Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 7:19 pm Post subject: Chinese Table Manners
The main difference between Chinese
& western eating habits is: unlike the
West,where everyone has their own
plate of food,in China the dishes are
placed on the table and everybody
shares.
If you are being treated by a Chinese
host, be prepared for a ton of food.
The Chinese are very proud of their
culture of cuisine, and will do their
best to show their hospitality.
Don't finish everything on your plate either, in the west it's considered good manners to eat everything, here if you finish off your plate most Chinese will assume you're still hungry and give you more. _________________
actually I dont like a lot of thai dishes--it is not so much the quality of the food but the ingredients and seasonings --a lot of stuff just does not taste good to me. _________________ Asia Expats Forum Expat Web Directory Expat Friends Dating
those noodles in that orangish puke sauce sucks big time.
i remember when i had my restaurant-one day the thai cook brought me a piece of meat and asked if it was spoiled or not--it was obviously rotten and stank to high heaven but to him it was ok.
There are people who seem to be able to eat anything--not me
HA, table manners! I'm surprised no-one's brought up what I'm fixing to, but since it hasn't been brought up, I'll bring it up! This isn't intended to be disrespectful, but one's gotta be honest.
For those used to Western table manners, coming to China would probably be a rude shock (we're talking about those experiencing the real China, eating where local Chinese do, etc etc).
The table isn't so much considered a place to eat, as it is a trash can. Don't be surprised if your Chinese companions order peanuts, and then happily stack the shells on the table. This goes for other stuff too, like fish bones, and other non-edibles.
Spitting is not frowned upon - people will usually spit into just about ANYTHING, including plates, ashtrays, and the table. Kinda disconcerting for a newbie to watch someone chew a piece of fish (or whatever) and spit 1/2 of it out all over the table ... sorta disconcerting (for me, at least) to watch some spit and throw leftover peanut shells into an ashtray and then grind his cigarette out in the mess, and then leave it for the waitress to clean ...
I pity the waitresses and cleaners in most Chinese restaurants, thats for SURE
And this isn't limited to local restaurants ... one of the companies I worked for in the past had their annual dinner there, and one of the "skilled workers" (he had an MBA) did exactly the same thing (much to the consternation of the ladies from the HK office) ... though of course, this doesnt happen as frequently in 5 star hotels.
Now as far as the food goes ...
As for real authentic Chinese food, I have a feeling I'd love the food up north since it's WAY spicier and they eat a lot more meat up there. Unfortunately I'm living in Dongguan (Guangdong) where EVERYTHING and ANYTHING is eaten, including roaches, dogs, grasshoppers and other such delicacies. And, most of the food here is not spicy at all. Most of the food here is seafood based ... BUT before the seafood lovers jump with joy, keep in mind most of the seafood is NOT what most expats are used to. It's choc-a-bloc full of bones (tiny bones at that) and 'boneless' isn't a term anyone cares to be familiar with either /
I found it difficult to eat anything let alone eat a plate full.
I can identify - during the annual "dinners" I attended, my dinner consisted of 99percent beer and 1percent nibbling on something at the table (or perhaps rice).
Durian ..... Something even the maggots wouldn't eat
Durian is just one of those foods that you either love or hate. I grew up eating that stuff and I still love it today, its like a banana yogurty thing going on.
HA, table manners! I'm surprised no-one's brought up what I'm fixing to, but since it hasn't been brought up, I'll bring it up! This isn't intended to be disrespectful, but one's gotta be honest.
For those used to Western table manners, coming to China would probably be a rude shock (we're talking about those experiencing the real China, eating where local Chinese do, etc etc).
The table isn't so much considered a place to eat, as it is a trash can. Don't be surprised if your Chinese companions order peanuts, and then happily stack the shells on the table. This goes for other stuff too, like fish bones, and other non-edibles.
Spitting is not frowned upon - people will usually spit into just about ANYTHING, including plates, ashtrays, and the table. Kinda disconcerting for a newbie to watch someone chew a piece of fish (or whatever) and spit 1/2 of it out all over the table ... sorta disconcerting (for me, at least) to watch some spit and throw leftover peanut shells into an ashtray and then grind his cigarette out in the mess, and then leave it for the waitress to clean ...
I pity the waitresses and cleaners in most Chinese restaurants, thats for SURE
And this isn't limited to local restaurants ... one of the companies I worked for in the past had their annual dinner there, and one of the "skilled workers" (he had an MBA) did exactly the same thing (much to the consternation of the ladies from the HK office) ... though of course, this doesnt happen as frequently in 5 star hotels.
Now as far as the food goes ...
As for real authentic Chinese food, I have a feeling I'd love the food up north since it's WAY spicier and they eat a lot more meat up there. Unfortunately I'm living in Dongguan (Guangdong) where EVERYTHING and ANYTHING is eaten, including roaches, dogs, grasshoppers and other such delicacies. And, most of the food here is not spicy at all. Most of the food here is seafood based ... BUT before the seafood lovers jump with joy, keep in mind most of the seafood is NOT what most expats are used to. It's choc-a-bloc full of bones (tiny bones at that) and 'boneless' isn't a term anyone cares to be familiar with either /
That's one reason I've turned into MORE of a pizza and beer guy here in China than I was before!
You think the tables are bad - you should examine the floors and having lived in the South for a while I can honestly say the table manners in the far North are much much worse.
Every table is provided wth an ashtray - the floor is used at all times..
In some of the cheaper restaurants you'll find human excrement under the tables (beware of a family with young child under 5) they wear crotchless pants - so they can just p**s and s**t wherever they feel the need, though a bathroom and washing facilities are provided - the floor is used..
If you slip in something its usually one or all of these things - p**s, puke and beer..
As for the food being spicy here - not true as a rule - they do like a lot of spicy fish - but I'm sure that's just to disguise the pollution the fish have absorbed in the Songhau river..
Spicy food - you need Sichuan for that.
True there's lots of meat dishes here, but it's usually if not always fried in fish oil first, never boiled except in dumplings..
I can thorougly reccommend the Donkey Dumplings however, they're wonderful but a tad pricy. _________________
You think the tables are bad - you should examine the floors and having lived in the South for a while I can honestly say the table manners in the far North are much much worse.
Every table is provided wth an ashtray - the floor is used at all times..
In some of the cheaper restaurants you'll find human excrement under the tables (beware of a family with young child under 5) they wear crotchless pants - so they can just p**s and s**t wherever they feel the need, though a bathroom and washing facilities are provided - the floor is used..
If you slip in something its usually one or all of these things - p**s, puke and beer..
As for the food being spicy here - not true as a rule - they do like a lot of spicy fish - but I'm sure that's just to disguise the pollution the fish have absorbed in the Songhau river..
Spicy food - you need Sichuan for that.
True there's lots of meat dishes here, but it's usually if not always fried in fish oil first, never boiled except in dumplings..
I can thorougly reccommend the Donkey Dumplings however, they're wonderful but a tad pricy.
Yep, table manners up there may be worse, but the floors are still used as toilets here. In fact young kids p*** and s*** in front of WALMART (right in front) of all things, and also merrily all over the "gardens" in the apartment complex where I live (which is supposed to be upscale) ... and this is condoned by security at both places.
As for spicy, yep, Sichuan and Hunan have spicy food ... I've never had any spicy fish down here though. But then, I tend to stay away from fish here ... I HATE picking bones out one by one. And I'm not a great fish eater anyway.
You think the tables are bad - you should examine the floors and having lived in the South for a while I can honestly say the table manners in the far North are much much worse.
Every table is provided wth an ashtray - the floor is used at all times..
In some of the cheaper restaurants you'll find human excrement under the tables (beware of a family with young child under 5) they wear crotchless pants - so they can just p**s and s**t wherever they feel the need, though a bathroom and washing facilities are provided - the floor is used..
If you slip in something its usually one or all of these things - p**s, puke and beer..
As for the food being spicy here - not true as a rule - they do like a lot of spicy fish - but I'm sure that's just to disguise the pollution the fish have absorbed in the Songhau river..
Spicy food - you need Sichuan for that.
True there's lots of meat dishes here, but it's usually if not always fried in fish oil first, never boiled except in dumplings..
I can thorougly reccommend the Donkey Dumplings however, they're wonderful but a tad pricy.
Yep, table manners up there may be worse, but the floors are still used as toilets here. In fact young kids p*** and s*** in front of WALMART (right in front) of all things, and also merrily all over the "gardens" in the apartment complex where I live (which is supposed to be upscale) ... and this is condoned by security at both places.
As for spicy, yep, Sichuan and Hunan have spicy food ... I've never had any spicy fish down here though. But then, I tend to stay away from fish here ... I HATE picking bones out one by one. And I'm not a great fish eater anyway.
Last but not least - Meat fried in fish oil ???
Not only fried in it, but the whole dish comes swimming in it! they do make great mashed potatoes here (probably influenced by the Russians) but you can only order that dish once and never again.. yep, you guessed it, too cheap to use butter so they improvise with..... yep.... bl**dy fish oil again... _________________
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Nothing beats a good tum yum kung with coconut milk-northern style
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