Global Etiquette
International
Dining
By Maralyn D. Hill
While our Global Etiquette expert
is away, the editors of Luxe Beat
Magazine have reprised some of
her excellent tips from past
columns. Here, just in case, you
may have forgotten, we remind of
how to use chopsticks in Japan -and when it’s fine to belch at
dinner in China.
A
ny country you are visiting
may have extremely
different dining etiquette
rules than those you are
used to. On the other hand,
they may be similar. The key is to
be prepared. You may find yourself
sitting on the floor, eating with
your hands, or trying exotic food.
To avoid too many shocks and
surprises, take some time to
discover the dining etiquette rules
that are common at your
destination. Be sure to be humble
and respectful when you make a
mistake. There is a lot to learn and
it helps to keep a little notebook as
you go along of dos and don’ts. I’m
not covering every country, but
generalities and some specifics
I know.
Asia
You’ll be expected to eat with
chopsticks. If you can’t manage the
regular moves, use them as a scoop.
The small end of a chopstick is the
eating utensil, and the large end is
used to serve others. Place
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chopsticks on your plate or a
chopstick rest when not using them,
never in or across the rice bowl. You
may hold the rice bowl close to your
mouth when eating, so it acts as a
safety net, if you are using the
chopsticks as a scoop.
Japan
It is important not to cross your
chopsticks, lick them or stick them
vertically into a bowl of rice, as all
three mannerisms are considered
rude. However, with soup, it is fine
to drink directly from the soup
bowl. Slurping soup and noodles is
considered a compliment to the
chef, and the louder the better.
Don’t tip in a restaurant.
China
Belching is viewed as a compliment
to the chef for preparing such a
satisfying meal. Be sure to leave
some of your food on your plate,
which indicates the chef prepared
more than enough to satisfy you,
and don’t dig through a dish of
anything to get to a particular
part you like. It is considered rude.
Like Japan, don’t tip.
Thailand
Courses will be served all at once
and generally shared, Sharing is
common, and dishes are often
served to spit among the table. Your
fork is used to push food onto your
spoon. Eat with your spoon. Be sure
not to take the last bite from the
sharing bowl.
India
It is important to finish your meal,
since wasting food is viewed as
quite disrespectful. Wash your
hands both before and after eating,
and be sure to clean around your
fingernails. Don’t eat too quickly
or too slowly. A medium pace is
recommended. Never eat with your
left hand, as it is considered
unclean. Use the right hand instead.
Utensils are rarely provided.
Middle East
Arabs are well known for their
hospitality and their meals. They
often start much later than you
may be used to, and a meals consist
of many courses. Be sure to pace
yourself. You will not be served
alcoholic beverages as drunkenness
is frowned upon and illegal in the
majority of Muslim countries. Eat
only with your right hand.
Israel
Food is both mid-eastern and
western, and eating customs
are generally the same as
Western Europe.
Africa
Here they take great pleasure in
entertaining and eating, as well as
being generous. In most instances,
you would be invited to someone’s
home. In many of the countries,
there will be no utensils of any sort
and you’ll be expected to eat with
your hands. Be sure to remember,
in Muslim countries, don’t eat with
your left hand. A tip is to watch
your hosts in other countries for
similar taboos and do what they do.
Caribbean, Central America
and South America
Business lunches are common in
Latin America and usually quite
long. Dinner is purely social and can
be very late, sometimes starting at
10 or 11 p.m. In general, throughout
Latin America, it is best to keep
your hands above the table at all
times when eating. You pass food
and drink with your right hand. You
can rest your wrists on the table,
but not your forearms or elbows.
Europe
Whether you are in Western,
Eastern, or Mediterranean Europe,
you will find that table manners are
quite similar to the United States.
There are some differences, but not
an overwhelming number.
Europeans eat using the Continental
style. This is when you hold your
fork in your left hand and your knife
in your right. The fork and knife
remain in your hands at all times.
Americans switch the fork to the
right hand after they cut meat, and