essential global dining etiquette

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18 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 turning it back over. This method of eating keeps the rice from getting wet and falling apart and places the neta directly onto the tongue, giving a better sense of the topping flavor. More casual dining experiences will be common for tourists who are exploring the country and simply stopping to enjoy a quick meal before continuing their journey. Yosenex Orengo, a librarian and Japanese-culture enthusiast, who has divided his time between living in New York and Japan over the past 10 years says, “If you dine at Japanese fast food restaurants like Yoshinoya, Nakau or Matsuya, be sure to see if there is a ticket vending machine before you sit down. Customers are expected to use these machines to place their orders before sitting. A ticket will be printed and you simply hand it to the clerk.” Japanese sanitary standards don’t allow the person who is preparing food to touch money for payment. In Japan, it is wise to carry cash, as many establishments do not accept credit cards, particularly smaller businesses that would provide a more authentic experience. Don’t fret if your Japanese language skills are not strong. Many restaurants display images of their dishes. Simply pointing to the food you desire will be sufficient. Traveling to Japan and drinking saké or searching out tucker in Australia are tempting. As Americans expect to be respected by foreign visitors to their country, locals expect the same courtesy when visited by tourists from the United States. Learning the basics of local culture prior to traveling is easy, with a bit of research and no fear of asking questions. Start studying below with an etiquette tour through a few of the world’s most popular destinations. By Dorothy Crouch Japanese Shokuji Jikan In this country whose culture is deeply rooted in ties with nature and traditions of honoring ancestors, the Japanese take great care in details and artistry of daily life. Whether hosting a seemingly simple tea ceremony or performing Kabuki, Japan’s citizens are proud, yet accommodating. If a journey through Japan includes dining within a local home, the customary gesture of gratitude toward the person who prepared the meal is the gassho. By bringing hands together in front of the chest and saying “itadakimasu,” which means receive or accept. It is polite to finish every morsel of food that touches the chopsticks when dining, including each individual grain of rice. Knives, forks and spoons are deemed unnecessary. To eat soup, simply lift a bowl to the mouth and drink. It is also common practice to lift a bowl of rice to the mouth, making the act of eating rice much easier. Visits to Japan will usually include dining on sushi, at some point during the trip. Whether choosing the casual kaiten-zushi establishments or a more formal sushi restaurant, guidelines exist for eating this cuisine. The Japan National Tourism Organization recommends adhering to the following practices when eating at a sushi restaurant in Japan: • Eat sushi with your hands. It is not rude to eat sushi in this manner. • Pour your own soy sauce serving into a small plate. Most kaiten-zushi restaurants have ‘gari’ (pickled ginger slices) and tea available on a self-service basis. • When eating nigiri-zushi, turn the sushi over so the neta (topping) is facing downwards, apply soy sauce, and put it in your mouth without Brazilian cuisine Essential Global Dining Etiquette

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Page 1: Essential Global Dining Etiquette

18 november/december 2014

turning it back over. This method of eating keeps the rice from getting wet and falling apart and places the neta directly onto the tongue, giving a better sense of the topping flavor.

More casual dining experiences will be common for tourists who are exploring the country and simply stopping to enjoy a quick meal before continuing their journey. Yosenex Orengo, a librarian and Japanese-culture enthusiast, who has divided his time between living in New York and Japan over the past 10 years says, “If you dine at Japanese fast food restaurants like Yoshinoya, Nakau or Matsuya, be sure to see if there is a ticket vending machine before you sit down. Customers are expected to use these machines to place their orders before sitting. A ticket will be printed and you simply hand it to the clerk.” Japanese sanitary standards don’t allow the person who is preparing food to touch money for payment.

In Japan, it is wise to carry cash, as many establishments do not accept credit cards, particularly smaller businesses that would provide a more authentic experience. Don’t fret if your Japanese language skills are not strong. Many restaurants display images of their dishes. Simply pointing to the food you desire will be sufficient.

Traveling to Japan and drinking saké or searching out tucker in Australia are tempting. As Americans expect to be respected by foreign visitors to their country, locals expect the same courtesy when visited by tourists from the United States. Learning the basics of local culture prior to traveling is easy, with a bit of research and no fear of asking questions. Start studying below with an etiquette tour through a few of the world’s most popular destinations.

By Dorothy Crouch

Japanese Shokuji JikanIn this country whose culture is deeply rooted in ties with nature and traditions of honoring ancestors, the Japanese take great care in details and artistry of daily life. Whether hosting a seemingly simple tea ceremony or performing Kabuki, Japan’s citizens are proud, yet accommodating.

If a journey through Japan includes dining within a local home, the customary gesture of gratitude toward the person who prepared the meal is the gassho. By bringing hands together in front of the chest and saying “itadakimasu,” which means receive or accept. It is polite to finish every morsel of food that touches the chopsticks when dining, including each individual grain of rice. Knives, forks and spoons are deemed unnecessary. To eat soup, simply lift a bowl to the mouth and drink. It is also common practice to lift a bowl of rice to the mouth, making the act of eating rice much easier.

Visits to Japan will usually include dining on sushi, at some point during the trip. Whether choosing the casual kaiten-zushi establishments or a more formal sushi restaurant, guidelines exist for eating this cuisine. The Japan National Tourism Organization recommends adhering to the following practices when eating at a sushi restaurant in Japan:

• Eatsushiwithyourhands.Itisnotrudetoeat sushi in this manner.

• Pouryourownsoysauceservingintoasmall plate. Most kaiten-zushi restaurants have ‘gari’ (pickled ginger slices) and tea available on a self-service basis.

• Wheneatingnigiri-zushi, turn the sushi over so the neta (topping) is facing downwards, apply soy sauce, and put it in your mouth without

Brazilian cuisine

Essential Global Dining Etiquette

Page 2: Essential Global Dining Etiquette

19november/december 2014

Etiqueta em BrazilBrazil has a reputation as a country that boasts chic, festive urban centers, sizzling beaches and lush green rainforests. While this exotic, celebration-loving destination might seem to embrace free spirits, social norms do govern the behavior of Brazilians. Customs also vary according to city and social setting. For instance, locals are not generally punctual, yet within a business setting it is recommended that visitors respect agreed upon meeting times.

When eating in Brazil, visitors recognize characteristics that define the regional cuisine, such as the delectably seasoned cuts of meat available in the country’s churrascarias, delectable bauru sandwiches and rich bean-laden dishes – including the popular feijoada, all of which should be washed down with a refreshing caipirinha, a cocktail that includes cachaça (a Brazilian spirit), lime juice and sugar.

Brazil tourism specialist, João H. Rodrigues, offered some advice to diners from the United States who are visiting one of the many popular churrascarias for the first time, saying, “When dining at a 'rodizio churrascaria,' use the green/red signs to indicate when the servers should add more meat to your plate.” These restaurants offer a dining experience comparable to no other in the world. Translating from Portuguese to the English word for barbecue, churrascarias are far from your typical backyard family reunion. A more formal affair, comparable to dinner at a fine steakhouse, the churrascaria resembles a culinary festival. Waiters navigate around tables while carrying spits that hold the evening’s protein options: beef, lamb, chicken and pork. Vegetarians fear not! These establishments also include buffet-style islands, where a variety of accouterments, such as cheese, pasta, rice, and regional fruit and vegetables can be found.

Some restaurants choose to serve a plate of an array of appetizers to guests while they await their main courses. Prior to digging in, ask if the food is complimentary or inquire about the cost: Quanto custa este? (How much does it cost?) Though Rodrigues mentions that this food should be complimentary, there have been cases of tourists disputing the check if the appetizer is charged. While tipping is not customary in Brazil, as a service charge is

included on the check, many restaurants will display a caixinha, or tipping box, during the holiday season.

Dining Down UnderAustralia’s culture is similar to the United States. Gregarious and adventurous, Aussies are friendly and not afraid of having too much fun. Locals are known for their sense of humor, therefore any comments made in jest are expected to receive a witty response.

If afforded the opportunity to attend a barbie, or barbecue, visitors should accept the invitation. The Aussie barbie is fun, casual and an important part

of the country’s culture. Be sure to arrive on time when attending a barbie and bring something to share or a gift for the host.

In Australia, certain dining rules do exist, however, visitors who are not familiar with or don’t use them are not viewed as offensive, as the culture is extremely laidback. Local Australian specialties include Moreton Bay bugs, which are similar to lobster and indigenous to

the South Pacific; prawns; barramundi, an indigenous fish; pavlova, a meringue dessert named for ballerina Anna Pavlova; lamingtons, a chocolate-dipped, coconut-covered sponge cake; and, of course, Vegemite. Vegemite, the Aussie dietary staple, which is used in Australia as Americans eat peanut butter, has been an integral component to the culture of the country. Be forewarned, while Vegemite is a spread, only a small amount of this concentrated yeast-extract product is necessary. Try Vegemite on toast to eat as a true local. While not yet as popular with the locals as Vegemite, Australian fare such as kangaroo, crocodile and emu are gaining momentum and can be found on restaurant menus, especially those located in tourist districts.

Though each country has distinctive social norms, many universal common travel courtesies also exist. One gesture that gains a great amount of respect from the locals is learning a bit of the language. Bilingual Books produces helpful, convenient, basic language guides named Language Maps. The small, tri-fold, laminated guides easily fit in a purse or the pocket of a jacket. Study on the plane and reference throughout the journey.

Casual outdoor dining in Australia

While learning more of any of these languages will help during travels, it takes only a small effort to learn a few key phrases of a language to gain the respect of locals and, potentially, new local friends. Begin by studying these key phrases:

JapanHello .................................... Kon'nichiwaThank you ......................... ArigatōDoyouspeakEnglish?Anata wa eigo o hanashite imasu ka?Yes ........................................ HaiNo ......................................... Īe

Japanese language tip: Japanese culture dictates a custom of specifying the quantity of items when placing an order. A clerk will often ask if you want only one order. It’s possible to bypass this by saying “one order of______,” which in Japanese would be "_______ wo hitotsu"

Brazil (Portuguese)Hello. .............................. OláThank you ..................... ObrigadoDoyouspeakEnglish? Você fala InglêsYes ................................... SimNo ................................... Não

australiaYes, English is the official language of Australia, yet Aussie vernacular includes a few words and phrases that would be helpful for travelers to know.

Afternoon ...................... ArvoMc Donald’s .................. Macca’sA bar ............................... Hotel (Also means a place of accommodation)Breakfast ....................... BrekkyFlatWhite ...................... Australian coffee topped with steamed milk