What’s the dining etiquette for Asian cuisines like Chinese, Japanese, Korean? This expert will tell you – from chopsticks to who should eat first
- Besides being well versed in British, European and American dining, etiquette consultant Piano Mok also has a wealth of knowledge about Asian cuisines
- She says a general rule is to be respectful to your fellow diners, whether by serving them first, filling their cup or offering others the last bite
Traditional etiquette is a concept that might seem outdated or trivial to many.
Formal introductions such as “how do you do” are rarely used any more; signing off an email with “yours sincerely” comes across as too serious in this age of technology; while setting up a dinner seating arrangement based on titles and rankings is a skill that applies to few.
Dining etiquette, on the other hand, still feels relevant – after all, eating is integral to the social fabric of our lives. But dining customs differ between cultures, and behaviours that may be accepted for one type of cuisine might be considered rude in another.
That is why Piano Mok, a certified international etiquette consultant based in Hong Kong and New York, has focused her classes on teaching students how to dine respectfully and appropriately, no matter what setting they are in.
And while she is well versed in British, European and American dining – as is typical of many etiquette consultants – she also has a wealth of knowledge about Asian cuisines, including Chinese, Japanese and Korean.
Mok was first introduced to etiquette when she was in her mid-20s, after her mother persuaded her to attend etiquette school.
