Dos and Don’ts – Dining Etiquette Around the World

Dos and Don’ts – Dining Etiquette Around the World

Portugal

Do: – leave a tip. Around 10 per cent of the bill is common.

Don’t: – ask for salt and pepper if they are not provided on the table. It is considered to be an offense to the chef’s seasoning skills.

France

Do: – keep your hands above the table. Rest your wrists on the table and not on your lap.

– use bread to mop up bits of sauce or food on the plate. Always tear a piece of bread off instead of   biting directly into it. When not in use bread belongs on the table not on the plate.

Don’t: – split the bill. It is considered to be the height of unsophistication. Offer to pay the bill in its entirety or someone else will.

Japan

Do: – drink directly from the soup bowl as spoons are uncommon. Slurp your food especially noodles and soup. It shows your appreciation to the chef – the louder the better!

Don’t: – leave a tip. Tipping staff is very rare and can be seen as rude.

            – cross your chopsticks, lick them or stick your chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice, these     are all considered very rude

            – pass food using chopsticks either, a similar practice takes place at funerals.

Italy

Do: – avoid milk beverages after a meal as they can hinder digestion, go for an espresso instead

       – add 5-10 % tip for exceptional service. The rest of the service charge is usually included in the bill.

Don’t: – ask for parmesan cheese if it is not explicitly offered. It’s a huge faux pas to put extra cheese on top of your pizza, and worse still to add it to seafood.

India

Do: – wash your hands both before and after eating, pay close attention to the fingernails.

Don’t: – eat too quickly or too slowly, a medium pace is important.

            – eat with your left hand, it is considered unclean. Use the right hand instead, cutlery is rarely provided.

Thailand

Do: – expect all dishes at once rather than in set courses

      – be ready to share. Sharing food is very common and dishes will often be served to split amongst the table

Don’t: – eat from your fork, use it only to push food onto your spoon

            – take the last bite from the sharing bowl

China

Do: – belch! This is seen as a compliment to the chef for creating a satisfying meal.

       – arrive on time and dress out of respect for your fellow diners.

Don’t: – tip. Restaurants often have a no tipping policy.

                – finish all your food, leave a small amount of food on your plate to show your host gave you more than enough to eat

– dig through your food for anything in particular, it’s very rude.

Can you match the countries with what is acceptable to do in them?

1. Portugal	a. Slurp your food especially noodles and soup. It shows your appreciation to the chef – the louder the better!
2. France	b. Wash your hands both before and after eating, pay close attention to the fingernails.
3. Japan	c. Belch! This is seen as a compliment to the chef for creating a satisfying meal.
4. Italy	d. Leave a tip. Around 10 per cent of the bill is common.
5. India	e. Be ready to share. Sharing food is very common and dishes will often be served to split amongst the table.
6. Thailand	f. Avoid milk beverages after a meal as they can hinder digestion, go for an espresso instead.
7. China	g. Keep your hands above the table. Rest your wrists on the table and not on your lap.

Key:

1. d.

2. g.

3. a.

4. f.

5. b.

6. e.

7. c.

Can you do the same with the ’don’ts’ ?

1. Portugal	a. Don’t ask for parmesan cheese if it is not explicitly offered.
2. France	b. Don’t leave a tip. Tipping staff is very rare and can be seen as rude.
3. Japan	c. Don’t finish all your food, leave a small amount of food on your plate to show your host gave you more than enough to eat.
4. Italy	d. Don’t eat from your fork, use it only to push food onto your spoon.
5. India	e. Don’t eat with your left hand, it is considered unclean. Use the right hand instead.
6. Thailand	f. Don’t ask for salt and pepper if they are not provided on the table. It is considered to be an offense to the chef’s seasoning skills.
7. China	g. Don’t split the bill. It is considered to be the height of unsophistication. Offer to pay the bill in its entirety or someone else will.

Key:

1. f.

2. g.

3. b.

4. a.

5. e.

6. d.

7. c.