Dining Etiquette Around The World

Since global travel is on hold at the minute, we’ve been looking for other ways to experience faraway lands from home – and by other ways, we of course mean food.
To find out more, we’ve enlisted the help of professional traveller and former Masterchef contestant, Amar Latif, who’s sharing the cultural lessons he’s picked up over the years.
Fancy dining around the world like a local? Then pull up a chair, and join us as we discover how other countries eat. First stop…
Portugal
Asking for salt and pepper is pretty offensive to a Portuguese chef. It’ll look like you’re judging their cooking abilities.
Italy
Amar: “Chicken on pizza is a no-go in Italy. I once asked a famous Italian chef whether he liked good-old Pollo Margherita, and he looked at me like I told him to eat his shoes!”
Kazakhstan
Don’t be surprised if you’re served tea and bread, with or without a meal. Your tea may only be filled halfway, as a full cup is a sign your host wants you to leave.
China
Leave a little rice in your bowl. Polishing off your meal could imply that your host hasn’t given you enough food.
Japan
Amar: “During funerals, the departed individual is buried with their rice bowl. The bowl is filled with rice, with chopsticks stuck upright into it. Doing the same thing during a meal is a bit of a faux pas.”
India
Amar: “When I was younger. my family would ask friends if they were hungry or wanted food three times and, regardless of the response, would bring out the food. If you’re visiting someone in the Punjab region, make sure you don’t fill up beforehand!”
Thailand
Food is mostly served with a fork and spoon. Rather than eating straight off the fork, you use it to push the food on the spoon.
Korea
Respecting your elders is a core value, so make sure they’ve begun eating before diving into your bibimbap.
Tanzania
It’s considered rude to sniff your food. It makes you seem suspicious about the dish.
What is Gousto?
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