We’ve previously discussed the etiquette of Western dining, which many find practical and impressive, while others complain about the unnecessary fuss, questioning the joy of living if even a simple meal requires so much attention. When a delicious steak is placed in front of you, it feels like you need to light incense, bathe, and change clothes before you can even start eating. Can’t we just enjoy our meal in peace?
However, considering you’ve chosen to dine at a high-end Western restaurant with your loved one, a bit of homework is in order. Today, we’ll skip the fancy Western tricks and focus solely on how to eat the bread served before the meal to add a touch of class.
Why Serve Bread Before the Meal?
Anyone who has experienced Western dining knows that upon seating, the waiter will bring a basket of assorted bread (assorted bread basket) and a butter plate. Before the main course arrives, why provide a basket full of bread? Here are some guesses: 
1、The restaurant shows its welcome and sincerity, which can subconsciously trigger a reciprocal response in guests, making them feel generous when ordering.
2、Before the main course, when guests are already hungry, it’s better to offer bread and butter to pacify them than to let them watch others at nearby tables feast away.
Western dining is all about slowing down, enjoying the meal in comfort and leisure. It’s normal to spend 3-4 hours on a single meal, so without the bread to fill you up a bit, you’d likely get hungrier as the meal progresses.
What Are the Signature Pre-Meal Breads in Different Western Restaurants?
1、French Restaurants
The most common pre-meal bread in French restaurants. It’s sliced and served with butter.
Whole Wheat Bread
White Bread
Besides butter, some upscale French restaurants offer pâtés like Foie Gras (Paté de Foie Gras), made from liver, fat, herbs, etc., to dip the bread in, providing a rich and luxurious flavor.
There’s also Rillettes, made by long-cooking pork, duck, rabbit, or fish meat.
2、Italian Restaurants
Italian restaurants often opt for traditional Focaccia, Ciabatta, or Grissini. These breads have a crisp crust but are thinner than baguettes. Hot bread dipped in extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar or olive oil with black pepper and salt is a perfect match.
Focaccia
Ciabatta
Grissini
Many Italian restaurants also serve whole roasted garlic heads, which can be spread on the bread before dipping in olive oil and vinegar. The roasted garlic loses its sharpness and adds a fresh aroma to the bread.
3、German Restaurants
German restaurants provide free pre-meal bread, both hard and soft varieties. Pumpernickel, made with rye and nuts, is particularly common, offering a fresh and elastic texture, perfect with butter, cheese, or various jams.
Pretzels (Brezel) are ubiquitous in southern Germany, often served as pre-meal bread, usually with a salty or peppery flavor.
4、American Restaurants
Given the diversity of the United States, restaurant bread is quite casual, with loaf or bun shapes being common.
Recently, for health reasons, more Americans are choosing Whole Wheat Bread and Rye Bread.
Corn Bread is also a popular choice for pre-meal bread. Americans aren’t as particular; bread is often eaten with butter, cream, or peanut butter, which can be quite calorie-rich!
The Pre-Meal Bread Basket: A Glimpse into the Restaurant’s Quality
You can tell a lot about a Western restaurant from its pre-meal bread basket. Firstly, the bread should be homemade; if the restaurant outsources even the bread, don’t expect much from the main course. The bread should be freshly baked and served warm to show sincerity.
Many French restaurants offer two types of butter: unsalted and salted. The butter should be at room temperature, not hard and cold straight from the fridge, or they’ll lose repeat customers.
Some restaurants also introduce their own dips or spreadable sauces, like the aforementioned French foie gras and meat pâtés, along with vegetable dips (tomato, eggplant, roasted garlic, etc.).
Etiquette for Eating Pre-Meal Bread
1、When dining with a group, if the bread basket is in front of you, pass it to the person on your left first, then take your share, and pass it to the person on your right, continuing in this manner.
2、If the bread in the basket is a whole loaf, cover it with the napkin in the basket, gently press down with your hand to slice it, then pass it along.
3、Don’t bite directly into the bread; that’s too wild. Instead, tear off small pieces with your hands.
4、Don’t spread butter over the entire slice of bread before eating; tear off a small piece, then use the tip of the butter knife to apply a little butter or dip in olive oil before eating.
5、Avoid holding bread in one hand and a wine glass in the other; this is considered poor manners by some Westerners.
6、The pre-meal bread can be refilled, but eat in moderation so you don’t fill up before the main course. If you’re still hungry after the main course, you can ask for more bread. However, before dessert arrives, the bread and main course utensils are usually cleared, and you won’t be able to get more.
7、If there’s only one slice of bread left in the basket, show restraint and don’t reach for it.
8、In some high-end Western dining etiquette, dipping bread in soup is seen as somewhat uncouth, but bread with soup is undeniably delicious. Let go of your reservations and enjoy it!
