Similarities and Differences in Chinese and Western Food Cultures Research on Chinese and Western Table Etiquette

Understand Chinese and Western Dining Styles and Tableware

Understand Chinese and Western Table Settings

Understand the order of serving Chinese and Western food

Understand the dining etiquette of Chinese and Western food. In China, no matter what kind of banquet, everyone sits around to enjoy a table, and the delicious food is placed in the middle of the table. It is both a The table is an object for people to enjoy, and it is also a medium for everyone to communicate with each other. At the dinner table, Chinese people like to persuade each other to drink, pick up food, and raise glasses to have fun, which is very harmonious and lively. But the situation is different in the West. When they get together to eat or treat guests, they are not as enthusiastic as Chinese people in offering drinks and serving food, and the relationship between guests and hosts is not so polite. Westerners pay more attention to personal independence and eat their own food. They do not have the Chinese people's interest in chatting and having fun. The dishes served at Chinese food should be rich and varied, usually 8, 10, or 12 dishes, with a variety of varieties, from main dishes to soups, to desserts, to fruits, and the order is also particular. When Westerners entertain guests, they eat beef, sheep, pork chops, etc. as the staple food.

Tableware: When it comes to tableware, the difference is very obvious. As we all know, the Chinese, including some yellow-race countries in Asia, use chopsticks, spoons, and bowls to eat. There are chopsticks, spoons, serving plates, condiment plates, soup bowls, tea cups, wine glasses, etc. in front of everyone's seat. Sometimes a bone vessel or napkin is provided. Chopsticks: Long cylindrical chopsticks are often used. In the past, chopsticks made of ivory and coral were used as a symbol of status. However, today, plastic chopsticks made of imitation teeth are quite common. The reason for using long chopsticks is to make it easier to pick up food. Spoons are mostly made of ceramic. Sometimes a spoon holder is provided to hold the spoons. The serving plate is a medium-sized plate with a slightly higher rim. Sometimes I prepare two. Deep bowl A soup bowl with a deep opening. Westerners, on the other hand, serve food on plates, cut and eat with knives and forks, and have special spoons for soup. In addition, we found an interesting fact in the data: Westerners eating with forks and spoons began around the tenth century in the Byzantine Empire, more than a thousand years later than China's Warring States Period. The length of the dinner fork in the Eastern Zhou Dynasty was about 12-20cm, of which the tooth length was about 4-5cm, which was slightly shorter than the modern dinner fork. However, the thing is very strange. The fork originated in China earlier than the West, but it has not become a traditional tableware in China. Why? This may be related to changes in cooking methods and changes in eating habits. The reason is currently unknown. However, Western forks are still in use today. We believe that this is closely related to the different development processes of Chinese and Western food cultures. The arrangement of Chinese food. From ancient times to the present, due to the evolution of tables, the arrangement of seats has also changed accordingly. Generally speaking, the seating arrangements are as follows: those facing the left, east, and those facing the gate. The person who takes the seat at the family banquet is the person with the highest seniority, and the person who takes the last seat is the person with the lowest seniority.

During the wine tour, toasts are given in order from the chief to all the guests. If it is a round table, the ones facing the door are the host and guest, and the ones on the left are 2, 4, 6...the ones on the right are 3, 5, 7...until they meet.

If it is the Eight Immortals table, if there are seats facing the door, the right seat on the side facing the door will be the host and guest. If it is not facing the gate, the right seat on the side facing east is the chief. Then sit on the left hand side of the chief, 2, 4, 6, 8, and on the right hand side, 3, 5, 7.

If it is a big banquet, the arrangement between the tables should be such that the chief guest is in the front and center, with seats 2, 4, and 6 on the left, and seats 3, 5, and 7 on the right. They are divided according to the identity and status of the host and guest. sit. (Photo attached) The arrangement of Western food is quite different from that of Chinese food. Chinese food mostly uses round tables, while Western food generally uses long tables. If a man and a woman go to a restaurant together, the man should ask the woman to sit on his right side, and be careful not to let her sit in the aisle where people come and go. If there is only one seat against the wall, ask the woman to sit and the man to sit opposite her. If there are two couples dining, the ladies should sit against the wall, and the gentlemen should sit opposite their respective wives. If two men accompany a woman to a meal, the woman should sit between the two men. If two people of the same sex are dining, the seat against the wall should be given to the older person. There is another rule in Western food, that is: everyone should enter or exit from the left side of the seat when entering or leaving the seat.

When holding a formal banquet, the seating arrangement is in accordance with international practice: the table order is based on the distance from the main table, with the right side being higher and the left side being lower. When there are many tables, table cards should be placed. The height of the seats at the same table also depends on the distance from the host's seat. Western custom is for men and women to have cross arrangements, and the same is true for couples.

Dining Etiquette In terms of etiquette, Chinese and Western dishes are even more different. In ancient China, there was a set of red tape during the dining process. "Book of Rites? Qu Ji" records: If you don't have enough to eat, you won't choose what to eat, don't put the rice away,... don't seize the harvest, don't raise the rice,... just eat, the guests kneel in front of them, and spread the rice. When the guests come together to give the appearance, the host bids farewell to the guests, and then the guests sit down. The main idea of ??this passage is: when everyone eats together, they can't just eat by themselves. If you eat with others, you must check the cleanliness of your hands. Do not put excess rice back into the pot, do not occupy the food, and do not stir up the hot rice. After finishing the meal, the guest should stand up and move forward to clear away the dishes on the table and hand them to the host. The host will stand up and ask the guest not to work, and then the guest will sit down again. Some of these etiquette are also necessary courtesy in modern times. In Western banquets, the host usually only brings dishes to the guests once, and the rest is eaten by the guests themselves. If the guests don't want it, it is inconvenient to force them to eat more, and it is not necessary to frequently persuade guests to drink and pick dishes according to Chinese habits. Don't make any noise when eating, but the guests should pay attention to appreciate the meal prepared by the host. If you talk to others, talk only to those sitting next to you and not to those who are far away. Chinese appetizers are usually a large platter of four cold cuts. Sometimes there are as many as ten species. The most representative ones are cold jellyfish skin, preserved eggs, etc. After the cold dishes, there are four kinds of hot dishes. Common ones are fried shrimp, fried chicken, etc. However, the hot plates are mostly omitted.

The main course is immediately after the appetizer, also known as the main dish, and more than appropriate are actually on the table. For example, if there are eight main courses indicated on the menu, it means that there are eight main courses. The number of main courses is usually an even number such as four, six, eight, etc., because the Chinese believe that even numbers are lucky. At a luxurious banquet, there are sometimes as many as sixteen or thirty-two main courses, but usually there are six to twelve. These dishes are made using different ingredients, combined with the five flavors of sour, sweet, bitter, spicy, and salty, and combined with various cooking methods such as deep-frying, steaming, boiling, pan-frying, roasting, and stir-frying. The order of dishes is mostly based on the alternating combination of light and rich flavors, or the combination of dry roasting and soup. It usually ends with soup.

Desserts refer to the desserts served after the main course, such as pies, cakes, steamed buns, almond tofu, etc. Finally, there is fruit.

The order of serving Western food

Soup The French word potage generally refers to all soups. However, in our country, potage refers to thick soup, and consomme refers to clear soup. The use of clear soup for the main meal inevitably makes people feel that the portion is too small. Therefore, thick soup is better. I think the portion is too small.

The first course of meat: The literal translation of this term means to amuse the mouth, which means entering the main course. Now it has become the main course, and what is provided is steak, etc., which can be paired with the second meat (barbecue).

Frozen food: It is called sherbet in English. If the main dish is quite greasy, this dish can make your mouth more refreshing. Some frozen foods are made with foreign wine, among which those with champagne are the most advanced.

The second meat: roast in English, refers to roasted meat, usually turkey, duck, chicken, pheasant, etc.

Salad: This is lettuce drizzled with dressing, which is different in nature from the lettuce paired with meat dishes.

Dessert: English is sweet, that is, dessert. Domestically, it supplies ice cream, pudding, frozen food, etc.

Fruits: Fruits in English, mostly offering several kinds of seasonal fruits or assorted fruit plates.

Coffee: Usually the meal ends with coffee, and the cup used is a demitasse (small coffee cup). Sometimes black tea is also available, so you can choose according to your preference.

(Attached is a Western menu)

Western Menu

Bread

Toast Squares

Appetizer

Baked Garlic and Cheese Mushrooms / Baked Mushrooms

Oysters Mornay / Cheese Oysters

Salad / Salad

Romaine Salad / Romaine Lettuce Salad

Fruit Salad / Fruit Salad

Ham and Potato Salad / Ham and Potato Salad

Caesar Salad / Caesar Salad

Soup / Soup

Seafood Soup / Italian seafood soup

Beef Consomme / Beef consommé

Minestrone / Assorted vegetable soup

Main Course / Main meal

Sirloin Steak

Roasted Lamb Knees

Pan Seared Ice Fish

Roasted Chicken with Pepper Sauce / French Chicken Steak

Dessert / Dessert

Cre'me Vanilla / Vanilla Br?lée Filling

Milk Flan / Champs Elysee Cheese

Blueberry Muffins / Blueberry Muffins

Chocolate Mousse / Chocolate Mousse

Drink / Drinks

Black Tea / Black Tea

Earl Gray Tea/Earl Gray Tea

Fruit Tea/Fruit Tea

Cafe Latte/Latte

Cappuccino/Cappuccino

Orange juice It’s cumbersome, but each dish usually only has one kind, and ordering Western dishes is still relatively unfamiliar to many people. The following is the order in which Western food is served, for reference when ordering for friends who are planning to eat Western food.

1. Appetizers are also called appetizers or appetizers. They are generally divided into cold dishes and hot appetizers. Common ones include caviar, foie gras, smoked salmon, etc.

2. Soup. Soup can be roughly divided into four categories: clear soup, cream soup, vegetable soup and cold soup.

3. Side dishes. Side dishes usually refer to aquatic products, eggs, bread, soy sauce and dishes. When eating fish dishes in Western food, special sauces are used.

4. Main dishes. Meat and poultry dishes are called main dishes and are usually served with sauces. The most representative ones are beef or steak, and the raw materials of poultry dishes are taken from chicken, duck, and goose, with chicken being the most common.

5. Salads and vegetable dishes can be arranged after meat dishes or served at the same time as meat dishes. Vegetable dishes are called salads in Western food, and are generally made with lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, asparagus, etc. There is also a type made with fish, meat, and eggs, usually without flavoring.

6. Dessert. Dessert in Western food is eaten after the main course. It can be regarded as the sixth course. In a true sense, it includes all foods after the main course, such as pudding, ice cream, and cheese. , fruits, etc.

7. Coffee, be careful not to use a spoon when drinking coffee, drink it directly in small sips.

9. When eating, you don’t have to worry about staining the white tablecloth, and you don’t have to help the waiter fold the plates or reach out to deliver them. That is superfluous behavior. 10. If you encounter unpalatable food or foreign objects in your mouth, you can cover your mouth with a napkin, quickly spit on the napkin, and ask the waiter to replace it with a new napkin. 11. Keep the tabletop clean and tidy, so don’t spit out bones or anything like that. Use a spoon to catch them or take them out directly with your hands. You can put them on the edge of the dinner plate. 12. Do not put the plates aside or stack them. It is best not to move any plates. A brief analysis of the differences between Chinese and Western food cultures Diet is the first need for human survival and development, and it is also one of the basic forms of social life. However, different cultural backgrounds have different food concepts and food customs, which ultimately form different food cultures.

Chinese food culture has a long history, is extensive and profound, has far-reaching influence, and is popular all over the world. It has experienced thousands of years of historical development and has become an excellent cultural heritage of the Chinese nation and a shining pearl in the treasure house of world food culture. Some countries in the West were once colonies of other countries and brought together immigrants from various countries. Therefore, these countries are deeply influenced by the food culture of other countries, learn from each other's strengths, and combine them with their own food habits to form an exquisite, self-contained food civilization.

The differences between Chinese and Western cultures have created differences in Chinese and Western food cultures, and this difference comes from the different ways of thinking and philosophies of life between China and the West.

Differences between Chinese and Western dietary concepts

The West has a rational and scientific dietary concept. They emphasize the nutritional value of the diet, paying attention to the amount of protein, fat, calories and vitamins contained in the food. They pay special attention to whether the nutritional content of the food is appropriately matched, whether the supply of calories is just right, and whether these nutrients can be fully absorbed by the eater. If there are any other side effects, try to maintain the original juice and natural nutrition of the food instead of pursuing the perfection of the color, aroma, taste and shape of the food. Even if the taste is the same or even boring, they will eat it. Westerners eat for nutrition. They rarely or almost never connect food with spiritual enjoyment. The diet reflects a strong practical and utilitarian purpose. Westerners believe that diet is just a means of survival, used to satisfy hunger, but it adopts a more scientific, standardized and reasonable way. For example, their primary and secondary schools are equipped with nutritionists to ensure adequate and balanced nutrition for teenagers. This scientific and rational dietary concept is worth learning from Chinese food. But at the same time, this also places great limitations on the materials used in Western food. For example, Westerners do not eat animal offal and anything they consider to have no nutritional value. At the same time, the cooking techniques are also mechanical and dull. Steak is steak, chicken is chicken, and various vegetables will never be mixed with flavors, and there will not be many tricks.

Chinese people’s diet emphasizes sensibility and artistry, pursuing the taste of food without paying attention to the nutritional content of food. They evaluate the quality of food from aspects such as color, aroma, taste, shape, and texture. Bad, pursuing an artistic conception that is difficult to describe. Simply put, what Chinese people eat is taste, which is the charm of Chinese food. The purpose of Chinese people's diet is not only to satisfy their hunger, but also to satisfy their desire for delicious food and bring physical and mental pleasure.

Paying attention to the beauty of harmony is the essence of Chinese cooking art. For example, the famous Fujian dish "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" contains chicken, duck, pork trotters, abalone, sea cucumber, pork belly, shark's fin and other main ingredients, as well as several side ingredients. In the finished product prepared in this way, the personality is completely buried, but the whole is shining. This is consistent with the Chinese people's golden mean of devaluing individuality, stressing balance, and emphasizing harmony.

Due to the influence of regional characteristics, climate environment, customs and other factors, catering products will have varying degrees of differences in raw materials, tastes, cooking methods, and eating habits. It is precisely because of these differences that catering products have strong regional characteristics. The differences between Chinese and Western cultures create differences in Chinese and Western food cultures, and this difference comes from the different ways of thinking and philosophies of life between China and the West. Chinese people pay attention to the harmony between nature and man, while Westerners pay attention to the harmony of man and nature.

This method is: display all the food one by one, and everyone can get what they need. They don’t have to be fixed in their seats to eat, and they can move around freely. This method facilitates emotional communication between individuals. It is not necessary to put everything on the table, but also to express It has improved Westerners’ respect for individuality and self. But everyone eats their own food and doesn't disturb each other, which lacks some of the Chinese people's mood of having fun and having fun. Therefore, in the final analysis, it is the difference between sensibility and rationality. However, this difference seems to be blurring with the development of science. More and more Chinese people no longer only pay attention to the color, aroma and taste of food, but pay more attention to its hygiene and nutrition. Especially after experiencing SARS. Also, because people are increasingly busy with work, they feel that it is too troublesome to prepare Chinese food, so it is better to have a hamburger to wait for it. As a result, the difference in diet is not clear.