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The Etiquette of Indian Food

The ever increasing popularity of Indian food via takeaways and restaurants has taught much of the western world about the flavors and textures of Indian cuisine, but do you understand the etiquette of eating such food?
Whilst utensils are used in Indian cooking, cutlery is not. The basic Indian foods such as breads and curries are eaten using the hands and the rule is that only the right hand should be used when eating or receiving food since the left hand is considered unclean. Even the plate should not be touched by the left hand.
Curries and other sauces should not stain the fingers and only the fingertips should come into contact with the food. The food is scooped onto a flatbread such as a Naan or Roti and then brought quickly to the mouth. The Roti is shaped into a spoon and this is used to pick up the food without it touching the hands.
The use of spoons is common when eating soups and rice and Indian etiquette does not recognize the use of knives and forks, although forks can be used to distribute and serve food at a communal gathering since it is polite not to touch the food of others.
Perhaps the most well known etiquette is that Hindus consider the cow sacred and therefore beef is not eaten. Indian Muslims do not eat pork since they consider the pig to be unclean. For these reasons some restaurants in India do not serve either meat.
When eating in a formal situation then the oldest person at the setting will be expected to begin eating first and it is considered extremely rude to start before them. The use of hands to eat the food means that hand washing before and after eating is expected and you will also be expected to finish everything on your plate. To leave anything is considered a mark of disrespect to the host so do not over fill your plate!
Meals are often eaten seated on the floor or seated on cushions and in Southern India it is common for a banana leaf to be used as a plate, to be easily disposed of after the meal.
The next time you visit an Indian restaurant or order from an Indian takeaway, try and eat your meal using the etiquette of the country from where the food originates. If you are eating with Indian friends then they will consider it polite and respectful.

Prawn curry Guide

Testing article in the box. Hey thats the Chef who is on the Desi bite ad i think ? the one who cooks everything and then? throws everything in the bin and takes a packet of chips and eat it ? lol it goes on Travel and Living Discovery Channel

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Lahore Restaurant

2-4 Gateforth Street , London, Other NW8 8EH
  • Currently 3.5/5 Stars.
Used to be good but now crap! - 2011-03-28 02:08:30

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The food was greasy, the restaurant was filthy... even the bill arrived dirty and greasy - AVOID!

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