If you are visiting in Germany, relax. They know that Americans have different rules to live by and will give you a lot of leeway. However, if you want to impress your German friends, here are a few dining tips.
Before going to the house, buy some flowers, wine or other small gift for the hostess. If you know you are going to be visiting around in Germany, it is nice to have some American specialties in your baggage, bring or buy wrapping paper for proper presentation and no, the Sunday funnies don’t cut it.
- Flowers should be bought in an odd number, 5, 7 or 9.
- Flowers should be kept in the florist wrap. The hostess can open and arrange them.
- Arrive on time.
- Greet everyone in the room with a handshake and a verbal greeting. “Guten Abend, Herr Schorf”, Good evening, Mr. Schorf, is acceptable.
- Do not take a seat at the table until invited to do so.
- Do not drink until everyone has been served and a toast has been made.
- Do not begin eating until everyone has been served, the host has said “Guten Appetit” (enjoy your meal), which you repeat, and the hostess picks up her fork to eat.
- Mash potatoes with your fork, and fold your lettuce, do not cut with a knife. These rules have to do with the knives tarnishing in the olden days when exposed to certain foodstuffs.
- Rest your left hand on the table, but not your elbows.
- Compliment the meal-preparer after tasting and once at the end of the meal, when thanking the hosts for a lovely time.
- Do not burp, and if you do, excuse yourself.
- The Germans eat continental style, with the fork in the left hand and the knife in the right. Unless you are very good at this, it is wiser to continue to eat as your parents taught you, except with your left hand on the table.
- Where do I put my knife and fork between spoonfuls? I wouldn’t worry too much about how you cross them on your plate. When you are finished eating, place them side by side on the plate and the napkin, folded, to the right. That should be enough to not disgrace yourself.
- Drink all your coffee. They will not refill a half-drunk coffee cup and if you wait too long for a warm-up, you will be drinking some cold, nasty coffee.
After dinner and a visit (not too short), take leave of the hosts first and then the other guests, usually with a handshake. At informal gatherings (a pub, a group of students), the crowd can be addressed by knocking twice on the table and waving goodbye, but watch it in practice before you try it.
