The ideal is to wait until everybody is served before start eating. It's however accepted to start eating if the service is very slow. Brazilian use cutlery except for food like bread or boned chicken – in these particular cases the food can be hold with a napkin. Smokers should be advised that most Brazilians don't smoke while eating even in smoking allowed tables – and the best solution is to wait until the meal is finished. Having finished the meal, you have two main rules to remember. Rule number one is place the fork and knife on the plate beside of each other parallel to the table side. And last but not least: please don't use the toothpick even if you find it on the table. If you need to do the “dirty job” you should find the restroom.
Dinner can be also used as business time, even if in Brazil lunch is the preference for this kind of meeting. Fancy restaurants are an option, such as Pizzarias or Italian or Japanese restaurants, which are very usual destinations for this kind of meeting.
To be prosperous business meetings in Brazil is recommended before going to Brazil to meet with greetings, business meals, dress code, body language and gifts giving etiquette, good luck!
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