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As a host:

Appropriate decoration on the table：

There should be some flowers on the table, and they should not be in the line of sight of the guests. Especially for a big feast which includes more than 8 people, small and lower flowers are better as they will not block the sight of guests.

However, flowers have various meanings in different countries. In China, flowers should be as bright as the table decoration, like red roses and pink peonies, white flowers should never be set on table which means death in Chinese culture. In Japan, the amount of flowers on the table should not be 4, 6 or 9 which are pronounced the same way as death, rascal and pain in Japanese. In France, chrysanthemum is the flower which should only be used at a funeral and also should not be set on a feast table.

Use cooking utensils as a decoration. Sometimes when the dishes are too much, plates and bowls may seem slightly insufficient. However, it is not wise to go shopping for tableware whenever you are going to invite guests. If you observe carefully, you will find some dishes do not need to be poured out from the pot to a plate. Setting a good-looking container directly on the table is a clever approach of table setting. This way, you not only save the tableware, but also retain the original smell and taste of the food.

Invite guests to cook together:

The host can invite guests to cook with them. You can not only free yourself, but also avoid the embarrassment of guests having to be alone. Moreover, this time can also be fun with talking and laughing.

In Spain and Italy, it is quite an enjoyable process to invite your guests to cook together. However, in China, it is a little bit impolite to invite elderly people to cook with you.

Games before the feast:

In order to avoid the embarrassment of the guests, games for young and old are essential. Try poker, Monopoly and flying chess.

Most Western people enjoy simple games before the feast like poker and puzzles. On the contrary, in most Asian countries, people usually do not play games before dinner, but after.

As a guest:

If you are invited in an international feast, it will be better to prepared some gifts to the host.Bring a bundle of simple flowers. Put the flowers into a vase on the table after entering the room. Also be aware of the meanings of flowers.Do not bring white flowers for Chinese, do not bring chrysanthemum flowers for French and Spanish, but chrysanthemum is a good choice in Germany.

If you want to bring the kitchenware as a gift, it would be better that it conforms to the design of your friend’s house or choose the simplest shape of knives, forks, plates or tea sets.

A bottle of wine or champagne is suitable for all kinds of family feasts and also can help create a comfortable atmosphere. But do not forget to keep it in the right temperature before bringing it to the host.

As traveling has become an increasing fashionable trend around the world, a new type of travel has appeared. Travelers now have the chance to learn how to cook local food when traveling to one place, through this way they may get a deeper understanding of local food and culture.

1. Italy: Cooking Vacations

Cooking Vacations is one of the most professional cooking classes which teaches how to cook authentic Italian dishes and desserts. It has branches in 20 regions throughout Italy and provides different types of cooking tours such as seasonal cooking tours and women only cooking tours.

www.cooking-vacations.com
Tel: +18009161152
info@cookingvactions.com

2. France: L’Ateiler Guy Martin

The chef of two-star Michelin restaurant Grand Vefour will teach classes himself. In addition to basic dishes, people can also spend 4 hours to learn a specialty of Grand Vefour.

www.atelierguymartin.com
Tel: +33142663333
35 rue Miromesnil 8e, Paris
Price: €50/h; €200 for a 4 hours’ Grand Vefour class

3. Vietnam: Hoa Tuc

Hoa Tuc provides a special street food tour with the same aim as a cooking class: to give the keys and a better understanding of Vietnamese cuisine while having fun. People can learn to cook at least 5 different dishes. It includes a pick-up and drop-off at your hotel.

www.saigoncookingclass.com
Tel: +84838258485
Price: Half-day classes: $45.5 (adults); $28 (children under 12)

4. Thailand: A lot of Thai

When starting a course at A lot of Thai, you will be start at markets to learn about different fruit, vegetables and spices. People who sign in are picked up by local vehicles.

www.alotofthai.com
Price: One-day course: $45/per ;Half-day course: $36/per

5. The United States: Langlois Culinary Crossroads

Langlois is located in the historic Marigny neighborhood inside one of countless corner markets. Langlois delivers an authentic New Orleans dining experience

www.langloisnola.com
Tel: +15049341010
1710 Pauger St New Orleans, LA 70116

6. Australia: The Agrarian Kitchen

The Agrarian Kitchen is a sustainable farm-based cooking school offering paddock-to-plate experiences in a 19th century schoolhouse in Tasmania’s Derwent Valley. It grows and uses varieties of fruit and vegetables in its cooking classes.

www.theagrariankitchen.com
Tel: +61362611099
650 Lachlan Road, Lachlan Tasmania 7140
Price: $300 per day

7. China: 4F Cooking Home

4F Cooking Home not only delivers Chinese cuisine, but also international food such as Spanish, French, British and Japanese which gives people a variety of choices.

www.4fcookinghome.com
Tel: +886223216608
4fcookinghome@hojalife.com

8. Spain: Barcelona Cooking

Barcelona Cooking teaches how to cook traditional paella and different types of tapas. Cooking classes start from La Boqueria market to give an opportunity to know local life.

www.barcelonacooking.com
Tel: +34931191986
Price: €78 (3-4 hours)