Listen "Dining etiquette: What really matters?"
Episode Synopsis
Listeners to BBC World Service told us they hate it when fellow diners chew noisily or talk with their mouth full. But what is polite at mealtimes can vary wildly according to where in the world you are and who you are with.Ruth Alexander visits London's City of Westminster College to meet some of its teenage students, to find out about their different backgrounds and what good manners mean to them. She visits an exclusive private members club in the heart of London's West end to talk to Rupert Wesson, a director and coach at the British etiquette institution Debrett’s. And she hears from Japanese language tutor Chika Nakagawa about the rules that govern mealtimes in Japan.Plus what if you are thrown into a world you weren't prepared for? After tough beginnings and through sheer determination Reggie Nelson built a career in finance. He tells Ruth about his extraordinary path to success and how he got through his first formal business dinner.And what about when a restaurant meal brings out the worst in a customer? Mo Abedin, owner of Sticky Rice Thai restaurants in Dubai and Abu Dhabi talks about how he and his staff deal with the nightmare diners who have forgotten their manners.Producer: Lexy O'Connor(Image: A bearded man in a shirt and tie is eating a meal in front of a red background. He is shovelling a big fork full of noodles into his mouth whilst staring at his mobile phone. Credit: Getty Images/Group4 Studio)
More episodes of the podcast The Food Chain
Family ties
25/12/2025
What is the ultimate hangover cure?
18/12/2025
Food heroes and villains
11/12/2025
How to eat well in the cold
04/12/2025
To tip or not to tip?
27/11/2025
Food by drones?
13/11/2025
Turmeric: The golden spice
06/11/2025
The chefs
30/10/2025
The coffee habit: Why do we love it so much?
22/10/2025
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.