Dining out ...

Messy dining in local Chinese restaurants

Since arriving in Manly, I have sampled many of the local restaurants and I think I'm still not back to the reality that there are so many multicultural options available here, unlike China.  But I do miss the eye opening experience of dining in a local Chinese restaurant, the mess, the noise, the smoke, the smells and of course, the tastes.  I was reminded of all of this when reading an entry by WoAi ('I love' in Mandarin) on his blog, 'I love China', about Chinese dining habits.  Here are some snippets .... 

• It’s perfectly acceptable to rest your foot on the adjacent chair, or even on your own chair.

• When the bill comes, it’s polite to make at least a weak attempt at fighting to pay the bill, although you should allow the host to eventually win the battle and avoid losing face.

• Playing on your PSP / Nintendo DS, reading magazines or sending texts while ignoring your other dinner guests is perfectly acceptable.
• Screaming at the waitress to bring you more beer while she’s busy taking the order of the table next door is completely okay.

• Bringing your own food and drinks to consume in the restaurant is perfectly fine.
• Finishing every last bit of food is NOT fine as it indicates to your host that he was not generous and did not order sufficiently.

His blog entry was prompted by an entry on Wikipedia ..... 

• Strong alcohol, called baijiu is often served throughout the meal; and it is customary for the host[s]/hostess[es] to insist that guests drink to “show friendship.” If the guests prefers not to drink, they may say, “I’m unable to drink, but thank you.”  The host may continue to insist that the guests drink, and the guests may likewise continue to insist upon being “unable” to drink. The host’s insistance is to show generosity. Therefore, refusal by the guests should be made with utmost politeness. Beware: If a guest drinks alcohol with a subordinate at the table, the guest will be expected [if not forced] to drink a glass of the same alcohol with each superior at that table, and possibly at other tables too—if the guest has not passed out yet.

• When the hostess says her food is not good enough, the guest must disagree and tell her it is one of the finest foods they have ever tasted.

• Belching, smacking, and sipping is allowed. Talking with a full mouth, eating with the elbows on the table and tasting from a table guest’s plate is also allowed.

• When eating food that contains bones, it is customary that the bones be spat out onto the table to the right of the dining plate in a neat pile. Spitting onto the floor is almost never acceptable.

• When people wish to clink drinks together in the form of a cheer, it is important to observe that younger members should clink the rim of their glass below the rim of an elder’s to show respect.

Now isn't eating in a western restaurant boring compared to this?!  Happy dining.