Food Manners in Foreign Countries

Don’t talk with your mouth full. No elbows on the table. To tip or not to tip? Depending on where you travel, different cultures can have their own dining etiquette. If you’re visiting any of the locations below, heed their culinary customs to avoid offending the locals.

In Japan, keep your chopsticks to yourself. It is considered rude to pass food from one set of chopsticks to the other. Instead, put down your food with one set and allow another diner to pick up with their own set.

When dining in the Philippines or North Africa, remember to dine only with your right hand, and keep your left hand off the table and by your side.

When in Spain, don’t dip the customary bread into your bowl of gazpacho. Instead, use the bread to wipe up whatever is left in the bowl after you have finished eating.

You had better practice those chopsticks skills because in Thailand, using a fork is a no-no unless its purpose is to aid your spoon when eating soup.

Despite the fact that slurping noodles is taboo in most nations, resist the urge to cut your pasta into smaller pieces, especially in Italy where you should use your fork to twirl your pasta. Contrary to popular belief, you should not use your spoon to assist you with this. Buon appetito!