Did you know that burping for dinner in India is a token of appreciation? Or that sipping soup is perfectly appropriate in Japan? Knowing the intricacies of the rules of behavior at the table in different countries will prevent you from getting into an awkward position.
Instructions
Step 1
Risotto is a traditional rice dish in Northern Italy. Never spread risotto all over the plate to chill it. It looks like you are playing with food, which is bad form.
Step 2
Don't eat bread with your first course or use bread to clean your plate. In Italy it is considered a courtesy to leave a small amount of food on your plate. This shows that you have your own dignity, and your meal is not the result of someone's charity.
Step 3
Don't add Parmesan to seafood. Italians love cheese and consume a lot of it. But no Italian will add different types of cheese anywhere. So, it is not customary to season seafood, risotto or vegetable dishes with Parmesan, but Parmesan and pasta are the perfect combination of a dish.
Step 4
Cappuccino or latte coffee is a drink in the morning. These types of coffee drinks contain milk, which can make the stomach feel heavy when consumed with food. Therefore, Italians drink coffee only after meals. As for cappuccino, in Italy it is preferred for breakfast along with a bun.
Step 5
Espresso is a drink in the afternoon and only after a meal, as it is believed then to aid digestion. In Italy, it is not customary to drink espresso with desserts, and therefore coffee is often brought in after the dessert has been eaten.
Step 6
Don't rely on dessert. Typical food on the Italian table consists of antipasto (pre-main course appetizer), primi piatti (soup, risotto or pasta dish), secondi piatti (meat or fish) and contorni (vegetable side dish), making for a very satisfying meal. Therefore, sometimes there is no room for high-calorie desserts in the stomach and they are often replaced simply with healthy fruits.
