Food culture difference among different
countries
Name 丁崧
Academy and Class 热能与动力工程01班 Number 20084186 Teacher 方玲
Time 2010/6/23
Food culture differences among different countries
Thesis statement：This paper is talking about the food culture differences between several countries. The differences include food differences, tableware differences and table manners differences. Through this paper we can learn some details which will be helpful when we sit on table with our foreigner friends.
Outline：
1. Introduction
2. Food differences among different counties 2.1 Eastern cuisine
2.1.1China cuisine
2.2 Western cuisine
2.2.1 French cuisine
2.3Arab cuisine
2.4some taboo food
3. Table manners differences among different counties 3.1China 3.2Western
4. Conclusion
Works cited
Food Culture Differences among Different Countries
1. Introduction
Food is necessity for everyone. The people all the world consume great deal of food, but what they eat are so different. There is a huge difference among different countries on food culture. There is abundant food in world. Every country has its characteristic courses. And people live in different area are fond of different food, they also use different tableware to eat dinner, what’s more they even have different table manners. We call the difference is food culture.
Where does the food culture come from? I think there will be several reasons: Firstly, What people get will influence what they can eat. For instance , farmer may eat more vegetable, and fisherman may have more chance to eat aquatic product. Secondly, the nation culture will affect food culture.
In this paper, I'd like to make a comparison among different countries food culture to see their differences, and at the same time I'll try to give a tentative explanation to the differences ．From the comparison, maybe we can know some helpful functions they play in their own society.
2. Food differences among different counties
The cuisine system of world can be divided into three parts: eastern cuisine, western cuisine, and Arab cuisine. And in the three parts, the China cuisine, the Turkey cuisine, and French cuisine are most famous.
2.1 Eastern cuisine
The history of eastern cuisine has 5000 years. It is based on agriculture and forestry, and rice, vegetable, beans, and so on; are the main food. In diet, pork get a high percent. And easterners
also prefer eating delicacy, also some special and strange food may sent to the table (such as flowers, insect ,etc).In Asia, around Chinese dish, there are Japanese dish, Korea dish, Vietnam dish, Thailand dish, etc.
2.1.1China cuisine
China is a large agricultural country, with grain-based diet, plant-dominated, mostly
vegetables and grains. Chinese like eating hot food, they think that if the dish becomes cool, the taste become bad. Any diet can not do without food. According to a survey, Chinese food has more than 600 kinds of vegetables, six times more than in the West. In Chinese cuisine, the vegetarian food is normal, civilians generally eat mainly vegetables. In ancient times, fish and meat can be eaten only in the worship. China is of long history with a vast territory. Due to the diversity of the climate, products and customs, there are widely different food styles and taste in local regions. Through creation by past dynasties, the long standing cooking art has formed rich and colorful local dishes. Among them, \"the eight major dishes\" enjoys the upper reputation,
which consists of Shangdong, Chekiang, Sichuan, Jiangshu, Guangdong, Hunan, Fujian and Anhui. A common saying in Chinese cuisine has been around in Chinese culture for some time. Its exact origin is unknown, though it attempts to summarize the entire cuisine in one sentence. The order of the directions can vary within local culture. It should be noted Chinese cuisine have gone through numerous transformations through the different dynasties all the way up to modern times. Many different versions of the quote exist on the internet today. One of the most common version under google's search result suggest an overwhelmingly different version in mainland Simplified Chinese. Language Simplified Chinese English Phrase 南甜, 北咸, 东淡, 西北酸,西南辣 South is sweet, North is salty, East is mild, West North is sour, West South is spicy 2.2 Western cuisine The history of Western cuisine is 3000 years. Because of the animal husbandry and fishery, Western cuisine is based on animal products, such as meat, eggs, milk, etc. Beef is high
proportion of meat ware. And westerners are fond of black bread, marine fish, chocolate, cheese, coffee, cold drink. French cuisine is the center of Western cuisine, and then is Russia dish, Italy dish.
2.2.1 French cuisine
French cuisine is a style of cooking originating from France, having developed from centuries of social and political change. Ingredients and dishes vary by region. There are many significant regional dishes that have become both national and regional. Cheese and wine are a major part of the cuisine, playing different roles regionally and nationally with many variations and appellation d'origine contrôlée (AOC) (regulated appellation) laws. There are many dishes that are considered part of the nation's national cuisine today. Many come from classic cuisine in the fine-dining realm, but others are regional dishes that have become a norm across the country. And Foie gras1, Fish sauce, etc; are most famous dish.
2.3Arab cuisine
The history of Arab cuisine is 1300 years. Because of local economy, the cuisine is combined with animal products and plant products. Arabians eat more mutton than people of other areas. 1
法式鹅肝
Essential to any cooking in the Arabian Peninsula is the concept of hospitality. Meals are generally large family affairs, with much sharing and a great deal of warmth over the dinner table. Formal dinners and celebrations generally entail large quantities of lamb, and every occasion entails large quantities of Arabic coffee. In an average Persian Gulf state household, a visitor might expect a dinner consisting of a very large platter, shared commonly, with a vast mountain of rice, incorporating lamb or chicken, or both, as separate dishes, with various stewed vegetables, heavily spiced, sometimes with a tomato sauce. Most likely, there would be several other items on the side, less hearty. Tea would certainly accompany the meal, as it is almost constantly consumed. Coffee would be included as well.
2.4some taboo food
Birds
In Western cultures today, most people regard songbirds as backyard wildlife rather than as food. In addition, some migratory birds are protected by international treaty.
In Islam the birds must have feathers and not be a bird of prey. Moreover it must be the kind of bird that when it flies, if so, it must flap its wings to fly more than just simply gliding. This includes fowls, pigeons, ducks, etc.
Cows
By Indian law, the slaughter of cattle is banned in almost all Indian states. Some ethnic
Chinese may also refrain from eating cow meat, because many of them feel that it is wrong to eat an animal that was so useful in agriculture. Some Chinese Buddhists discourage the consumption of beef, although it is not considered taboo.
Dogs
Generally in all Western countries eating the meat of any type of animal commonly kept as pets or companion animals (e.g. dogs and cats) is considered taboo, though that taboo has been broken under threat of starvation in the past.
3. Table manners differences among different counties
Table manners are the rules of manners used while eating, which may also include the appropriate use of tableware. Different cultures observe different rules for table manners. Each family or group sets its own standards for how strictly these rules are to be enforced.
3.1Table manners of China
Generally, Chinese table manners are more informal than the West, although there are more rules concerning interactions with other guests due to high levels of social interaction as a result of the communal style of serving.
A. Seating arrangement
For a banquet, the seating order is important. In China, seating arrangement always is according to the flow picture. Host will face the door, and more important guest will seat near host. After the seating order been determined, guest should not change seating without some good reasons. If behind you, there seating an elder, you should help him or her sit firstly. It is
normally the elderly man who gets the first service, because in China where hierarchy is prevalent, it is the elderly or the superior who is supposed to get special respect.
B. Times
In china, when you go to a banquet, you should reach in earlier several moments. If you want to leave early, before you sit down you should tell host for this things. And after you eat the most luxurious dish, you can leave.
C. Chopsticks
Chopsticks should always be held correctly. between the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand.
Never point the chopsticks at another person. This amounts to insulting that person and is a major faux pas.
Never wave your chopsticks around as if they were an extension of your hand gestures. Never bang chopsticks like drumsticks. This is akin to telling others at the table you are a beggar.
Never use chopsticks to move bowls or plates. Never suck the chopsticks.
Decide what to pick up before reaching with chopsticks, instead of hovering them over or rummaging through dishes.
To keep chopsticks off the table, they can be rested horizontally on one's plate or bowl; a chopstick rest (commonly found in restaurants) can also be used.
3.2Table manners of western A. Seating arrangement
In western countries, the seating is according to the flow picture. Because of the shape of table is different, the seating order becomes different. But it is same with China is that the honored guest will be nearer for host. It is likely the young lady who is first served because of their Ladies First tradition. If you're a guest at someone's house, don't sit until the host sits first. If you are at a romantic dinner, the man should push the woman’s chair out for her.
B. Times
Westerners always will be late several minutes for party, since they think there will enough time for host to prepare dishes. If you want to visit some friends or relatives, you should make reservation with him. Westerns taboo on the 13th and Friday, so you should void this day to hold party or banquet.
C. On table
When serving, serve from the left and pick-up the dish from the right. Beverages, however, are to be both served as well as removed from the right-hand side.
Dip your soup spoon away from you into the soup. Eat soup noiselessly, from the side of the spoon. When there is a small amount left, you may lift the front end of the dish slightly with your free hand to enable collection of more soup with your spoon.
If you are having difficulty getting food onto your fork, use a small piece of bread or your knife to assist. Never use your fingers or thumb.
You may thank or converse with the staff, but it is not necessary, especially if engaged in conversation with others.
Do not \"play with\" your food or utensils. Never wave or point silverware. You may rest forearms or hands on the table, but not elbows. 4. Conclusion
Different areas have their own characteristics and both have their roots deep in their own culture. It causes the different food culture. Since the difference, sometimes the people come from different place may cause some misunderstandings. After we learn the difference, for
example the food taboo, we can get well with foreigners. For mostly students, through this paper we can learn more Knowledge.
.Works cited
何宏《中外饮食差异》北京大学
陈肖前《中西饮食文化差异》海南大学
Some Information comes from Wikipedia, food culture.
Different Culture Between China And Western Countries
Part I What leads to the cultural difference?
The cultures of the East and the West really distinguish each other a lot. This is
because the culture systems are two separate systems on the whole.
The origin of the eastern cultures is mainly from two countries: China and India. Both of the two cultures are gestated by rivers. In China, the mother river is the
Yellow River while the Indian one is the Hindu River. These two cultures were developed for several thousand years and formed their own styles. Then in Dang Dynasty of China, the Chinese culture gradually went overseas to Japan, mixed into the Japanese society and shaped the Japanese culture nowadays. Though a
bit different from the Chinese one, it belongs to the same system.
Part II How differently do people behave in daily life?
The differences are everywhere. They affect people’s ways of thinking and their views of the world. Even in everyday life, the cultural differences show up from
the moment the eyes are opened to the minute the dreams are invited.
In the following, I’ll give some typical example of the differences
Section 1: Greeting
Greeting is the first step to form a culture, because people begin to communicate with others. The individuals become a community.
How do we Chinese greet each other? Informally, if we meet an friend in the street, we are used to say: “Hi, have you had your meal?” or “Where are you going?”. When it is the case of two gentlemen, they tend to shake hands.
However, in the western countries, the above questions are just questions, not greeting at all. They may think you’re inviting them to dinner if you ask about their meals. Usually, they’ll just give each other a smile or greet with a “Hi.”. They’ll shake hands only in some formal situations. By the way, Westerners can leave a party or meeting halls without a formal conge, nor should they shake
hands with every attendee like most of us will do here.
Section 2: Expressing gratitude
Think of the situations below. Your mother is busy in the kitchen. She suddenly asks you to fetch a bowl for her. You do so. What’ll your mother’s response be? Probably she’ll just continue doing the cooking. After a while, the dinner is ready. Your mother hands you your bowl of rice. What’s your response? Probably just
begin to eat.
That’s what I want to say. In Chinese families, we rarely say “Thank you” to other family members for receiving help or service. Neither will we say so between good friends. It’s such an unpopular response that if you say it, the counterpart will think you are treating him as a stranger, otherwise you are
lacking of intimacy.
But in the West, \"thank you\" is one of the most frequently used sentences. Teachers will thank a student for answering a question; husbands will thank his
wife for making a coffee.
However, as an interesting phenomenon, it’s a custom to say \"thank you\" in Japan. No matter in family or among friends, Japanese chronically use it all the
day. This is probably the aberrance of the culture.
Section 3 Dining
The ways people eat, that is, the table manner, really distinguish a lot. The reason for this is probably because of the different dining tools and menus.
Easterners use chopsticks, or sometimes even grasp rice straightly with hands as Indians do. The thin and long chopsticks cannot be used to cut food, so we usually use our teeth to act as knives. We hold our food, meat or vegetable, with the chopsticks, send them to the mouths, bite off a part of it and remain the other part on the chopsticks. That’s the usual way we eat. We are also used to hold up our bowls when having rice or soup. Japanese hold bowls to have miso soup without spoons. But all these habits are considered rude in the Western
countries.
The etiquette in the West requests that when eating, bowls and plates cannot leave the tables. Food should be cut by knives to fit into the mouths. Of course your mouth cannot touch the plates or bowls. So the regular process is like this. You cut your steak on the plate with fork and knife, send the meat cube into the
mouth with fork and nothing will be returned back but the fork alone.
Section 4 Symbolizing
Symbolization is how people imagine or regard something. It actually reflects the way people think. Here I’ll only discuss some symbolization that frequently
appears in daily life.
First is about the colors. We often give each color some meanings, because we
feel differently when facing different colors. So people always have preference when choosing colors of clothes, decorations, etc. In the APEC summit held in Shanghai several years ago, in the last day, the presidents from all over the world wore the traditional Chinese Dang suits and took a photo together. The colors of the suits were chosen by themselves freely. However, it’s quite interesting to find that most Easterners chose red while most of the westerners preferred blue. To explain this, it’s easy to realize that what red means is almost opposite in the East and the West. Red means luck, fortune here. We Chinese often use this color to decorate in festivals, such as red lanterns, red Chinese nodes, red bangers. But red stands for blood, revolutions in the West. So the
presidents avoided wearing this unlucky color.
Another interesting discovery is about the dragons. In the East, dragons are imagined as something like snake and are flowing in the sky for most of the time. The dragon is said to have the face of the horse, the horns of the deer, the ears of the ox, the body of the snake, the claws of the eagle and squama of the fish. We regard dragon as God and say that we Chinese are the offspring of the dragon. The God of Dragons of the four seas can charge the rainfalls, so we sometimes also call them the God of the water or rain. But in the West, people think dragons as dinosaurs, which can stand on the ground with feet and fly with huge wings. They lay eggs just like dinosaurs. The dragons of the West have the ability to erupt fire, instead of water. The fire can destroy everything so the dragons are not welcomed at all. They even become the symbol of the Devil.
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