Dining Etiquette and Food

Dining Etiquette in Thailand
Thailand has good manners and fairly simple food etiquette rules. Although taking
their famous cuisine quite seriously, Thais are fun and easy-going when it comes to
eating. Although in general the eating ethics of Thai and Indonesian people are almost
the same, there are several interesting things to discuss, namely:
1. Respect Seniority at the Table
As in most Asian cultures, age and social status are given top priority. Before
you start shoveling in mouthfuls of food, wait for the highest ranking or most
senior person at the table to signal that it's time to eat. If they don't say anything,
just wait for them to initiate it.
2. Don't Eat Too Much
If you eat in Thailnad you will usually be given a plate of plain white rice,
and maybe a bowl if any soup is to be served. When the food arrives, you are
required to take the food in small quantities (no more than two spoons per plate to
the rice). This is done because the Thai people assume that everyone has the
opportunity to try every dish. Taking too much food can deprive others of food
and is considered impolite.
3. Do not eat rice using a fork and knife
Thai food is eaten using a spoon in the right hand and a fork in the left hand,
but traditionally like Indonesians in Thailand also eat with their hands. The spoon
is the main tool, the fork is only done as a support tool for foods that are not eaten
with rice (for example: pieces of fruit). No knife on the table, If you need to cut
small food use the edge of the spoon to cut it.
4. Don't Use Your Left Hand
Likewise in Indonesia, in Thailand it is not appropriate to eat using your left
hand. In fact, all over the world the left hand is considered a "dirty" hand. So
handling food and serving utensils together with the left hand is very rude to Thai
people.
5. Sitting Position
Unlike in Western countries where the "head" of the table is the most
important and is usually occupied by people who have important positions.
However, in Thailand the seat of a person who has a high position is in the
middle of the table. If you come as a guest, you will sit opposite the host to make
it easier to talk. If you eat in the lesahan position, then you sit on a bamboo mat
by always positioning yourself in a way that avoids showing the soles of your feet
to anyone.
6. Enjoy the food slowly
Unlike other rushing cultures, eating in Thailand is generally enjoyed slowly.
Don't rush to finish eating onto other things. This is intended to avoid wasting
your smartphone time at the table.
7. Payment Transactions
If the meal together is done outside the home, Thai people have a unique
habit of payment transactions. As was the custom, the person who was more
senior (or considered the richest) at the table was expected to pay for all meals. If
you are not the person paying, never offer coins or help cover expenses. That
way, you are considered insinuating that the person who pays is unable to pay the
amount of the food bill.
According to (Fauziah, et al., 2016) in addition to eating ethics, Thai people also have
unique ways of eating that are influenced by myths, for example:
1. Their heads should not be higher than the Buddha statue or the King's photo in
their house
2. When eating, they must not joke otherwise their food will be eaten by ghosts.
3. They must not lean back when eating or they will be reborn as snakes.
Indonesian Eating Etiquette
Similar to other countries, our country Indonesia also has eating ethics and we should
also do it. here are the eating ethics of Indonesians.
1. How to interact when eating

Usually Indonesian people will prioritize older people to eat and take side
dishes first. In addition, when going to take a side dish that is far away, don't
forget to ask in a polite way.
2. Sitting position
Usually sitting between women and men is not always united because of the
culture that is influenced by Islamic teachings. In addition, it is not allowed to sit
with your back leaning back. When you eat, avoid putting your left hand on the
table, instead put it on your thigh.
3. Commonly used cutlery
Indonesian people in general are familiar with the habit of eating with their
hands on the lesehan. However, even at the dining table, you can still eat by hand.
Use your right hand in a slow eating manner. However, if you are using a spoon
or fork, use them both slowly without making a sound from the plate.
4. Cough, sneeze, and burp etiquette
These three things are also usually difficult to endure when eating. However,
in Indonesian eating etiquette you should be able to cover it with a handkerchief
or tissue. Although in some countries burping means enjoying food, in Indonesia
it tends to be dirty and disrespectful
5. Ethics to speak while eating
Indonesian people do not justify speaking ethics while eating. When the
mouth is full and speaking, it is also considered impolite. Therefore, it's best to
finish your meal before speaking.
Indonesian and Thai specialties
Asian countries are known for their delicious and rich spices. The countries of
Indonesia and Thailand have their own characteristics in their food. Indonesian
cuisine has a very strong taste and is rich with herbs derived from spices. Meanwhile,
Thai cuisine has a strong taste in spicy and full of seasoning with a balance of sweet,
salty, sour, and spicy.
Indonesian special food
1. Sate is skewered meat cooked or grilled over charcoal. This skewer uses the main
ingredients of chicken, goat, rabbit, and others which are served using spicy
peanut sauce. Meat will usually be marinated in spices before cooking.
2. Gudeg has become an internationally recognized food world. This Yogyakarta
specialty tends to be sweet because it uses sweet jackfruit as its main ingredient.
The fruit is simmered in a mixture of coconut milk, palm sugar, and typical
Yogyakarta spices for several hours and served with some fried chicken or beef
skin.
3. This rendang is like beef curry, but without broth. Rendang is made from beef
cooked in coconut milk sauce and spices for several hours. This Palembang
regional specialty is one of the tastiest foods included in the UNESCO world
heritage.
4. Fried Rice can be eaten by almost all foreigners. In fact, many people from all
over the world love the taste of Indonesian fried rice. Fried rice is a food whose
main ingredients are fried rice with additional spices such as sweet soy sauce,
shallots, garlic, eggs, pepper, and other spices.
5. Gado-gado can be called a salad from Indonesia. This culinary contains various
kinds of fresh vegetables combined with peanut sauce, and is usually eaten with
crackers.
Typical Thai food
1. Tom yum has a blend of spicy, sour, and salty flavors. This culinary dish can be
served with various ingredients such as seafood, mushrooms, and quite a lot of
vegetables.
2. Pad thai consists of rice noodles mixed with eggs, tofu, fish sauce, and dried
shrimp. This dish of food is similar to kwetiu. Usually, this food is served with
broth, chives, bean sprouts, yellow tofu and sources of protein, such as shrimp,
crab, beef or chicken.
3. Som tam is a food made from young papaya and spices
4. consisting of garlic, chilies, tomatoes, fish sauce, and lime so
5. produces a delicious sweet, spicy, and salty taste. Usually, this Thai dish is served
as a substitute for heavy meals.
6. Mango Sticky Rice is a dessert that is quite popular with foreigners. This dish
consists of sticky rice, mango slices, and coconut milk sauce.
7. Khao Tom is a dish of porridge cooked with meat or various seafood. The thick
broth of meat and cilantro is the hallmark of this Thai rice soup.

Dining Etiquette and Food

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dining Etiquette and Food

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dining Etiquette and Food

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Dining Etiquette in Thailand

Indonesian Eating Etiquette

1. How to interact when eating

You might also like