3 . Important Things to Know When Dining Out

Cultural dining etiquette (礼节) might surprise you with some of its important rules.     1    . Knowing some tips will help ensure that you have an enjoyable meal with friends or family — no matter where you are in the world.

The way you handle chopsticks is important to avoid annoying your companions. When you put them down between bites, always put them down together so they are parallel with the edge of the table in front of you.     2    .

In India and the Middle East, it’s considered very rude to eat with your left hand. People in France expect you to eat with a utensil in each hand.     3    , instead preferring to use their hands. In Chile, you may never touch any food with your fingers. People in Thailand generally use their forks only to push food onto their spoons.

    4    . In Portugal, this would be a serious mistake, because it shows the chef that you don’t like their seasoning skills. Similarly, in Italy, never ask for extra cheese to add to your food.

Some of these cultural dining etiquette rules may seem random and strange, but they are important in various countries.     5    , the more comfortable you’ll begin to feel with its foreign cultural practices.

Today I tried cooking a simply dish myself. I like eating frying tomatoes with eggs, and I thought it must to be easy to cook. My mom told me how to preparing it. First I cut the tomatoes into pieces but put them aside. Next I broke the eggs into a bowl and beat them quickly with chopstick. After that I poured oil into a pan and turned off the stove，I waited patiently unless the oil was hot. Then I put the tomatoes and the beaten eggs into pan together.＂Not that way，＂my mom tried to stop us but failed. She was right. It didn’t turn out as I had wished.

6 . Marian Bechtel sits at West Palm Beach’s Bar Louie counter by herself, quietly reading her e-book as she waits for her salad. What is she reading? None of your business! Lunch is Bechtel’s “me” time. And like more Americans, she’s not alone.

A new report found 46 percent of meals are eaten alone in America. More than half(53 percent) have breakfast alone and nearly half(46 percent) have lunch by themselves. Only at dinnertime are we eating together anymore, 74 percent, according to statistics from the report.

“I prefer to go out and be out. Alone, but together, you know?” Bechtel said, looking up from her book. Bechtel, who works in downtown West Palm Beach, has lunch with coworkers sometimes, but like many of us, too often works through lunch at her desk. A lunchtime escape allows her to keep a boss from tapping her on the shoulder. She returns to work feeling energized. “Today, I just wanted some time to myself,” she said.

Just two seats over, Andrew Mazoleny, a local videographer, is finishing his lunch at the bar. He likes that he can sit and check his phone in peace or chat up the barkeeper with whom he’s on a first-name basis if he wants to have a little interaction(交流). “I reflect on how my day’s gone and think about the rest of the week,” he said. “It’s a chance for self-reflection. You return to work recharged and with a plan.”

That freedom to choose is one reason more people like to eat alone. There was a time when people may have felt awkward about asking for a table for one, but those days are over. Now, we have our smartphones to keep us company at the table. “It doesn’t feel as alone as it may have before all the advances in technology,” said Laurie Demeritt, whose company provided the statistics for the report.

My mom is really concerning with the health of everyone in our families. In order to make surely all of us are in good health, and she makes specific plans for us. For example, every morning, my dad has to have the bowl of egg soup while I had to eat an apple. My dad don’t like the soup and I don’t enjoy apples. I tell my mom that if we’re forced eat things, we may become ill.

But he insists on us eating healthy food. Understanding her good intentions, I eat all the food what is provided by Mom with appreciation.

10 . Special Food Places to Try In Singapore

It’s an unpleasant fact that local food places are usually meant to cater to meat-eaters. It can be difficult to find a tasty food place that caters to meat-free diet. Here are some options to show you don’t need meat for a satisfactory treat.

Vegan Burg has a surprisingly diverse range of plant-based burgers. From Hawaiian Teriyaki to Char-Grilled Satay, the menu promises to tempt even the most hardcore meat lovers. And that’s not even getting into the add-ons and sides it offers, such as mushroom fries and barbecue potatoes.

Woods Square Tower, #01-06, Singapore 737737

This eatery proves that meat-free dishes can be as hearty and flavorful as their meat-based counterparts. Genesis Restaurant is especially known for its juicy dumplings, spring rolls, pork-free noodles and tofu cheesecake.

Havelock Road, #B1-01, Singapore 059763

WellSmoocht is a cafe and dessert bar which specializes in plant-based ice cream. Made from brown rice, sugar cane juice and fruits or nut butters, Smoocht’s rice cream, as they call it, comes in a wide variety of delicious flavors such as Earl Grey Lavender,Rose Coconut and Gula Melaka.

Sin Ming Centre, #01-03, Singapore 575628

This one-stop plant-based eatery and marketplace has a delicious menu of mouth-watering meat-free dishes, from Japanese cuisine like sushi and miso glazed fillet to Western dishes like fishless tacos and pasta, as well as local favourites such as seafood laksa and even buah keluak rice.

HarbourFront Walk, #169-170, Singapore 098585