Mealtime customs in France and Italy
Every culture has some "unwritten" rules of social behavior. These are the things that the people in that culture naturally understand to do or not do.
This is especially true for eating and meal times. Here are some useful mealtime dos and don'ts for foreign visitors to France and Italy. In France, a guest should arrive on time as this is a sign of politeness. However, in Italy, it is a good idea to arrive ten to 15 minutes late.
In both countries it is polite to bring a gift, for example a bottle of wine or some candy. Flowers are also a good gift, but be careful. Don't give red roses in France as they express romantic love. And in Italy, don't give an even number of flowers (for example two, four, six, etc.) as they are for funerals.
Table manners are important in both countries. For example, keep the fork in your left hand and the knife in your right. And remember that it's not polite to put your elbows on the table when eating.
Do you need to remember all of these "rules" when you visit a foreign country? No, a smile and a thank you are the most important things to remember in any culture.