When it comes to the gastronomic traditions of different countries, for some reason it is customary to discuss anything, but not lunches. We can easily imagine a familiar dinner in Spain or list the ingredients of a Mediterranean breakfast offhand, but you hardly know what kind of business lunch Swiss residents prefer and what Chinese clerks eat.
It's time to fill this gap.
Finland
The Finnish government takes great care of the health of its citizens. Naturally, food is also treated with special attention there. The right to a lunch break is enshrined in law. And so that it goes with the maximum benefit, many employers provide their employees with healthy lunches on their own. Dishes are brought to the offices in an organized manner by special services, which also make sure that all products are as natural and fresh as possible. Everything on the menu is according to the canons of proper nutrition: vegetable soups, meat, fish and light salads. But it is much more curious that many Finns prefer to drink all this with ordinary cow's milk - they love it very much here.
China
Unlike Finland, in the Middle Kingdom, lunch at the workplace is not welcome. They say this is due to the fact that Chinese dishes tend to have rather sharp and specific aromas. So it is customary to eat in cafes, squares, on the streets - in a word, anywhere, if only not in the office. Sandwiches we are used to are not considered lunch there, as are soups - they are preferred in China for breakfast. Steaming rice, noodles, meat and vegetables, and other nutritious meals, on the other hand, are a completely different matter. But whatever the business lunch in China, there are three rules that are always respected: lunch begins at exactly 12 noon, portions must be extremely large and complemented by a drink - most often green tea or natural lemonade.
USA
Despite the fact that in recent decades, healthy eating in the United States has become a real cult, American office workers still fail to wean them from fast food. It can't be helped: time is money. Therefore, until now, one of the most popular formats are lunch boxes with a set menu. Their content may vary depending on the cost. In the most budget version, you can often find a turkey or tuna sandwich, a simple salad, fries, or even just a bag of chips. It is customary to wash it down with carbonated drinks. Most Americans don't think this is reprehensible. Not so surprising when you consider that many in the United States even prefer to treat colds with lime-flavored soda, arguing this with a high content of citric acid, which, however, makes sense.
Switzerland
On the other side of the Atlantic, habits are very different. In Switzerland, lunch is approached in detail: a business lunch can easily last up to two hours so that office employees can relax or even drive home to spend this time at the family table. Fast food will definitely not be on the menu, although it will hardly come to raclette or fondue either. The Swiss prefer the middle ground: hearty, soulfully prepared dishes like veal stewed with cream, mushrooms and white wine. By the way, alcohol at lunch will only be in the sauce. In Switzerland, coffee and mineral water are the most common additions to the main course.
Italy
Do you like to drink wine at lunch? The Italians fully agree with you. Moreover, they are unlikely to be limited to one glass, because lunch can easily take several hours. Drinking alcohol in the midst of a working day is not considered a sign of frivolity, on the contrary: according to Italians, wine improves the absorption of food. Especially when it comes to hearty dishes like pasta, which is often served for lunch. But the matter is not limited to pasta alone: most likely, immediately after them the second will be served - fish or meat, as well as a vegetable side dish or salad. In a word, digestion aid really will not be superfluous. Drinking preferences may vary depending on the region: if in Rome you will most likely be offered a glass of dry white for lunch, then in Veneto it may already be Prosecco or Spritz.
Russia
You already know everything about the gastronomic traditions of our country, so it would be more appropriate to say about the latest trends. One of the most notable is Fast Casual, or, more simply, food that is prepared quickly, but not at the expense of taste and quality. In large cities, one after another, foodmarkets with corners of various directions are being opened. If not long ago office workers were choosing between rolls and pizza, now their gastronomic horizons have expanded significantly: today neither falafel, nor bowls, nor fo-bo will surprise anyone. However, the good old burgers still remain at the peak of popularity: they are still preferred by thousands of people - from office workers to celebrities.
Among the latter is Vlad Topalov, who complements his lunch with Heineken 0.0 lager. By the way, this is another notable trend: non-alcoholic beer is gradually becoming a hit at business lunches. This is confirmed by the posts of popular bloggers, and how often you can now see people enjoying their favorite drink during their lunch break, in order to immediately return to effective work. Thanks to a special technology, Heineken managed to preserve the rich flavor of the lager, but at the same time completely deprive it of its degree. So there is no need to wait for Friday to please yourself with Heineken 0.0, because the reason for this may be the most ordinary lunch.
