Chinese Food & Eating Custom

This is Beijing, it is the capital of China

1. Where do I Sit?
2. The host will usually tell you where to sit, but if you the guest of honour you sit in the host's right, then the 2nd most important person sits on the host's left, and the person who is paying the bill will sit opposite the host.
3. How do I Order?
4. One person will order for the whole table, and everyone will share. But sometimes the host orders one dish and asks the guest to order an additional dish. If you the one ordering try to get a variety and an even number of dishes.
5. How to Pour Tea and Show Gratitude
6. When pouring tea use your right hand to hold the teapot and your left to hold the lid in place. It is good to pour for you and the people around you. When pouring for others they should take their index and middle finger and tap it against the table to say thank you, if in a conversation.
7. Chopsticks Handling
8. They are seen as an extension to your fingers, so never point them directly at a person or don't leave them stock g out of your food.
9. How to Eat your Food
10. It is usually put on a Lazy Suzan so that the whole family can share. But when the food first arrives the elder or most important person there should eat first then the others follow.
11. How to Eat Fish
12. Fish is usually represented as a boat. So if you turn your fish over your are assaying that the ship has sunk. So never turn it over. Rather take the middle bone out with your chopsticks and leave it on the side of your plate.
13. How to Pay the Bill
14. Guest should never ever split the bill with the host, as it shows that the host does not have enough money to pay for the dinner. To be a good guest offer as many times to the host if you can pay for it.

• Ma Po Tofu - Ground Beef, Tofu, Pepper Powder and Green Onion
• Dumpling - Filled with Minced Pork or Shrimp, served in a Soup
• Cong Boa Chicken - Chopped Chicken, Beans and Dried Chillies
• Chow Mei - Meat, Celery, Onion and Stir Fry Noodles
• Spring Rolls - Filled with Vegetables, Beef, Crab Fish, Chicken and Cheese

Guangdong is in the Eastern part of China

• The host sits opposite the entrance/exit door
• The supporting host (bill payer) sits opposite the host
• The guest of honor sits on the right side of the host
• The second guest of honor sits of opposite the guest of honor
• The others fit in

1. Take your index, middle and ring finger.
2. Put the ring finger below the second chopstick.
3. The middle finger in between the two chopsticks.
4. And the index finger on top the chopsticks.
5. The index and middle finger are the only fingers that move.
6. Only move the top chopstick

• Nigiri
• Maki
• California Roll
• Fashion Sandwhich

I'm going to mainly talk about Food in the Northern and Southern China, as they are the most common kind.

North Cuisine

• Beijing cuisine has a variety of cooking styles, due to being the capital. It is famous for its royal court cuisine, which originated from the royal kitchens.
• Inner Mongolian cuisine comes from the traditions of the Mongols, and has dairy products, and all kinds of red meat, such as: mutton, and beef etc. Normal dishes wil include roasted whole sheep, roast leg of lamb, and ‘hand-grabbed' mutton.
• Shandong cuisine includes lots of seafood ingredients and a variety of cooking stills. It is known for its fresh, salty, crisp, and tender flavours.

Southern Cuisine

• Southern cuisine is based on lots of preserved food, particularly pickled vegetables and tofu, which give it sour flavour.

• Sushi is actually not raw fish (raw fish is called Sashimi)
• Sushi is sweet, sticky rice; lined with seaweed or kelp; and the fish is placed in the center of the seaweed and rice and wrapped into a cylindrical shape
• Wasabi and ginger is served on the side of your sushi, with a black, salty sauce called Soy Sauce
• Mixing the wasabi with your Soy Sauce is regarded as offending the chef