It is necessary to focus on cultural eating differences between Chinese and Western societies which may cause misunderstandings if ignored. There are millions of people away from their homes every day either by necessity or by choice.The restaurant and catering business has met this growing demand by feeding this huge number of highly mobile persons,office and factory workers,schoolchildren, military personnel.travelers and people out to have a good time.Because there are so many to feed,the restaurant and catering business is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world.Those who eat away from home spend vast sums of money for restaurants or catered meals.Just take America for example,food service industry sales were projected at about 100 billion dollars a year. The millions of people who "eat out"every day have a wide variety of needs and tastes from a quick lunch to a luxurious meal with elaborate service.Because of these differences there are many kinds of restaurants varying from sidewalk cafes for a hot dog or bowl of noodles to elaborate restaurants with the best cooking.Restaurants generally fit into the following categories:The gourmet restaurant:A gourmet is a person who appreciates the best in food and in drink.A restaurant which offers meals that appeal to such a person is in this group.The service and the prices are usually in accord with the quality of the meal so that these restaurants are the most expensive and luxurious of all food service establishments.It is necessary to focus on cultural eating differences between Chinese and Western societies which may cause misunderstandings if ignored. There are millions of people away from their homes every day either by necessity or by choice. The restaurant and catering business has met this growing demand by feeding this huge number of highly mobile persons, office and factory workers, schoolchildren, military personnel. travelers and people out to have a good time. Because there are so many to feed, the restaurant and catering business is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the world. Those who eat away from home spend vast sums of money for restaurants or catered meals. Just take America for example, food service industry sales were projected at about 100 billion dollars a year. The millions of people who “eat out ” every day have a wide variety of needs and tastes from a quick lunch to a luxurious meal with elaborate service. Because of these differences there are many kinds of restaurants varying from sidewalk cafes for a hot dog or bowl of noodles to elaborate restaurants with the best cooking. Restaurants generally fit into the following categories: The gourmet restaurant: A gourmet is a person who appreciates the best in food and in drink. A restaurant which offers meals that appeal to such a person is in this group. The service and the prices are usually in accord with the quality of the meal so that these restaurants are the most expensive and luxurious of all food service establishments