Food, Drink, and Dining Etiquette

 Hello, everyone. At this moment, we want to write down about "Food, Drink, and Dining Etiquette".

We'll explain about:

1. Japanese Foods

2. Japanese Drinks

3. Japanese Dining Etiquette 

4. Phrase "Enjoy Your Meal" in Japanese 

1. Japanese Foods

Tempura

The tempura is made of chunks or slices of meat, fish, and vegetables mixed with a mixture of wheat and egg yolks that are diluted with water and fried with oil until it turns yellow. 

Onigiri

An onigiri is a portable food native to Japan containing rice formed into a triangle or cylinder, it is wrapped in nori seaweed or norbias and has a delicious variety of stuffing in the middle

Sushi

Sushi is a very popular Japanese food these days. Sushi is made of rice and side dishes of both raw and ripe meat and vegetables, which are thereafter shaped by rolling. Sushi is sour because it is seasoned with rice vinegar, salt, and sugar.

Udon

Udon is a typical Japanese noodle made from wheat flour and salt water. It is fully formed and slightly broad. it is enjoyed in the heat.

2. Japanese Drinks

1.      Amazake

Amazake is a traditional Japanese beverage made of fermented rice, which is sweet and has a very low alcohol content. Amazake is served in the shape of a watery stew.

2.      Mugicha

Mugicha is a tea made from water mixed with roasted wheat or cooked wheat. It has great benefits. It is warm and caffeine free.

3.      Ramune

Ramune is a carbonated drink. This beverage was made of sugar or ttose corn syrup added to the flavor of a lime. It's been known since 1884 by Alexander Cameron sim.

4.      Pocari Sweat

Pocari sweat is the most popular beverage in Japan. Pocari sweat has been on sale in southeast Asia and especially in Indonesia. Pocari sweat has a mild flavor and orange sensation after being consumed.

3. Japanese Dining Etiquette 

Seating arrangements are important and symbolic

Japan has a very important and symbolic seating arrangement, usually the Japanese eat ata low table and sit on a pillow. In official Japanese seated positions (women and men) are on their knees, while in a relaxed Japanese (male) sitting position (man) and (woman) sitting with both feet on one side.

2.   Never raise your food above your mouth

Your mouth is the highest point for lifting food.

3.    Never rest your chopsticks on your bowl.

Putting chopsticks in a bowl is a violation of ethics. If you would like to place chopsticks, go to the place provided.

4.     Never use your hand to catch falling food

It would be rude to catch food falling out of your mouth with your hands. If your food falls, let it fall.

5.      Slurping is a sign of appreciation!

In Japanese culture, slurping noodles is a token of appreciation that shows how much you enjoy the food.

6.      Eat your soup with chopsticks

In Japan the soup has to be used with chopsticks, since the soup in Japan has many ingredients. In Japan the spoon is rarely used.

7.      Return all your dishes to how they were at the start of the meal once you’re done.

This is very important in Japan. When you finish eat your meal, you should return all your dishes to how they were at the start.

8.      Be conscious of how much soy sauce you pour yourself

Pour your sauce as much as you need. Don't pour too much if you don't need it.

9.      Rules of using chopsticks

In Japanese culture, rules of using chopsticks is very important. Don't cross your chopsticks, don't play with your chopsticks, don't rub your chopsticks together, don't stick your chopsticks into rice.

Usually the one who does the inviting pays the bill

In Japanese cultural, the person who invited everyone pays for the meal. 

4. Phrase "Enjoy Your Meal" in Japan

In Japan, there are two phrases to say "Enjoy Your Meal". There are before and after eating.

a. いただきます(itadakimasu). This phrase used before eating. The meaning is "Enjoy Your Meal" or in Bahasa "Selamat Makan"

b. ごちそうさま(gochisousama). This phrase used after eating. The meaning is "Thank Your for The Food" or in Bahasa "Terimakasih Atas Makanannya". (source: https://tromoro.com/selamat-makan/)

Based on research, not all Japanese say phrases before and after eating. Especially, when she/he eating alone, mostly Japanese not say the greeting with voice. Usually, the greeting will be say when she/he eat with other people. There are Japanese who never say it and there are Japanese who always say it. Depending on the person. But, if the person who cooked it is near you, it would be polite to say it to the person who cooked it.

- Thank You -