Would you like a tip?
Did you know that when in Japan, when you eat a soup (mmmm, ramen! Soba!!!), or other types of liquid food, it is perfectly acceptable to lift the bowl to your lips and slurp it down?
Yes it is!
In fact, slurping loudly and proudly shows everyone within earshot that you have a great appetite and that you are paying your compliments to the chef.
So ya better slurp your soup if you enjoy it, or you'll offend someone or constantly have your dining partners worried you aren't enjoying your repast!
Now, in Japan, when you order a soup (or pretty much any meal), the utensils you get/and or use, are chopsticks. How the hell does one use chopsticks to eat soup?
Well, worry not, oh gaijin (foreigner) world traveler. Take a look at the soup bowl... there's a small, thick porcelain spoon, too.
You use the chopsticks to pick up the more solid ingredients, and use the spoon to dredge up some liquid. And don't forget to slurp.
For the gaijin, this is going to take some conscious effort. You need to think about slurping with every mouthful - you don't have to do this with drinks!
You should slurp up noodles... to do this, channel your inner child, lean about six inches from the face of the bowl, lift the noodles to your mouth, and inhale making sure you make a loud slurping sound.
It's not like being a kid and eating spaghetti. YOU, as an adult don't really want to get anything all over your clothes. That's why I suggest you lean over the bowl. You don't really just inhale the food through a small hole in your mouth. To create the slurp, you need a slightly larger hole in the mouth so that the noodles can slide in wet, and you can get more air into your maw.
Anyhow... I'm sure YOU can figure out how to slurp... but it does take some doing. I know many gaijin who try to do it, but really, the slurping noise is down right embarrassing - and by that, I mean it is lame.
When you are done your meal, you should say: "Gochisosama deshita" or the short form of: "gochisosama."
Basically, it means: Thank-you for a great meal. It is said to obviously give thanks to your meal.
It can be said directly to the meals' host, to the restaurant workers as you leave, but is generally spoken out loud to no one and everyone as you finish eating. Thanks god for the grub.
Oh! And here's one I never realized until a few weeks ago! before you leave a finished meal, you should replace any covers on bowls or pots. It's for no other reason than to show a modicum of respect to the person cleaning your table, as you don't want anything to slosh around and hit the flooring.
And, just in case you are wondering what sort of tip to leave a server or a taxi driver - don't! It is not considered polite to offer a tip in Japan. Apparently, it is an undignified way for anyone salaried to earn extra money.
Click HERE to read an old blog I wrote on this subject.
by Andrew Joseph
Did you know that when in Japan, when you eat a soup (mmmm, ramen! Soba!!!), or other types of liquid food, it is perfectly acceptable to lift the bowl to your lips and slurp it down?
Yes it is!
In fact, slurping loudly and proudly shows everyone within earshot that you have a great appetite and that you are paying your compliments to the chef.
So ya better slurp your soup if you enjoy it, or you'll offend someone or constantly have your dining partners worried you aren't enjoying your repast!
Now, in Japan, when you order a soup (or pretty much any meal), the utensils you get/and or use, are chopsticks. How the hell does one use chopsticks to eat soup?
Well, worry not, oh gaijin (foreigner) world traveler. Take a look at the soup bowl... there's a small, thick porcelain spoon, too.
You use the chopsticks to pick up the more solid ingredients, and use the spoon to dredge up some liquid. And don't forget to slurp.
For the gaijin, this is going to take some conscious effort. You need to think about slurping with every mouthful - you don't have to do this with drinks!
You should slurp up noodles... to do this, channel your inner child, lean about six inches from the face of the bowl, lift the noodles to your mouth, and inhale making sure you make a loud slurping sound.
It's not like being a kid and eating spaghetti. YOU, as an adult don't really want to get anything all over your clothes. That's why I suggest you lean over the bowl. You don't really just inhale the food through a small hole in your mouth. To create the slurp, you need a slightly larger hole in the mouth so that the noodles can slide in wet, and you can get more air into your maw.
Anyhow... I'm sure YOU can figure out how to slurp... but it does take some doing. I know many gaijin who try to do it, but really, the slurping noise is down right embarrassing - and by that, I mean it is lame.
When you are done your meal, you should say: "Gochisosama deshita" or the short form of: "gochisosama."
Basically, it means: Thank-you for a great meal. It is said to obviously give thanks to your meal.
It can be said directly to the meals' host, to the restaurant workers as you leave, but is generally spoken out loud to no one and everyone as you finish eating. Thanks god for the grub.
Oh! And here's one I never realized until a few weeks ago! before you leave a finished meal, you should replace any covers on bowls or pots. It's for no other reason than to show a modicum of respect to the person cleaning your table, as you don't want anything to slosh around and hit the flooring.
And, just in case you are wondering what sort of tip to leave a server or a taxi driver - don't! It is not considered polite to offer a tip in Japan. Apparently, it is an undignified way for anyone salaried to earn extra money.
Click HERE to read an old blog I wrote on this subject.
by Andrew Joseph
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