Twirl Pasta Like An Italian And 8 Other Ways To Eat Like A Local

No matter where in the world you end up dining, act like you belong at the table.

In France, you would never leave a piece of bread on your food plate; bread (usually sliced baguette) either remains in the bread basket or on the table clothe just near your plate, or, at more upscale dining venues, it has its own special plate that it sits on while you eat your meal.

In India, you'll find there are stand-alone sinks in many small eateries for you to wash your hands before you eat; this is incredibly important to do. And here, it's all using only your right hand and using only your fingers, a tough task for many who are not used to it. Bread, be it naan, roti, or chapati, is used as a fork to scoop up curries. You can use the bread to break up any foods, wrap it around foods, and eat.  

There is rarely any excuse in needing a spoon to help you eat your pasta, especially spaghetti, unless the sauce is a very, very liquidy sauce,and you need to do some splatter-control.. A step-by-step guide from the experts on how to eat spaghetti with a fork: Put the fork into a few strands of spaghetti; let the prongs of the fork rest against the curve of the bowl or the curved indentation of the plate, and twirl the fork around, giving it little, quick lifts to prevent too much pasta from accumulating. Once you've gathered one whopping mass of pasta, lift and eat. Repeat. 

It's all about the slurping. It's okay to drink directly from your soup bowl in Japan, and the louder you slurp, the more you'll fit in; slurping is the best way to show that you are enjoying the meal. Additionally, when eating sushi, you should not pour too much soy sauce into the small bowl as leaving any behind is considered wasteful; also, when dipping nigri, allow only the meat to touch the soy sauce. 

Much as in India, in Morocco, people often eat with their hands, and usually they eat from a communal bowl. It is most respectful to take from the part of the plate closest to you and never put your hand in your mouth, as you'll dip it back into the bowl.  

In Russia, vodka is drunk neat. Adding a mixer, or even ice, would be polluting vodka's purity. The only exception is beer, which, when mixed with vodka, becomes a drink called "yorsh." Offering someone a drink is a sign of trust and friendship, and turning it down is very offensive.

Ask any ex-pat who lived in Korea about the difficulties of dining etiquette, and one of the first things he or she will tell you is that sitting on the floor takes some serious getting used; traditionally, Koreans sit on cushions on the floor and eat from a low table. It's customary to respect your elders and wait for the eldest member (typically the male) to start eating before you eat. Several dishes are often served at one time, but first taste the soup before trying any side dishes. Additionally, never fill your own cup up with a drink; if an elder is filling your cup, be sure to hold it with two hands. Then, turn your head away from the table and take a small sip.

In Thailand, your fork should never touch your mouth; instead, your fork is used the help push food onto your spoon.