The Mind Creative DECEMBER 2014 | Page 46

The Mind Creative When in a Japanese sushi restaurant, it is highly offensive to rub chopsticks since it might suggest that they are using low-end chopsticks. Rule of thumb: don’t rub your chopsticks together, before eating! In Korean culture it is customary to never pour your own drink and wait or request someone else pour it for you. Eating Ethiopian traditional cuisine requires scooping up the food onto flat bread with your hands In England, bananas are often eaten with a knife and fork (a custom that dates back to the 19th century), in Germany, potatoes should be smashed and not cut with a knife, in Japan and Korea, tipping after a meal might be is offensive in certain restaurants since it’s seen as begging, in Austria, you must make eye contact with every person you clink glasses with during a toast and in Tanzania, drinking beer from the bottle is considered very rude! References: www.foodnetwork.ca and Huffinton Post http://hongkongetiquette.com/ 46