17 Food Faux Pas You Must Avoid When Travelling
Food is often a highlight of travel adventures, especially when the trip is abroad. The thrill of experiencing new flavours, textures, smells, and even sights make dining in a new location a memorable experience. In fact, culinary experiences can be just as memorable as the sights and sounds of your intended travel destination. However, when you’re traveling abroad, there may be some food faux pas that you’re unaware of. Navigating unfamiliar customs can lead to mishaps or even offending the company you’re dining with.
These mishaps can negatively affect your dining experience and make the memories less memorable, and we don’t want that. So today we’re sharing the ultimate guide to avoiding food mistakes when you’re traveling. We’ll teach you where NOT to leave an empty plate, what hand to pour wine with, where not to offer to split the bill but instead pay the entire thing, and where not to bring yellow flowers to dinner. By the end, you’ll be ready for all kinds of culinary experiences and make awesome food memories!
17 Food Faux Pas You Must Avoid When Travelling.1. Finger foods in Chile.
An important rule to remember when you’re dining in Chile is to avoid using your hands to pick up your food. There aren’t any “finger foods” in Chilean cuisine. Another important rule to be aware of while you’re enjoying fantastic Chilean food like empanadas and cozuela is to keep your hands above the table and never on your lap. Also, don’t lick your fingers or use toothpicks. They’re both considered vulgar and extremely impolite.
2. Flipping fish in China.
If you’re dining at a traditional Chinese restaurant and order whole fish, it’s best to not flip it over. Actually, just don’t do it. It’s a traditional custom in China to never flip over a whole fish because it’s symbolic of a fishing boat flipping over, for some families, fishing is a routine occurrence, and this tragedy could affect them.
3. Don’t refill your own drinking glass in Egypt.
While in Egypt, you might be exploring the iconic pyramids of Giza, the Valley of the Kings, or Saqqara, but when it’s time to stop to eat, this rule is a must-remember. Make sure you never pour your own drink. And, keep an eye on your neighbour’s glass because if it’s less than half full, you need to refill it.
4. Eating with your left hand in India.
In India, your left hand is for doing the dirty work. (cough, cough, the bathroom stuff.) Therefore, it’s a must that you avoid using it during your dining experiences in India. It’s perceived as “rude” behaviour to complete eating tasks with the left hand.
5. Cutting your pasta in Italy.
Home to some of the most iconic pasta dishes in the world, Italy can serve you an epic plate of spaghetti. But, whatever you do, make sure you don’t cut your pasta! In Italy, food is meant to be savoured and not rushed. You slowly eat the noodles, not cut them up to eat them faster. In addition, cutting up the pasta disrupts the vibe of the dish, and no one wants that. Especially in Italy!
6. Forgetting to tip in the United States.
It’s an American custom to tip after a sit-down meal in the United States. A typical amount is 20%. If you don’t do this, your server might give you a dirty look or two.
7. Thinking food is “finger-licking” good in Ethiopia.
Licking your fingers in Ethiopia is considered rude. No matter how tasty your meal was, resist the temptation to lick your fingers.
8. Mixing seafood and cheese in Italy.
Seafood is a delicacy in Italy, and sprinkling some cheese atop your seafood pasta is seen as nearly criminal. And, if you request it in a restaurant while in Italy, there’s a good chance that your waiter will refuse. Italians believe that the cheese makes the dish more subtle and less flavourful.
9. Not leaving an empty plate while dining in India.
In a country where food is sacred, you must make sure that you eat everything that was served to you. Out of respect for the food, it’s vital to eat it all.
10. Salt and pepper, please in Egypt and Portugal.
This is one phrase you’re going to want to avoid during your adventures in Egypt and/or Portugal. This question may very well hurt the chef’s feelings, as it sends a nonverbal message that the dish doesn’t have enough flavour and you have to finish their “job.”.
11. Using your left hand to pour wine in Argentina and Bolivia.
This is a major mistake you’ll want to avoid. Dining in Argentina and Bolivia promises an unforgettable experience, but you want to make sure you know your rights. That’s because pouring your companion a glass of wine with your left hand is considered rude. And avoid holding the wine bottle from the bottom because that’s also rude.
12. Don’t sip your wine while in Georgia.
In Georgia, it’s tradition that wine is drunk during toasts. Once everyone toasts, then you can drink the glass at once. No sipping!
13. Tipping in Japan.
Regardless of how delicious your meal was, tipping is not customary in Japan, and sometimes it might even be considered impolite.
14. Eating with a fork in Thailand.
In Thailand, forks are generally used to guide the food to scoop onto your spoon. You don’t use the fork to pick the food up and put it in your mouth.
15. Turning down vodka while in Russia.
In Russia, offering someone a drink is considered to be a sign of friendship and trust, so turning one down is generally frowned upon.
16. Bringing yellow flowers to dinner in Bulgaria.
Yellow flowers are a sign of dislike, so bringing a bunch of yellow ones to dinner is not a good idea.
17. Doubling down on the cheese in Italy.
While it might seem like a no-brainer to ask for more cheese, it’s something to avoid when you’re in Italy. This is because it’s thought that the chef plates the dish how they think it should be enjoyed and asking for more cheese isn’t what they intended.
The Takeaway
Eating new foods is one of the best parts of traveling. It can be a truly unforgettable experience, satisfying your tastebuds, sense of smell, and even your vision, as some dishes are truly a work of art. But some destinations have some subtle etiquette rules that can either make or break your entire experience. From licking your fingers in delight to asking for salt and pepper, tipping in the wrong place, or even the colour of flowers you bring, these small feats can offend, upset, or make you seem rude very quickly. So next time you’re traveling, keep this article in mind so you can avoid these major travel food faux pas.
