Forks somewhere, hands elsewhere. We’ve been taught how to dine formally, with napkin on our laps, and elbows off the table. But there’s more to it. Here are 5 unusual food habits around the world:
Spain: Throw food garbage on the floor
Spanish food is delicious, and people there have a crazy way of knowing so. Apparently, people find good restaurants by seeing all the garbage on the floor. From leftover food to napkins, you can spot anything related to food there. The idea behind this is that more litter is indicative of high popularity of a place.
China: Don’t clean off your plates
In most parts of the world, people are taught how to wipe their plates clean and finish every morsel of their food. But, when visiting China, it might not be a good idea to follow this. The Chinese people see empty plates as a sign for more food, implying that your host didn’t serve enough food. On the other hand, leaving even tiny crumbs of food in India is considered as a sign of disrespect!
Thailand: The fork doesn’t go into your mouth
Using a fork can be slightly odd when it comes to Thai dining. Hold the spoon in your right hand, and the fork in your left. But, according to Thai food etiquette, the fork is only for moving food from the plate to the spoon. Or you can use it to cut food into smaller pieces.
Italy: Coffee culture habits
The Italians love their coffee, but also follow certain etiquettes. For instance, they don’t add milk to coffee after 11 am, because it might mess with digestion. Also, they believe in drinking their espresso at one go. If you ever go to Italy, don’t ask for anything complicated because it might take away the pleasure of drinking coffee.
How people split bills
In India, if there’s a large group dining at a place, then people might go Dutch. Or, the eldest person offers to pay the bill. According to Mashed, the person who makes the most money offers to pay for the meals in Australia. In Ireland, however, people have tiffs on who’ll pay the bill!