Sure, we excel in hospitality and we dominate in clearing our plates, but when it comes to sitting down and creating an atmosphere of civilised dining, Greeks can, at times, fall by the wayside. So is teaching Greeks how to eat correctly like trying to teach an old dog new tricks? Neos Kosmos is up for the challenge.

1. Food should be tasted before salt and pepper are added. Applying garnishes before food is tasted is viewed as an insult to the cook.

Before: Have you ever seen a Greek man wait to taste his food without covering it in a cloud of salt? Didn’t think so. Greek families go through a kilo of salt… a week! And that’s not in the cooking, it’s mainly used up when on the table. When Greeks add extra salt, they are sure to look directly at the cook with a disgusted glare. The whole point is for the cook to know that they haven’t impressed the diner. In most cases it’s the husband telling the wife the lamb chops are bland.

After: Ban the salt and pepper shakers. Not only are you looking after your dad’s heart condition but you can also ensure a safe and long marriage for your parents. Blaming your poor mum for bland chops isn’t her fault because you know she would have used a handful of salt. And you know this because the chops are inedible.

2. All food should be served and everyone seated before food is eaten by anyone, with the host taking the first bite. If a host instructs guests ‘not to wait’ this rule is vetoed.

Before: Food is served while we are eating, people begin before everyone is seated, and it’s not customary to wait for the host to take the first bite. It is Greek etiquette to wait for the guest of honour or man of the house to begin the meal.

After: Greeks are saved by this rule as the host is normally running around saying ‘fai, fai’ while dressing the salad and slicing the bread. So lucky for us, this rule get’s vetoed automatically.

3. When eating soup, you should hold your spoon in your right hand and tip the bowl delicately forward, scooping the soup in movements away from yourself. The soup spoon should never be put into the mouth, and soup should be sipped from the side of the spoon, not the end.

Before: You simply cannot eat avgolemono by scooping the soup in movements away from yourself. You simply cannot eat fasolatha without putting the soup spoon in your mouth. And you absolutely cannot eat fakes by sipping the soup from the side of the spoon.

After: Unless you want to eat with a ladle, there is no way a Greek diner can ever adhere to this rule. No Greek soups were made to be eaten with table manners in mind. They were made to be scooped up with bread, eaten with gusto and for slurping noises to prevail.

4. It is impolite to reach over someone to pick up food or other items. Diners should always ask for items to be passed along the table to them. Diners who are passing items along the table should not eat it on the way.

Before: Given the fact that Greeks eat meze style, how can they remain civilised at dinner time? The start of every meal in the Greek household is a sea of hands across the table as the pushing and shoving begins for the best dishes to be stacked high on your plate. It’s ‘may the best man win’ especially when garithes me feta is one of the dishes served. And when passing a plate, it’s second nature to take a bit for yourself.

After: Because Greeks are so hospitable and want everyone to be fed, the food does get passed around whether it’s asked for or not. Sometimes you will find food on your plate that you didn’t want to be there. And because there is always an abundance of food, sit tight – you will get some hand-made dolmathes.

5. A knife should never enter the mouth or be licked.

Before: You slice into a piece of hot juicy pastitsio. Looking at your knife, you notice a combination of bechamel sauce and kima. The knife is screaming lick me, lick me, lick me. So you do. And double-dipping is all the rage in Greece. Use your knife to spread tzatziki on your bread and even if you’ve licked the knife, feel free to use it in the skordalia. Once you sit at a Greek table, you are family. Sihenoume? Not at a Greek table.

After: Cutlery is made to be licked. No stuffy, old-school English rules are going to thwart Greek people from enjoying every single last bit of their dinner.

6. Food should always be chewed with your mouth closed and talking with food in your mouth is seen as very rude.

Before: The only way to get the flavour combination right is to make sure you have sampled everything on the table in one mouthful. And the only way to do this is to chew with your mouth open, ensuring you get all of it in. Talking is paramount at a Greek table. Talking about your day, about your neighbours, about your kids: a Greek table is not a quiet place so don’t try and make it so.

After: Greeks will need to learn to appreciate the flavours of each dish separately. And need to be reminded that eating dinner is not a race and to take your time and enjoy your food. In doing so, you will digest dinner better, making sure you don’t suffer from reflux.

7. Use bread for it’s correct purpose – as a side to a meal.

Before: Bread has multiple uses on a Greek dinner table. It is mostly used to clean your plate, and made certain you have wiped off every inch of food that’s available. It is used as a base for spreading dips, soaking up the dressing from the salad and a making an impromptu sandwich with the cheese on the table. And bread can be used as a napkin. Grab the inside of the bread and use to wipe you mouth of leftover food that has fallen out.

After: If you can multipurpose – why not? It means you will save money on napkins. And Greeks love to save money!