WHAT A NEAT MAP FROM REMITLY via Mental Floss! “The World’s Food and Drink Etiquette, Mapped,” is in concise formats foldable into one’s Baedeker’s.
World travelers like me (hem hem) learn to improve their manners at table and bar. Here are tidbits gleaned from Paul Anthony Jones’s most informative article and the Remitly source on which it’s based. By the way, Remitly also provides details on its research methodology.
“Think of dining etiquette,” Jones says, “and the first thing that comes to mind is probably something about keeping your elbows off the tabletop, or maybe not chewing with your mouth open. But if you were to take a look at dining traditions all around the globe, you’d soon find that different countries and cultures have amassed all manner of rules and recommendations when it comes to taking your seat at the dinner table.”
Jones continues, “Finance website Remitly scoured Google and Reddit as well as guide books for local food and drink etiquette from a total of 180 countries across the world, collating all of their results in a global analysis complete with a world map. The rules and advice encompass everything from tea and coffee traditions to menus and cutlery, unusual diets and dishes, and even drunkenness.”
Remitly notes, “A country’s customs and traditions are rarely more on show than when people sit down to eat or drink. Whether it’s a Japanese tea ceremony, which places emphasis on the delicacy of each serving movement, or a lively Spanish tapas bar, where sharing small plates is part of a social ritual, there are various unspoken cultural norms and etiquette to consider.”
Rating My Etiquette. I’ve long known that the most delicate dip of sauce is preferred with sushi. (They’re not donuts, you know.) However, Remitly corrects my sushi practice of enjoying a spot of wasabi in my soy sauce.
This and other images from Remitly.
Formula One pal Innes Ireland told me years ago never to wear underwear under kilts. Fortunately for my inherent modesty, I’ve worn kilts only infrequently; indeed, only twice.
I recall from Swiss visits the Remitly caution that one must “Do a forfeit if you drop bread in the fondue pot.” Since the forfeit was typically draining one’s wineglass, no big thing.
Drat, Missed it. In Russia, Remitly says, “A man should pour alcohol for the woman sitting next to him.” Now they tell me (да, on my right was an attractive young gal).
I’ve never been to Malawi in southeast Africa, so don’t have to worry that it’s “socially unacceptable for women to drink.” I presume this means alcohol, of course.
I have been to South Africa, but don’t recall where I pointed my feet. Remitly advises, “Do not point your feet towards others or the food.” This reminds me of the Arabic insult of throwing one’s shoes at someone.
Speaking of Arabic culture (a complex one indeed), Remitly warns that in the UAE “You’ll need a liquor license to drink at home.” And I recall the absolute necessity of dining solely with the right hand.
Pizza in the Big Apple; Tacos in West Berks. And, according to Remitly research, “Eating pizza with a knife and fork in New York City is unforgivable. I’m glad I never offered pizza to pal Innes Ireland there. When I took tacos fixings to England, he amused us all by deftly handling them with knife and fork.
Briefly. In my favor, I’ve never eaten cake with a fork in Poland, used bread to soak up gravy in Hungary, or eaten salad as a main course in Greece. (Indeed, I’ve not been to any of these countries.) I do confess to being less than polite by blowing on food to cool it in Belgium and by wearing those underwear in Scotland. ds
© Dennis Simanaitis, SimanaitisSays.com, 2024