Fun Stuff > CHATTER
When in Rome, do as the Romans do
Metope:
Tipping culture is so weird to me. In Norway it's pretty simple, you tip about 10% if you're in a restaurant or cafe where waiters serve you at a table, but if you pay and get served by the counter you don't tip. In the UK, apparently you're supposed to tip your hairdresser, which I never did until an English person told me (and then I felt really bad about my previous hairdresser experiences since I'd lived there for two years at that point). Here in the states, you seem to tip everyone and their grandmother, but I have no idea how much.
As with cutlery, usually when we go out to eat here they don't even give us a knife! I have no problems holding the fork in either hand, but I prefer having the knife in my left and the fork in my right (I'm left handed), and I have no idea how to eat with only a fork. What if you're eating rice or something, how are you supposed to eat the last bit if you don't have a knife to shove it onto the fork with?
Is it cold in here?:
Use the forks, Luke!
Loki:
*groan*
Personally, I hold my knive with the left hand and my fork with the right (and now you made me selfconscious about how I actually hold it...), but I think I am the exception. (Yes, I'm righthanded.) On the other hand, I don't think I have seen the people I hang out with switch hands either...
Tipping: I almost always tip. Usually something like 10% plus round up to the next Euro. (One should probably say I eat out in the range of 5-6 Euro per meal). I don't tip at takeout. I am not sure if I am supposed to tip the hairdresser (part of why I feel awkward going to them. The other part is that they always seem to mess up :() Germans, help me out there?
I also think tipping and eating habits are regionally dependent within Germany. (You Americans may laugh now.)
pwhodges:
--- Quote from: ankhtahr on 11 Sep 2013, 12:24 ---
--- Quote from: questionablydiscontent on 11 Sep 2013, 11:47 ---spearing your food onto the tines.
--- End quote ---
In Germany that might be alright for steak or something, but at least in a fine restaurant the normal way to hold a fork, to which you revert after you ate the bite you had "speared" onto it, is this.
--- End quote ---
I generally transfer the fork to my right hand if using it like a spoon; when in the left hand it is mostly used with the tines down, either piercing the food, or with the food precariously balanced on top (perhaps squashed on). I think one reason some children hate peas is being forced to eat them this way. But I will admit to turning it over when in the left hand more often now than I was taught - if I ever go a really formal meal again, I wouldn't consider doing that, though.
Akima:
--- Quote from: ankhtahr on 11 Sep 2013, 12:13 ---Like ChaoSera said, to us it seems childish to change hands for the fork.
--- End quote ---
Meh. At most meals I don't use knife and fork at all, but chopsticks. If I am eating "Western style", I mostly eat like a European with the knife in my right hand and fork in my left, because that is normal in Australia, but I eat things like Quorn-mince Spaghetti Florentine, or Chilli Con Quorné (I stole the idea from Barmymoo) with a fork in my right hand. So... who cares? Heaven knows what you guys would make of a real cultural difference like squat toilets or something.
Tipping in Australia used to be unknown, I understand, and you still don't tip taxi-drivers, porters, in cafés etc. The influence of American culture has introduced it in restaurants, but I'd say 10% would be the maximum if you were happy. People often just "round up to the nearest $10". Bear in mind that the national minimum wage here for a person 20+ years old is about $16 per hour, and "penalty rates" (overtime) may apply in some cases.
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[#] Next page
[*] Previous page
Go to full version