Global Etiquette
International
Dining
By Maralyn D. Hill
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
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
56
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
set their( knife down on the plate.