Dine around the world with dignity

When I started working, I often made the corner hot dog stand a regular pit stop for lunch.

Back then, in the early 1970s, I worked on a magazine at McGraw-Hill in New York City. Our office was on the 47th floor of a massive Manhattan skyscraper and so I decided if I took the time to go back down to earth to eat, my life in this concrete jungle would become much more meaningful.

Besides, keeping to this ritual was about the only way I ever got a glimpse of the outdoors during daylight.

Often, I would drag along a colleague. That way I could justify a few extra minutes away from the grind. We would simply tell our editor we needed to go out as we had work strategies (translation: office gossip) to discuss.

Back then, grabbing a quick bite on the street was one way to do business and still pay less than a buck in the process. In other places, this concept simply does not compute no matter how extensive the financial savings.

Take South Korea, for example.

Snacking on a public street in this Asian hotspot is not acceptable. Worse, walking while eating in Seoul is considered downright rude so don't suggest a sidewalk meal with a Korean co-worker during a visit to his or her country.

That said, following are culturally correct ways to dine with dignity around the world:

1. If you're dining in Malaysia, don't clear your throat until after you've excused yourself from the table. Don't blow your nose there either but rather wait until you find some place more private and out of hearing distance of your dinner party.

2. Unless you have a huge appetite when you are in China, don't make a habit of placing your chopsticks across your plate when you are not eating. Doing so signifies that you are still hungry. Instead, when you're done, place the pointy utensils so that they rest on the little stand that you'll find as part of your place setting.

3. In Germany, don't use your knife to cut dumplings, pancakes or potatoes. Doing so would suggest they are tough or overcooked. Use your fork instead to create bit-sized pieces.

4.  Don't try to join the clean plate club if you are visiting Egypt. In fact, it is often considered very rude to consume everything on your plate as this insinuates that you were not offered enough to eat in the first place.

5.  In Brazil, it is OK to use your fingers to eat as long as you wrap the food with your napkin. Do this even if you are eating a sandwich.

6.  In Finland, if you want to eat on the street make sure your food of choice is ice cream.

7. When your meal is served in Greece, save the spoon that has been placed parallel to the top of your plate for eating dessert.

8.  If you are offered a toothpick at the end of a meal in Turkey feel free to use it at the table but be sure to cover your mouth with your free hand when you do.

Other ways to be culturally correct around the world:

Culturally correct:  How to behave like a local in Russia

Culturally correct:  How to behave like a local in China

Culturally correct:  How to behave like a local in Iceland

Culturally correct:  How to behave like a local in India

Culturally correct:  How to behave like a local in Peru

Culturally correct: How to behave like a local in France

Culturally correct: How to behave like a local in Greece

Culturally correct; How to behave like a local in Thailand

Culturally correct: How to behave like a local in South Korea

Tipping tips

Flight etiquette

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