bothered me all the way till now. 

As someone who meets with people for a lunch or dinner so often, I’ve encountered some really sloppy eaters – I put them in a no table manner category.  But the loud sound of slurping the miso soup with the delicate wine tasting just doesn’t come together and can’t be tolerated.  That sound came right after Laurent (our tasting instructor) said “we can eat and taste at the same time”.

No offend to anyone.  Slurping the soup may be not considered as a bad table manner in Chinese culture – as same as eating noodles at Chinese restraunnt.  I feel I need to point it out so we are all aware of the table manners as an executive & sophisticated business owner.  Below are the basics of table manners every one need to know –

1. Don’t talk when the mouth full – you can run a test on this.  Observe your Chinese colleagues/friends when they eating and you’ll be surprised to see how high the ratio is.

2. Always make sure no food in the mouth when drink water, wine or any other drinks at the table.

3. Always use the napkins to wipe the mouth before drinking

4. Always place the napkin on the lap - except eating some special food like lobster.

5. Bring the food to the month. Keep the upper body straight.  Don’t put your head down towards the food.

6. Don’t make any noises when eating i.e. slurping soup, noodles & smack your mouth.

7. Leave the napkins on the chair not on the table when you go to bathroom.  Only leave the napkins on the table when the dinner is finished and everyone is ready to go.

More....

Please forgive me, if I am being too straight & direct here.

Again, this slurping sound has followed me for so many days and I got to get it out…….

Vida