BRITAIN: In Britain, port is passed to the left, all the way around the table until it is finished. There are varying opinions on why this tradition started — some say it comes from the navy, since the port side of the boat is on your left if you're facing the helm.
Source: CNN
CHILE: It's considered rude to eat with your fingers, even for french fries. Always use your fork and knife to be on the safe side.
Source: Huffington Post
CHINA: Never flip over a whole fish after you've eaten one side, especially in southern China and Hong Kong, as it's considered bad luck. Also, don't leave chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, as it's reminiscent of a ritual where people make offerings to the dead.
Source: Chicago Tribune, CNN
ETHIOPIA: In Ethiopia, eating from individual plates is seen as both bizarre and wasteful. Food is typically shared from a single plate and eaten with hands.
Source: Lonely Planet
FRANCE: Don't eat your bread as an appetizer in this country. Instead, bread is served to accompany your food.
Source: CNN
GEORGIA: If you find yourself at a traditional supra feast in Georgia, only drink your wine during a toast. It's seen as rude to sip it throughout the evening.
Source: CNN
GERMANY: If you’re going to order Weisswurst — white sausages served in a hot watery broth with a side of sweet mustard — don't do it after noon. They're cooked fresh in the morning and must be consumed before the clock strikes 12.
Source: Matador Network
INDIA: Always be sure to eat using your right hand, as the left is considered unclean. This is also the case in Morocco and parts of the Middle East.
Source: Travel + Leisure
IRELAND: You should never order an Irish Car Bomb in Ireland. It references a tragic incident in 1989, when a car bomb planted by the Irish Republican Army exploded in a suburban shopping district.
Source: The New York Times, Huffington Post
ITALY: If cheese isn't already offered to you, don’t ask for it. Though we often do it in the US, Italians consider it a sin to top dishes like pizza, pasta dishes, and seafood with Parmesan.
Source: Huffington Post
JAPAN: You should never leave chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice here. You should also never use them to pass food, as this is reminiscent of a funeral tradition where remains of the deceased are passed to family members using chopsticks.
Source: Lonely Planet
KOREA: In Korea, when an older person offers you a drink or plate, take it with both hands to show respect. It is also customary to wait for the oldest person at the table to start eating first.
Source: CNN
MEXICO: Different countries have their own rules when it comes to using your hands. In Mexico, if you’re eating a taco, steer clear from using a fork and a knife, as its considered both silly and snobby.
Source: CNN
NEPAL: Don't take food without being served, and be sure to ask for seconds when eating at someone's home. It's common courtesy that no one leaves the table while others are still eating.
Source: BBC
PORTUGAL: When at a restaurant in Portugal, don't ask for salt and pepper if it isn’t already on the table. Asking for the seasonings is seen as an insult to the cook.
Source: Lonely Planet
RUSSIA: If you're offered a drink of vodka, don't turn it down. Sharing vodka is considered a symbol of trust and friendship. Also, vodka is typically drunk with toasts, not casual sipping, and should be gulped down in a shot. Also, make sure to keep your wrists on the edge of the table instead of on your lap while eating.
Source: Lonely Planet, CNN
THAILAND: Use a fork to push food onto a spoon instead of putting food directly in your mouth with a fork. This rule does not apply to some foods that are not part of rice-based meals.
Source: CNN
