Sharing Food

[Vacumatic]

Perhaps it is the type of food, my local Chinese restaurant has a lazy susan, we tend to order banquet for four people which has 10 dishes or so, you help yourself.

When I was telling the original story to a friend, he thought it was usual to share food in an Indian restaurant amongst people that you know but rather like the Gavin and Stacey clip I order what I want and brutal as it may sound, l am not interested in mixing and matching, I might make an exception if Mrs Vac was to ask to have a taste. The issue in the OP was a stranger who had finished his meal and putting his coat to go thought he would have some of my food, sharing to me implies a two way street.

 

[HereticHermit]

When I was telling the original story to a friend, he thought it was usual to share food in an Indian restaurant amongst people that you know

He is not really clued to the cultural nuances. There is culture of community kitchens especially in northern Punjab and adjoining Pakistan punjab but they may share only the resources or exchange curries. There are community mess, like in a gurudwara. A sect of muslims in western India tend to have meals together where 7 or more take portions from a very big saucer. Some matriarchal societies in north east India have their meals together to avoid wastage. But in no instance one is as rude to actually raid the plate of fellow diner. It is only the big saucer or a cauldron or a hotch potch from where common food is allowed to be taken from. I hold it true for restaurants too.

 

[Missoni]

In these other cultures is it acceptable to reach over and take food off of someone else's plate rather than taking the same food from the table you are sharing?

Bob

...seperate plates are not used everywhere...

 

[Chris]

Whilst I have no doubt it is not applicable to the OP's experience, there are strong cultural differences to eating food; in some cultures, where you share a table, it would be just seen as strange not to share food.

Doing as the Romans do only works when in Rome.

 

[R181]

...seperate plates are not used everywhere...

Not buffet style dining then.

Bob