Share
It is recommended that visitors visiting India avoid using their left hand when eating at the dinner table. If you sit with your hands underneath the table during supper, you're looked down upon in Italy. You might wonder why. A seemingly innocuous gesture in one nation could mean something very different in another.
The truth is that every culture on the planet has its distinct culinary traditions and practices that are passed down from one generation to the next. These rituals of dining and traditional foods offer a way to show one's cultural identity while also honouring a nation's rich history, way of life, values, and beliefs.
Everyone must comprehend these crucial distinctions, whether dining with international clients or travelling for leisure, to avoid upsetting a host or bystander. Here are some important dos and don'ts when dining in most popular travel destinations worldwide to help foodies.
Dining Etiquette To Remember
Chile
Chileans prefer to have more formal dining experiences than those of its neighbouring South American countries. The urge to identify more with European culture is largely to blame for this. Since people in Chile are generally friendly, you may get an invitation to a private function or dinner party. Eating with your hands is frowned upon in Chile; thus, the most important rule to remember is to use utensils for everything. Even finger foods like pizza and french fries are consumed with a fork and knife.
China
In Chinese culture, polite dining etiquette is believed to bring prosperity and good health. There are a few important traditions that you should keep in mind when dining in the nation. It's crucial to first grasp how to use chopsticks. Leaving them standing in a bowl in between meals is regarded as being in bad taste because that's how ceremonial rice is usually presented as a funeral offering.
Additionally, never lick or cross your chopsticks. It's customary to leave a modest amount of food on your plate after eating; an empty plate is impolite and suggests you weren't given enough food.
France
French culture places a high value on dining, from leisurely lunches in outdoor cafes to elaborate banquets lasting hours. Eating with both hands when in France is recommended, whether using a fork and knife. A piece of bread is mostly used to help food reach the fork when diners are supposed to take a piece off instead of biting it.
Splitting the bill is sometimes viewed as having poor taste and being unsophisticated because eating is a social activity. Since money is seen as a private concern, it is customary for the one who extends an invitation to another person to cover the cost of the lunch and expect the other person to do the same the next time.
India
It is highly recommended that you use your sense of touch to enhance your Indian dining experience. Because of this, naan is frequently used as a food scoop. Indian bread is also used to scoop foods like dal or lentil soup, consumed with the hands. Eating with your left hand is frowned upon in India since it is regarded as filthy. While the left hand is used for personal hygiene, the right hand is used to pick up food for consumption.
Italy
The purpose of eating is to fully appreciate it. Diners are advised to take their time and savour each mouthful because dinners are frequently prepared over hours, served slowly, and involve several courses. Moreover, having a cappuccino after a meal is frowned upon because milk interferes with digestion.
Similarly, requesting Parmesan cheese if it is not specifically supplied is considered impolite, particularly when seafood is served because it is believed to mask the aroma. In actuality, Pecorino cheese is used instead of Parmesan in many traditional Roman pasta dishes, such as Bucatini Amatriciana.
Japan
Traditional customs and etiquette are required for many Japanese occasions, including formal and informal dinners. Oshibori, a steaming hot towel, is provided at restaurants and pubs to clean your hands; however, you shouldn't use it to wipe your face or any other area of your body. Like Chinese custom, you should refrain from using chopsticks directly in Japanese bowls. Similarly, while they're not in use, you should use a hasioko or chopstick rest rather than laying them over the bowl.
It's acceptable to slurp noodles in Japan. This enhances the flavour and speeds up customers' appetite for hot food. It is sometimes interpreted as a way to express gratitude to the cook. Similarly, eating in Japan typically involves drinking straight from the soup bowl because utensils are rarely used.
Mexico
In Mexico, dining is regarded as a social occasion; hence, pre-meal activities like drinking and chatting frequently cause the actual act of eating to be delayed. Wait until the host says, "Buen provecho," which means, "Have a good meal," before eating. Eating with your hands is acceptable, but using cutlery is nearly considered extravagant. When using cutlery in an official environment, always hold the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left rather than switching between the two.
