Introduction
Each country has its own culture, such as food, performance, courtesy, etc. The factors that influence the formation of a unique culture include education, religion, and philosophy, and from these factors, cultural differences have arisen in various ways.
Why it is important to understand the difference in food culture
Food and culture are very closely related. We put warm memories and emotions in the food we have eaten since we were young, and we also recall good memories through that food. In other words, food can give us exceptional personal value. For example, in Korea, when children are sick, their mothers make porridge for them. Even as adults, Koreans eat porridge whenever they are unwell because of their childhood memories. In this way, food has the power to form a culture.
Another example is traditional cooking. Traditional cuisine continues to be passed down to the next generation and can also spread to other countries. Even if conventional food has moved to other countries, the dish is not adopted by other countries as their own. Therefore, food culture is only spreading further, not disappearing. For instance, just because an immigrant goes to China with kimchi does not make kimchi a traditional Chinese dish. This is how we preserve and announce our culture.
Food contains everything, including a country’s history and traditions, so it can be said that it is a gateway to a country’s culture. In particular, in the global era, people often visit foreign countries for business purposes, which may be done in dining spots, so knowledge of table manners and how to treat basic traditional dishes form part of basic etiquette.
Difference between Eastern and Western food culture
The East and West have different ways of eating, cooking, and even serving food. First, Eastern and Western utensils are different. Unlike the East, where chopsticks and spoons are used, forks and spoons are the norms in the West. However, everyone uses a knife when they eat steak. Second, in Asia, circular tables tend to be preferred. It is for everyone to sit around and share food. Also, sharing food is a culture in the East. On the other hand, In the West, people do not share food but eat individual food. Also, rectangular tables are preferred.
Another characteristic is the amount of food. The amount of Western food is essentially higher than that of Asian food. The standard amount of food served in Western restaurants is considered “jumbo size” in the East. In addition, Western cultures tend to eat protein-rich meals mainly using meat, while Eastern food focuses on rice. Typical examples are Korean bibimbap and Vietnamese rice noodles. Moreover, there used to be differences in desserts. In the West, people enjoyed confectionery treats, such as brownies and cakes, and in the East, people enjoyed fruits. However, as many cultures are now shared, cakes and brownies have become popular desserts in the East as well.
Dining behavior by country
Table manners are a huge point everywhere. What’s crucial is that table etiquette varies from country to country. First, in Chile, people should not touch food with their hands. Customarily, forks and knives are used for all food, except bread. On the contrary, India uses hands to eat food. Touching food with the left hand is an act of injustice, so Indians use only their right hand. Finally, China and Japan have some similar customs. Putting chopsticks upright and maintaining empty bowls are avoided because they are considered disrespectful. When one has an empty plate, they are indirectly saying that there is not enough food, so it means that it was an unsatisfactory meal. Therefore, it is polite to always leave a small amount of food on the plate.
France has a unique dining culture because French dinner lasts for hours. Enjoying a meal for a long time is more polite and elegant because it belongs to social activities. For this reason, in their culture, splitting the bill or dividing the expenses among the participants is not observed. The French think it is natural for a host to serve guests and do them a favor. Italy also has a similar culture to that of France. Italians tend to savor food slowly, and it takes a long time to prepare meals. Uniquely, it is considered rude to ask for parmesan cheese unless provided by the chef. The reason is that Parmesan cheese has a strong scent that can ruin the surrounding meals.
Conclusion
Interestingly enough, many of the cultural differences we commonly talk about are also caused by food. It is complicated because the way and meaning of eating the same food are different. When traveling abroad, to avoid misunderstanding or making mistakes, at least be aware part of the culture of your counterparts. This is because, as seen above, proper table manners in the motherland can be rude in other countries. In a nutshell, there are many countries and cultures in the world, and people need to acknowledge and respect them. In particular, cultural sharing and cultural recognition are important virtues in the global era. Among them, food is most easily accommodated, so food culture should also be of great interest.
References
Jang, j., 2021. What Food Tells Us About Culture – Freely Magazine. [online] Freelymagazine.com. Available at: https://freelymagazine.com/2017/01/07/what-food-tells-us-about-culture/ [Accessed 27 August 2021].
Jang, j., 2021. 10 Differences Between Eastern And Western Eating Habits. [online] Mabel Kwong. Available at: https://mabelkwong.com/2018/06/21/10-differences-between-eastern-and-western-eating-habits/ [Accessed 27 August 2021].
Jang, j., 2021. Difference Between Western and Asian Cooking | Superprof. [online] We Love Prof – IN. Available at: https://www.superprof.co.in/blog/differences-between-asian-and-european-food/ [Accessed 27 August 2021].
Jang, j., 2021. [online] Available at: https://www.invaluable.com/blog/global-dining-etiquette/ [Accessed 27 August 2021].
