[RagonaCon]

Sharing food is Asia culture (most of Asia anyway). Sometimes the female (or the junior member) will help take the food and serve to the males, guests, child, etc. I usually let my girlfriend help scoop the soup for me on a smaller bowl. I'd never heard anyone taking food without permission from another's plate though let alone someone you don't know that well. In the animal world, this action will cause fights which sometimes result in death.

[draigenia]

Well that was on my first visit...and yes we were good friends even then...its just that I did not know about this custom no one explained to me that...but on my consequent v2 visits I became more used to it, and was doing the same...sharing the food with them...as the old saying goes: "When in Bangkok?..do as Thais do"...

[agiopwer]

Curt: I guess you haven't lived in a Mexican community. He lived for many years in Mexico.

Hey FiP, I was thinking of you this last weekend. I went to Mexico City for a quick getaway and thought a lot about the posts you've made over the years comparing and contrasting Mexico and Thailand. Very interesting!

[draigenia]

# 12-Mexican dishes also use lot of chiles, and are just as HOT as some Thai dishes, and I don`t eat much of Mexican foods either, so when in Thailand I avoid those chiles..they get you on the way out....

[DexOnenlyCymn]

Yes, and the doctors love it too, seems strange to see so many sick people drinking out of the same glass and eating out of the same plates and still the population of Thailand does not seem to fluctuate that much, but do seem to have quite a few deaths and funerals for so low a population count.

But it seems to stay steady..

But I have noticed too with Thai food, 4 main spices and 4 main flavors so it doesn't take long to get tired of eating the same thing every day..

[DexOnenlyCymn]

I do not approve of it at all, if I want what everyone else has I can go set in a hospital waiting room and pick up plenty of stuff I do not want and I can drink from the communal drinking glass at the water cooler bottle in the hospital waiting room also if I need a turbo charge of the stuff I do not want, and that would be as good as everyone else eating out of my plate with utensils that have been in their mouth.

I do not allow anyone to eat out of my plate and do not take food from someone else plate nor do I eat from dishes that someone else is eating out of.
Even my dog will not allow another dog to eat out of her bowl, and I am as civilized as my dog anyway, Thai can do as they wish.

But in any place I have been in in Thailand, each dish is served as it is cooked, which they do one at a time, so there is never over 2 dishes still unconsumed at any one time on the table anyway.

[draigenia]

To # 18;Ooooh,...sorry `bout the loud revelry next door...maybe if you put your own stereo speakers on your windows-facing their house, and turn music even louder than theirs....for few minutes...maybe they will get the message?...or maybe call "officer friendly"...if that would help...(just some ideas)...here its a sunny though chilly monday...

[dafodilkemmy]

At least [Mexicans] ain't as noisy as these Thai, another noisy party going on tonite, only on the other side of me now. I guess you haven't lived in a Mexican community.

I spent over a decade living in Santa Ana, California. The population is 4 Mexicans to every 1 of anything else. It's actually much quieter, here, in Bangsu!

[NutChusty]

Well Thai food is mostly to hot for me, when I went out with friends I had to have special dishes just for my self, and then my Thai friends would pick out all the red chilies out of my meal, before I could eat the meal.

[v74ClzKY]

I'm quite the opposite of some you guys. I am always delighted when we order a bunch of dishes and have the possibility of sampling different kinds of food. Nothing better than having 7-8 dishes you can pick and choose from. Moreover, I love the social element of sharing dishes - I think it opens up for a much better interaction than each person sitting with his/her own plate.

I agree! It can be so much more interesting than eating only fried pork. or only green curry. Not that I don't like these, but I find it wonderful that I can try them all Maybe I'm a bit greedy when it comes to food... or just very interested in a large variety
And I like the social element too. Apart from that, I noticed that in some restaurants where they don't serve an extra spoon with each dish, my friends would often ask for more spoons, saying that it's more hygienic. Not all Thais eat from the same dishes with the same spoons they put in their mouth... But of course it all depends on the context. But I have to add I have seen people distributing Khao Niao with forks from the main basket, and only then they would touch it with their hands.

[draigenia]

On my first visit to Thailand, to restaurant with Thai friends there, we each ordered what we wanted from the menu and we were served our orders...but I was surprised when my friends started "raiding" my plate..each of them taking piece from my plate...and in turn giving me piece of foods from their plates,...so I ended up eating more of what I did not order then of what I did order....Later my Noochie explained to me that that is the custom in Thailand when dining out with friends...i.e. to share your food with others, and eat some of their food....Well maybe it is custom,...but I `m not sure if it is such good custom.....I mean if we each order what we like, then that`s what we should each eat, or we may end up eat food we really don`t like...but I guess on few more trips I`ll get used more to this "All for one & one for all" dining custom

[dafodilkemmy]

Although one will sometimes find meal "sets", most Thai (Asian) dining is a communal thing.
Everyone starts with rice, and spoonfuls are added.
Often, with close friends or relatives, it almost goes directly from serving dish to mouth, with just a "bounce" over the rice.
Coming from the West, this takes a bit of getting used to.

I also found it a bit annoying, having food I don't care for put on my plate.
However, as time has passed, my friends have learned my tastes.

It is always good manners to offer food to others before adding it to your own plate.
As far as wiping the utensils goes, there is usually someone in the "gang" who seems to be the designated wiper.

[NiliSpuppypax]

I'm quite the opposite of some you guys. I am always delighted when we order a bunch of dishes and have the possibility of sampling different kinds of food. Nothing better than having 7-8 dishes you can pick and choose from. Moreover, I love the social element of sharing dishes - I think it opens up for a much better interaction than each person sitting with his/her own plate.

[cinggooft]

Well thanks Mr. Yeows...Another little detail learned-by me...But I did not notice that about wiping eating "tools"/utensils, nor about pouring ice water into glasses... I think waiters were doing that for us. Or my focus was on something else, ..you know what...the EATS...as for paying for "damages"?...some times one person would pay the bill, and some times more of us kicked in and "footed" the bill-together

Thank you, hunsolo. Generally Thais will not offer to go dutch. The 'big guy' of the group will pay for everything as this is expected in Thai culture. By paying for everyone, he is playing his role in the hierarchy. It also strengthens the patron-client relationship in the group. After all, the 'big guy' is supposed to take care of all those under his wings.

[aideriimibion]

This is what MK looks like:

Now you make me hungry...

David

[diseeKeythilt]

As for deaths and funerals, Thailand has a 100% fatality rate - the same as anywhere else on the planet.

Lol

[draigenia]

Well thanks Mr. Yeows...Another little detail learned-by me...But I did not notice that about wiping eating "tools"/utensils, nor about pouring ice water into glasses... I think waiters were doing that for us. Or my focus was on something else, ..you know what...the EATS...as for paying for "damages"?...some times one person would pay the bill, and some times more of us kicked in and "footed" the bill-together

[draigenia]

I believe that "MK" were the restaurants that we ate on several occassions...but I am not 100% sure If they have one "MK" next to Tesko-Lotus in Min-Bury,..then that`s the one....

[draigenia]

Well on my last, 3rd. visit to Bangkok, my wife and I went to dinner with her/our friends-after our outing to "Safari Park", while dining together, my friends must have noticed at earlier dine-outs that I felt uncomfortable about this food sharing custom, so they left me out as they were all mingling and sharing the food....so I felt left out ...and I started offering them from my own food, and started to fit in...I figured it`s better to eat little less of what I ordered and eat some of theirs then to have friends feelings hurt....and I felt better as part of the "crowd" he-he...

[Efonukmp]

Sometimes I rather enjoy sampling various fare at just one sit-down.